By Godwin Adindu<\/p>\n
These are precarious times for the Ngwa nation of Abia State! Perhaps, no
\nperiod may have been so critical in the political history of the people
\nthan the current time. It is a time of a very delicate decision, a
\ndecision that will shape or mar the destiny of the entity for many decades
\nto come. No time will the Ngwa be as careful, cautious and as altruistic
\nas this time. The reason is simple: there are many weapons fashioned by
\nadversaries.<\/p>\n
The Ngwa Nation is currently standing at a crossroad. After a long
\njourney, with all the vicissitudes and ordeals, it has come to that thin
\nborderline where one wise step takes us over the cliff and a
\nmiscalculation pushes us down the slope from where the journey began.
\nYet, I must commend the Ngwa political stakeholders at home for the
\ncaution and the wisdom they have exercised so far. They understood very
\nclearly the political temperament of the state and have trod carefully in
\ntandem with the political mood. There have been many struggles in the past
\nand many mistakes made and history has opened our eyes to the absurdity
\nand foolishness of always swimming against the tide.<\/p>\n
The Ngwa nation must note that, except for the firm and unwavering
\ndecision of Governor Theodore Orji who, against all pressure and odds, has
\nstood his ground on power rotation and has kept his word as his bond on
\nhanding over to an Ngwa, there could not have been this present silver
\nlining in the skyline of the Ngwa nation. We must recall that in 2001, at
\nOkpuala Ngwa, the traditional cradle of the Ngwa nation, the former
\ngovernor, Orji Uzor Kalu, told the people, face-to-face,
\neye-ball-to-eyeball, that his daughter who was three years then, would
\ngrow to rule the Ngwa if they do not support him for a second term. That
\nwas the height of insult against the collective sensibilities of a people.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it was there and then that the Ngwa decided to run a parrarell
\nline with Kalu. They immediately routed for the Otuonu Struggle, a great
\nmass movement for which I gave my career and my life. The movement raised
\nthe momentum of the Ngwa agenda and brought many issues about the people
\nto the front burner of national discourse. Yet, as in all history of wars
\nand liberation struggles, the people have over time sat back to review the
\nstruggle and gained some valuable insight and wisdom and also saw the need
\nfor a change of strategy. The lesson is pertinent that political victory
\ncan only be gained by playing with the status quo. It is an unnecessary
\ndissipation of energy to run at cross purposes with an incumbent power.
\nThis is a suicidal mistake the Ngwa will not make again.<\/p>\n
Luckily for us, the incumbent power in Umuahia and Abuja is determined on
\npower shift to the Abia South and precisely to the Ngwa. This is one
\ngreat milestone that Ochendo has helped us to cross. And, I repeat, save
\nfor this political magnanimity of Ochendo, save for this divine
\nuprightness of a leader, this dream will still be too far-fetched for the
\nNgwa and the reasons are very obvious. There is a deep-seated conspiracy
\nnurtured by an unfounded stereotype against the Ngwa by the other sections
\nof our polity. But, today, Ochendo has raised the bar of equity by
\ntreating all Abians as one people and insisting that what is good for the
\ngoose is also good for the gander.<\/p>\n
The Ngwa must show gratitude to Ochendo for setting this standard of
\nequity. If we could realise the intense pressure that has been mounted on
\nthe governor forhim to renege on his words then, the Ngwa will forever say
\nprayers of gratitude to a great man of justice and firmness of character.
\nThe governor is the only leader of Abia who has demonstrated that balance
\nof power is critical and crucial for our common existence as one common
\nhumanity of Abia State and he is honestly committed to achieving this
\ntemplate of togetherness and harmony. As every intelligent and wise father
\ndoes when time is drawing nigh, Ochendo has also been deeply worried about
\nwho, among his children (here gubernatorial aspirants), could keep the
\nhouse in order. The decision is not about his personal relationship with
\npeople, not about the people\u2019s clout and pedigree but about the future and
\ndestiny of the over fifteen million Abians. It is about the peace and
\nprogress of Abia.<\/p>\n
Today, Ochendo has done his part for the Ngwa, the rest lies in the hand
\nof the people. Lamentably, the current monster standing between the Ngwa
\nand their time-honoured aspiration is the personal selfishness of the
\naspirants. It is no more the war of ideology but the war of personal ego.
\nLike Mobutu Sese Seko said of himself and Congo, some of the aspirants
\nhold the view that there cannot be Ngwa governor without them. Yet, at the
\nnick of time, Congo existed without Mobutu. At the nick of time, there
\nwill be only one Abia governor of Ngwa extraction that God will ordain. No
\none is more Ngwa than the other. No one is more qualified than the other.
\nIt is only God that gives power.<\/p>\n
I feel very worried to see that the Ngwa cannot come together even at this
\nperilous time when we are just at the foot of the bridge. After the rain
\nand the sun have beaten us for years, we are now standing at the foot of
\nthe bridge, ready to cross. Yet, our albatross is no more our adversaries
\nbut ourselves. Individual ego of aspirants is the current albatross of the
\nNgwa. People are so self-conceited that they cannot come to terms with the
\nfact that it cannot be them. Why must it be you at all times? What is
\ncritical now is the destiny of the Ngwa nation and Abia State and not
\nyou. If the tide is not flowing to your favour, why must you be the
\nstumbling block? Why not collapse your ambition to the current tide and
\nthink of Ngwa first? This is where the Yorubas have always been wiser.<\/p>\n
I am speaking to the conscience of the Ngwa people, my people.<\/p>\n
​<\/p>\n
Adindu is the President-general of the Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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