Onyekwere Akym Uche a philanthropist, chairman of O.A.U foundation and a 2023 governorship hopeful in Abia State has felicitated with Abians as the state celebrates three decades of its creation from Imo state. He encouraged Abians to thank God for the grace to reach the milestone even though as a people, Abians are yet to take that decisive step forward, toward a future they seek.

As Abians celebrate, Onyekwere admonished them to begin this all-important journey and transition to a new Abia State, with the right attitude with all sense of responsibility .He argued that politics will forever, remain superior to economics, saying “no matter how hard we try as a people, we must be guided about our realities, the prevailing and incontrovertible truth about advancement and development”.

The philanthropist adduced that the undeniable truth is that if there is no radical paradigm shift in the way and manner Abians elect their leaders in the state, they may likely continue in his words wander and flounder.  As a people, he adduced that, Abians must mobilize and register to vote. He called on them to take full advantage of the on-going registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC]. Saying it is the only way to bring about the genuine change that the state desperately desire. The 2023 governorship hopeful, also called on the masses to engage and interrogate future office seekers who are under a moral obligation to discuss their plans and programs for the people and the state.

Onyekwere also bemoaned the underdevelopment of the state despite clocking 30. He revealed that there is rising unemployment, poor infrastructure and  areas of comparative advantage in the state are now ineffectual. He stated that governance is also very low as it appears that a cabal controls the government. Onyekwere said Abians as a people  cannot wish away the fact that insecurity is high, that the youths are left to their fates and that there is a general air of bleakness. To surmount these challenges and other problems confronting the state, Abians must put their best hands to work and plan to revive our ailing industries, improve trade, provide employment opportunities, engender hope, re-focus, provide a level-playing ground for everyone and plan for the next generation, he said.

READ FULL MESSAGE ATTACHED BELOW:

Abia: God’s Own State @ 30 – Onyekwere Akym Uche

Today, I congratulate my people, the resilient and long-suffering citizens of Abia State for this milestone.

We must thank God, even though we are yet to take that decisive step forward, toward a future we all seek. As a person and a concerned citizen for that matter, I cannot wait to see that great future of possibilities and growth in our fatherland. Surely, it must happen in our lifetime in Abia State that is our prayer. As we mark this important milestone, we must also remember that all the indicators of economic growth and development are not looking good in our dear state. Unfortunately, our downward slide has been made worse by the fact that a few states in our region still present what looks like a semblance of governance. This is a reason to worry.

In Abia State, there is rising unemployment, infrastructure are poor and our areas of comparative advantage as a people, are now ineffectual. Governance is also very low now because it appears the same cabal controls the government. We cannot also wish away the fact that insecurity is high, that the youths are left to their fates and that there is a general air of bleakness. To surmount these challenges and other problems confronting us today, we must put our best hands to work, plan to revive our ailing industries, improve trade, provide employment opportunities, engender hope, re-focus, provide a level-playing ground for everyone and plan for the next generation. 

But the reasons for our stagnation and low performance in government circles are not far to seek. We can excuse our early beginnings because we did not have the luxury of electing our leaders. As we all know, the first set of managers of our dear state were military administrators from other states who were posted under an undemocratic regime at the time. Therefore, the question should be: what difference did our sons and daughters who were elected, make under this dispensation that began at the dawn of democracy in 1999?

Like most states in Nigeria, leadership and representation remain our bane. We have suffered on account of poor leadership and lack of vision by people who did not prepare for the serious work of governance.  Yet, there are a few states and governors who are making a difference in the lives of their people. These model states, unlike Abia, are taking giant steps and recording some appreciable feats, not necessarily because of rich mineral resources but essentially because of their leadership style and their will to win. 

As we begin this all-important journey and transition to a new Abia State, we must remember to choose the right leaders with the right attitude. I say this with all sense of responsibility because politics will forever, remain superior to economics. No matter how hard we try as a people, we must be guided about our realities, the prevailing and incontrovertible truth about advancement and development. The undeniable truth is that if there is no radical paradigm shift in the way and manner we elect our leaders in Abia State, then we may likely continue to wander and flounder. 

As a people, we must first mobilize and register to vote. As a matter of fact, we should take full advantage of the on-going registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission. It is the only way to bring about the genuine change that we desperately desire. It is also incumbent on us to engage and interrogate future office seekers who are under a moral obligation to discuss their plans and programs for the people and the state.  

We have a duty to encourage and re-direct our youths on the need to acquire life skills for today and the future. As we prepare for our ultimate destination, young people must also leverage their demographic advantage, work together, think more and prepare for leadership because tomorrow belongs to them. This is also a time for them to contemplate and engage the system. As they say, we cannot afford to continue doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

I am happy that our developing story which is not pleasing, is teaching us to take our destiny into our hands. Therefore, this is the time to act and do more for our survival as a people. As they say, delay is dangerous.

Let me round off by wishing our people and our beloved state, a better future, a wonderful life opportunity and true peace.

God bless you all and God bless Abia State

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!