Day after day, as the year 2022 unfolds and rolls rapidly towards the magical year 2023, Abia State is precariously churning up and seething in cauldrons of political contentions and controversies of immense magnitudes.
By Polemics.
Polemics, as a platform, without unduly or intentionally sounding hypercritically alarmist; but equally, not without good reasons to pretend otherwise and implicitly imply there is no cause for alarm; is seriously concerned on the burdensome, increasing worrisome spectres and prospects of what lies ahead as the ultimate political fate or destiny of Abia State in 2023.
Some other political Analysts and Critics, political pundits and watchers, or keen political observers and stakeholders of Abia State polity and politics, have equally muted similar feelings or sense of grave concerns.
Day after day, as the year 2022 unfolds and rolls rapidly towards the magical year 2023, Abia State is precariously churning up and seething in cauldrons of political contentions and controversies of immense magnitudes.
Multiple cries of restless agitations, discontents, marginalizations, and latent protests are taking deeper roots in different corners and parts of the Abia polity presently.
Fortunately, with absolute confidence, express belief and faith in the deepest sense of pragmatism and optimism; unfailing trust in the limitless abilities and capabilities of humans to solve any problems, no matter how complex or intricate; Polemics, hopefully believes these contentions and controversial issues confronting Abia polity presently, can be quickly resolved by effective use and means of the wise applications of political maturity, effective diplomacy, dexterity and wisdom.
Where there is the Will, there is always a Way forward!
Given the current spate of high levels of discordant tunes and cognitive dissonance, which have assumed the primary characteristics and features of the political atmospheres, and by extension have visibly enveloped almost completely the political landscapes cum geopolitical blocs or spectra of Abia State, it becomes inescapably hard to avoid, at this juncture, to ask the critical question: is 2023 destined to mark the apocalyptic or “Nemesis” of Abia State, politically?
Though, with great optimism, trusting 2023 would mark another political season or episode of peaceful, seamless transition and smooth transmission of power, notwithstanding otherwise present bleak signs:
Especially in the context of the highly controversial and vexed issues surrounding the Abia Charter of Equity; rotational formula or principles, in the specific case of the governorship office.
The heightened tempo of these contentious issue or disputes, daily are assuming epidemic proportions, with the resulting frequent contaminations and pollutions of the political atmospheres of Abia State; particularly symbolized by the evident lack of spirit of consensus or compromise, but steadily marked by deepening disagreements among the three principal geopolitical blocs of Abia North, Central, and South; and the political strategic stakeholders thereof, on the true essence or significance of the Abia Charter of Equity.
The three geopolitical zones respectively; different schools of political ideologies or thoughts; eminent public opinion leaders, influencers and moulders; media; stakeholders; and different shades of legalistic permutations; all these variables in combinations, consciously or unconsciously have contributed enormously to the undying controversies, presently considered the unfortunate hallmarks of the emblematic essence of the Abia Charter of Equity.
Each of the political interests groups, highlighted above, in the name of politics, usually impassioned by certain degrees of biases or prejudices, finds it convenient and necessary to ascribe, attribute, and attach divergent or constricted interpretations (oftentimes weird meanings) to the doctrinal essence of the Abia Charter of Equity.
There can hardly be anything as seriously baffling, confusing, and filled with commotions, as presently epitomized by the disparate interpretations or insinuations associated to the Charter.
A layman’s, or more specifically, common literal interpretation and understanding of the true essence of the Abia Charter of Equity, is without any recourse to grammatical or legal technicalities, simply hinged on the need to device and guarantee peaceful, smooth transfer/transition of political power, in the specific context of the highly exalted political position of governorship office, by means of systematic rotations among the extant geopolitical blocs of Abia North, Central, and South, on turn-by-turn basis.
The core agenda of the principles of the Abia Charter of Equity, notably is based on mutually acceptable, harmoniously engendered politically-engineered mechanisms or modalities.
In a critical sense, it is primarily and holistically Abia society or Abians; Abia State cognoscenti political elite class and leaders; and all shades of critical stakeholders, working collaboratively and cooperatively as a cohesive entity, essentially are collectively saddled with the sacred responsibility of fashioning out politically-engineered agreeable modalities, in a manner in conformity with the aims, desires, designs, and corporate objectives of the Initiators/Originators of the Abia Charter of Equity.
By all reasonable standards, these Initiators, as noble and patriotic eminent personalities, are generally considered as farsighted, visionary statesmen of immense pedigrees, integrity, and moral statures.
Historically, it is a known fact in terms of political chronicles or history of Abia State, the rotational/zoning principles encapsulated in the Abia Charter of Equity, became effective, even before 1999 which ushered in the present democratic dispensation, with HE, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
But unfortunately, the administration was short-lived and truncated prematurely as a result of military intervention.
In 1999, fresh experiment started with Abia North as the beneficiary; and Bende LGA specifically as the primary/principal beneficiary.
In 2007, Abia Central came on board; and specifically, Umuahia North LGA as the primary/principal beneficiary.
In 2015, Abia South geopolitical zone mounted the saddle; and Obioma Ngwa specifically clinched the governorship position as the primary/principal beneficiary.
Thus, logically, the first phase (round) of the Charter was brought to a satisfactory, successful, conclusive, and equitable power rotations/sharing implementation, amongst the three geopolitical/senatorial blocs.
Polemics, accordingly, is forced to muse, ponder, wonder, and ask, why is the Abia State political atmospheres and landscapes at present, supercharged; riddled with highly emotive, divisive contentions and controversies surrounding the “legitimate” or rightful geopolitical zone to earn the right of the governorship office in 2023, in accord with the rotation principles?
Logically, 2023, marks the commencement of the second phase or next round of another effective implementation process of the Abia Charter of Equity, logically following already established precedent.
Is irresistible, selfish politically motivated and myopic aggrandizements be-clouding and shrinking our political senses of fairness, equity, and justice? Or eroding our collective rational thinking abilities?
Collectively, if the strategic political stakeholders in Abia State are unable or incapable as it would appear at present, of finding amicable, harmonious, peaceful resolution of an issue apparently or seemingly considered as straightforward, negotiable on the negotiating table; as simple as understanding and respecting accordingly the simple essence of the Abia Charter of Equity; realistically, what hope exists of tackling effectively more complex issues likely to confront Abia State in other critical fronts, in our time or in foreseeable future?
We cannot dismissively wave aside pretentiously the ominous signs of gathering clouds of debilitating mutual distrusts/suspicions; creeping atmospheres of pervasive political instability; and unending waves of general insecurity closely associated to the open and festering disagreements on the essence of the Charter Of Equity. Especially manifest in frequent verbal warfare’s amongst the principal political stakeholders, across the three geopolitical blocs.
As it stands presently, if eventually highly undisguised covert and overt scheming, struggles for political power or superiority in the context of the Abia Charter of Equity, worsens for example, Abians, definitely, do not require the appearance or emergence and services of modern time political Nostradamuses; metaphysicians; prescient minds or thinkers and philosophers from Jupiter to mount the political pulpits to preach on the likelihoods or grave possibilities of the adverse political consequences likely to be unleashed on Abia State.
Ominous consequences, may include of course, the most dreadful spectres of political implosions, in extreme cases. If care is not taken, Abia State, shortly could slip progressively towards and closer to the brinks, edge, precipices, precincts, and ultimately thresholds of self-inflicted political anarchy, or anarchical political atmospheres.
More frightening, though, is the prospects of dismissively ignoring these ominous signs in certain political circles as another example of modern times political apocryphal and lamentations.
Conscious of the present inflammable political climate; with deep sense of concern and serious reflections on the highly potentially dangerous political atmospheres; ominously poisoned or suffused with gales of destructive spirits of mutual antagonisms, suspicions on almost all the political fronts; Polemics, hereby, inevitably desires to pose the following critical query to serve as a puzzle or timely, early warning alert:
Is 2023 likely to mark ultimately the year or only the beginning of the era of political tumults, ruptures, and perhaps Abia-Apocalyptic, politically?
In Abia North, Central, and South geopolitical enclaves, undeniably, there exist in no small measures strong emotional, psychological, and political sense of mutual antagonisms; ostensibly the results of conflictual political cum legalistic aporias surrounding the ordinary or literal essence and meaning of the Abia Charter of Equity.
In this unfortunate context, the Abia Charter of Equity represents classic example of well thought out ideas or ideals subjected to bizarre manipulations, deliberately conceived misunderstanding, misconceptions, misperceptions; glaringly evident in certain quarters.
In some other circles, expressions of anger, amazement and surprise: on how a document deemed to be simple in contents and contexts, can be twisted in meaning.
Obviously, some highly entrenched, selfishly controlled or motivated political interests groups, have chosen unfortunately as the core agenda, the objectives to annul by all means the Abia Charter of Equity; or to turn the Charter into Frankenstein monster, politically.
His Excellency, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State, inescapably, as the leader of the State, by virtue of his capacity or status as the chief security officer of Abia State; explicitly, implicitly, and intrinsically, has much duty, work, and responsibilities to discharge, in these respects.
Specifically: in order to douse the growing politically induced tensions; arrest the increasing sense of apprehensions, mutual distrusts/suspicions spreading rapidly in Abia polity or populace; and to strive to preserve by all means deemed to be expressly in alignment with highly esteemed conduct of statesmanship the sacrosanct essence of the Abia Charter of Equity.
As a critical stakeholder in the political integration and not the disintegration of Abia State, the Governor, needs now, more especially to put on 24/7 his thinking cap.
These, in brief, are some of the critical objectives, tasks and expectations on the part of the Governor; even as the attention of Abians, and Nigerians in general are focused on Abia State. Especially on the incumbent administration, as a critical pivotal political institution.
As the axiom says: there is no hiding place for goldfish.
Accordingly, serious and urgent State matters await the urgent attention and interventions of His Excellency.
The buck ultimately stops right on the Governor’s table.
