Just concluded Guber polls long before the polls took place divided and polarized Abia electorate and parties’ loyalists along the divisive lines of political parties’ affiliations; defence or rejection of zoning arrangement configurations based on the highly contentious Abia Charter of Equity; and many other critical considerations. The political space in Abia before the polls was tensely charged and filled with claims and counter-claims, merits and demerits of various arguments, reasons or sentiments tendered by the principal Guber contenders to desperately win support and votes at the polls.

Similarly, concrete questions bordering on effective leadership, competent and effective performance index, good governance and other critical issues pertaining to the development of Abia and wellbeing of the citizenry dominated discourses at different levels and platforms. Public debates to enlighten the electorate featured the parties’ standard bearers as key participants and other relevant stakeholders provided formal avenues and opportunities to present and market manifestoes and explain action plans/programmes of the candidates to the electorate. Campaign rallies, several media appearances/interviews, posters, jingles, and billboards highlighted different information and custom-packaged appealing messages designed to woo the support and votes of the electorate.

Pre-eminently, the contentious issue of Zoning Principle as purportedly enshrined in the Abia Charter of Equity/MoU among the component’s units at the creation and inception of Abia State was the epicentre of contentions and perhaps caused the greatest source of disagreement and disaffections in Abia polity before the polls. Accordingly, different kinds of advocacies using vocal and subtle methods including blackmail and propaganda were extensively deployed by the proponents and protagonists of the zoning principle to propagate and prosecute favourable claims and positions. Conversely, the opponents and antagonists vigorously marshalled strong arguments to puncture perceived holes and refuted entirely the applicability or tenability of the Charter and its provisions in the contexts of present circumstances as they cleverly pointed out. The antagonists maintained vehemently that the Charter was obsolete document, no longer binding and cited many reasons to buttress these viewpoints. PDP Candidate and incumbent office holder and the APGA counterpart were the most vocal proponent/defender and opponent on the issue. Armies of supporters loyal to the two candidates never missed any opportunities to drum up support in favour of their respective principal and boss. Abia elite and other stakeholders were not left out in the debates.

February 23rd, 2019, Presidential and NASS elections results did not reflect very much the divisions of opinions and perceptions on the contentious Zoning Principle, though evidence of some of its perceived impacts thereof cannot be denied completely especially in Abia North District. More significant and consequential was the factor of Peter Obi’s Vice President Ticket. The Ticket was instrumental in swinging several votes in favour of PDP across the 3 Zones in Abia.  March 9th, 2019, Guber polls was destined to be quite different from the Presidential polls for many reasons. Introspectively, 2019 Guber polls literally from all indications from the earliest preparatory stages was considered generally re-match or re-contest of 2015 Guber polls fixture by PDP, APC, and APGA Candidates. Apart from the APC Candidate switching camp from PDP, the other two contenders maintained the status quo and retained the same political platforms used back in 2015. Notwithstanding the dramas, intrigues and uncertainties that characterized parties’ primaries, the emergence of PDP, APC and APGA candidates respectively clearly showed that 2019 polls represented essentially repeat/replay of 2015 polls, except perhaps in the unpredictably awaited final outcome. These three candidates locked horns in 2015 and the stage was set for fresh contests in 2019. Other parties such as SDP, Accord, etc, fielded candidates but the three major contestants and gladiators remained PDP, APC, and APGA.

The winner of the 2019 Guber polls was subject of intense arguments and analyses and dicey. Victory for PDP Candidate meant endorsement of the Charter and Zoning Principle. Victory for either APC or APGA symbolized rejection of the Charter by the electorate and acceptance of arguments in favour of credible leadership and good governance principles marketed powerfully and persuasively by APC and APGA contenders. Specifically the campaigns were namely anchored on the templates of winning support or sympathy for continued observance and retention of Zoning Principle by PDP. APC and APGA as the opposition mounted the campaigns in contrast on the benchmarks of competency and good governance as the unique selling points. Before the polls reasonable concerns for any occurrences of elections malpractices/manipulations; INEC neutrality; non-partisan professional conduct of security agencies were expressed as likely factors capable of affecting the credibility or otherwise and outcome of the polls in the end. Effective organization and coordination, efficient management and smooth operations in the critical areas of logistics by INEC equally attracted the attention of stakeholders.

These accounts and highlights summed up the atmosphere preceding the March 9th, 2019 polls. Among the three main political parties and the respective candidates contesting the Guber polls confidence levels and expectations were high for victory, though characterized by sense of anxieties and caution. The electorate armed with PVCs and ballots baring any major compromise or breach in the electoral processes evidently would decide the fate of the contenders as winner or otherwise on the strength of the supremacy of ballots in the end.

INEC in accordance with the provisions of the electoral at the end of balloting and collation of results declared and announced PDP Candidate and incumbent office holder winner. Opposition APC and APGA rejected the results on grounds of alleged breach and compromise of the process and the ballots. The winner shortly after appreciated and thanked the electorate for renewing his mandate for a second tenure and swiftly rolled out his action plans accordingly. These include completion of ongoing projects especially Enyinmba City Economic Zone Project and Osisioma flyover bridge projects, and fresh ones to be embarked upon.

Notwithstanding, cardinal and critical issues of government’s administrative machinery in terms of effective, efficient service delivery and allied operational questions deserve urgent attention. Specifically, composition of this vital and strategic hub and nexus of effective/efficient governance must be critically addressed and reviewed comprehensively. Competency must remain the only standard benchmark or yardstick for consideration of membership and appointments. Political aides and appointees must parade and possess this important element and criterion. There  are sufficient grounds and ample evidence based on questionable performances of some aides and appointees in the subsisting Cabinet and Exco and in other organs to warrant concerns and to advocate herein more stringent measures and scrutiny be imposed in the selection of prospective appointees in future. Extensive and intensive audits of the character profiles and competencies of appointees in government’s administrative machinery is of utmost importance and must never be compromised to guarantee effective/efficient, optimal performance and judicious use of available scarce resources. Party loyalists and stakeholders who contributed to the success in the polls but lacking in consideration of cognate administrative competency, experience, and exposure can be rewarded and taking care by other means. Government’s administrative machinery especially the Cabinet/Exco must never be debased to serve as kindergarten for the acquisition and impartations of elementary knowledge of administrative and leadership skills. The Exco was never conceived or designed as breeding and fertile ground to accommodate risky experimentations, trial-and-errors, display of incompetence and indolence in any way imaginable. To do otherwise is tantamount to gross disservice to the electorate and the State. Government must not play the role of ’Father Christmas’ with the State’s resources in the award of contracts and projects. Best practices and rigid conditions must be outlined and strictly adhered to prequalify and select contractors.

Constitutional provisions hinged on the doctrines/principles of Independence of the three arms of democracy must be observed diligently and respected. Cordial and mutual beneficial relationships and seamless synergies among the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are necessary for good governance and survival of democracy, including checks and balance, oversight responsibilities as enshrined in the principles and the Spirit of Democracy. No arm should be emasculated, muzzled or stifled by any other arms. The third tier, Local Government Area(s), the closest to the citizenry must not be asphyxiated, denied and deprived of its constitutional mandate to serve the people in its jurisdiction. Without the 17 aggregate Local Government Areas there would be no Abia State geopolitically as an entity or the three Senatorial Zones in a legitimate or true sense. LGA must be vigorously repositioned to serve its wholesome purposes. This strategic component and tier must no longer be merely considered ordinary appendage/fanciful attachment or simply administrative creature of convenience fit for manipulations by other arms.  It is expedient LGAs are strategically repositioned and properly staffed to become truly effective and efficient in service delivery.

Above all the Governor must not be a puppet. The Governor and the exalted office must not be hijacked or seem to serve the interests of a few persons. Oaths of Office and Allegiance sworn to by the Governor totally forbid it. The buck big or small stops on the Governor’s Table. I repeat, it stops on the Governor’s Table. Full Stop.

Chukwuma.

Analytic Scripts Writer & Management Consultant.

Contributed this piece from Umuahia, Abia State.