Sit-Tight Democracy: The Hijacking of Abia State Politics – Akym Onyekwere

Like many states in Nigeria today, Abia is also battling entrenched political interests, (principalities and powers) in the state’s affairs. Unfortunately, deep-rooted political interests and patronage is now a way of life because politics is a big industry in Nigeria. For those who may not know, service is usually the last thing on the mind of the average politician here. The uncomfortable truth is that people enter politics for different reasons but definitely not to make life better for their constituents or other people in need of help. So, anyone who is lucky to be elected into an office where he or she decides on issues of budgeting or has access to privileges associated with dispensing goodwill, then there will always be that urge to hold on and over stay in office.

Without doubt, the 2019 general elections reinforced this concept of state capture and the twin evil of dangerous sit-tight democracy playing out in Abia State. In fact, nothing captures the hijacking of Abia politics more than the electoral outcomes of the year 2019. The characters that emerged from the elections in the two dominant political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC actually inspired this piece and I thank them for that.

This is our ugly reality today. But Abians must challenge this unacceptable leadership by recycled and ineffectual persons who are going nowhere without a fight. This fight, I hasten to add, will be non-violent and the struggle must be conducted peacefully by young people whose time has now come.

But how do you challenge two former Abia State governors who served two terms of eight years each, and are now serving senators in the Upper Legislative Chamber? Today, Theodore Orji, a re-elected senator for Abia Central on the platform of the PDP had earlier served Orji Kalu as Chief of Staff. He later became governor and after his second term, got elected into the senate. On the other hand, Kalu who is currently in APC represents Abia North in the senate. This revolting picture of sit-tight democracy and the hijacking of Abia politics become more depressing when one adds the fact that Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, another re-elected fourth term senator from Abia South Senatorial District was Kalu’s first deputy governor.

This pervasive recycling politics of deep-rooted interest is not only prevalent in the Senate. Law makers in the House of Representatives, the other arm of the National Assembly have also been accused of having more than their fair share of nominations and re-elections. Many have over stayed their welcome. However, this ridiculously unreasonable turn of events also become more frightening when one examines activities at the Abia State House of Assembly. Here, Senator Orji’s son, Hon. Chinedum Orji holds court as the speaker of 7th Abia State House of Assembly.

Another troubling part of our toxic politics in Abia State is the belief and practice of politics of settlement; this is unprogressive and dangerous for our state. For instance, during the last Local Government Election, I was personally worried by the intrigues that were recorded. In fact, it got to a point when even the youth wing of Ndoki Peoples Freedom Movement based in Port Harcourt, came up with tales of how they were being intimidated and deceived with stories of settlement by Senator Adolphus Wabara, a former Senate President who allegedly claimed that Chucks, his younger brother was a political settlement from Governor Okezie Ikpazu. The younger Wabara, it would be recalled, ran and eventually won the chairmanship of Ukwa East Local Government Area last December.

All over the world, representative governments do not run on brazen settlement and compromise that exclude the electorates and other stakeholders in the constituencies concerned. However, in Nigeria this is a familiar route for political office seekers.

But the real tragedy is that these politicians are already planning ahead of the highly anticipated general elections of 2023. At the centre of the plot is the governorship election but we cannot afford to leave this preparation in the hands of politicians alone, the next election is very critical to our state and we must give it the attention it deserves. Our collective decisions now would also provide a better future for our long-suffering citizens who are tired of poor representation at nearly all levels of governance.

For me, the hope for tomorrow is already manifesting in our different corners of the state and this is heartwarming. There is now a groundswell of agitation by many Abians, especially young persons who are putting pressure on sit-tight elected representatives to give way to others. Every day, more people argue in favour of a new and a more innovative generation of leaders who know what the issues are. For us, the periodic change of political guard is necessary in every democracy because it offers alternative voices. We must be the change we want. We cannot remain unconcerned about our affairs even in a changing world and expect a miracle without working hard to change our condition.

This period is therefore most auspicious and we must thank our stars for a time like this. There is enough room now to plan and work for our common good as we look forward to great things. We should not be discouraged despite all the challenges facing the world today; we must roll our sleeves and set forth before it is too late. I believe that the real change is here and nothing must stand in our way to success and the expected new dawn. Going forward, Abians must do away with exclusion and the dangerous sit-tight politics that favour only a few at the expense of the greater number. And for us to achieve our shared vision, engender progress, inclusion, development and accountability, we must inject fresh blood and work collectively for a greater Abia.

O.A.U 2023, The New Abia.

This is the view and opinion of the writer , it does not represent the view or opinion of AF NEWS