ABIA State is a very unique state. Apart from its pride of place as the number one state in alphabetical order among the comity of states in Nigeria, Abia is the only state, according to its indigenes, which can be cited in the Holy Bible. Before the assumption of office by the present governor of the state, Abia was politically notorious.
It was quite unfortunate that the otherwise peaceful state was caught in the web of political disagreement between then gladiators from the state and then Federal Government.
While the altercation and muscle-flexing lasted, the people of the state were no better for it as the situation then better explained the old adage that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
Thus, as the imbroglio between the state and the powerful Federal Government lasted, Abia citizens, both at home and abroad, suffered a collateral damage in terms of self-advancement and political patronage.
It may have been in consideration of the negative effects of an unnecessary hullabaloo that the state governor chose a rather conciliatory relationship with all and sundry. But try hard as he may, there appears a concerted plot in some quarters to constantly and negatively repudiate the real story of Abia State.
In their bankrupt moral cocoon, they assume, albeit wrongly, that the target is the governor. But they keep kissing the political canvass. That explains why with all the stunts, nothing but total humiliation has faced them in all attempt at turning the people against the governor.
When not getting results from within, they find willing allies in some unscrupulous elements outside the state, especially cash and carry Internet commentators who derive joy in creating various internet fora for personal aggrandizement.
How come each time Abia is in the news for the good or bad, it generates more than a passing interest? Why is the state always attracting interest from noisy busy-bodies who will always find out a bushy hair without noticing well-barbed hair. During the menace of kidnapping, Abia was a feast for the commissioned agents.
As far as they were concerned, the Governor was the cause of the incessant kidnap cases in the state. At the time of the total eradication of the vice, no one would commend the efforts made by the Governor.
But that was not all. Kidnapping started reigning in other places, including the neighboring states to Abia. Quite unexpectedly, the media began to play down on it. Unlike Abia, kidnapping was no longer a front page story.
Then the issue of an ugly gang rape. Suddenly the Governor’s detractors went to town with the gist that the incident took place in Abia State University, Uturu. Hell was let loose. Commissioned hack writers stopped short of alleging that the Governor was an accomplice. No body gave the security agents any chance.
Not even highly placed individuals like the Minister of Youth Development then, Bolaji Abdullahi could exercise restraint in his comments when he passed his verdict, of course indicting the state. Representative Abike Dabiri in narrating her displeasure after watching the nauseating video courtesy of her “daughter” put the state on the spot even though she represents Ikorodu with one of the highest crime records in the country.
Apostle of gangster journalism Omoyele Sowore hit his usual phantom jackpot with the story in his Sahara-report, as he loves to hate the name Abia for obvious reasons. There was also the witch-hunting blogger who goes by the name Linda Ikeji. She even added a whiff of blackmail to her own journalism. Yet the Governor called their bluff.
These persons incensed Abia indigenes by the unsubstantiated allegation that the incident took place in Abia.
The Police issued a statement but Linda especially will have none of that. To them, the state government and officials were guilty as charged in their estimation. The University issued a statement, and that further exacerbated the gladiators.
There is a saying among the Igbo that a tailless cow will always enjoy the grace of a benevolent god that helps it to drive away flies. Just when the attack dogs had satisfied their paymasters. The truth no matter how long hidden was resurrected. The police unveiled the criminals behind the dastardly act.
And to imagine that it actually took place in another state while enemies had feasted on Abia without any tangible proof to link such to Abia suggests an orchestrated script being acted out.
It is, however, surprising to behold that all those who hastily abused a state and its people for a crime they knew nothing about have not found honour anywhere in their obduracy to ask for forgiveness.
Too bad though. Are we to talk about the hullabaloo that followed the last increase in the tuition fee of the State University when a former governor instigated the students to demonstrate against the government? Today Abia State University pays the cheapest tuition in the South East and those paying the highest have not been sent to Golgotha. The question now is who dunno it?
One may not search for long to find the answer. The hand of Esau is felt, but the voice is unmistakably that of Jacob. The people are also aware. They are even wiser than their tormentors of yesterday think.
The era of rice and tomato politics in exchange for the conscience and commonwealth of the masses in Abia has gone for good. The people cannot forget in a hurry their long and tortuous trek to the present destination.
Yesterday’s memory continues to cause them nightmare. But they are determined not to go back to political Egypt.
*Mr. KINGSLEY EMEREUWA a commentator on national issues, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.
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