By C. Ajuzieogu.

Abia is at a critical juncture where we need a leadership change. Since the kind of commitment leaders
will attract depends on the depth at which leaders can tell their stories, Abia needs at this critical
moment a leader that possesses the competence to articulate the idea of rebuilding and refocusing the
state in a compelling manner that will attract the kind of people who have the heart for what they are
trying to do: those who can offer emotional commitment.

But greed has eaten deep into the moral fiber of our politicians and leaders; they always look at their
personal interest at the expense of the state’s cause. This act must be stopped and we must achieve
it by our collective effort. Today in Abia State, the so-called Japan of Africa is in dungeon with poor
infrastructure that hinders genuine businesses and economic growth. Since the creation of Abia state in
August 1991, Abia has been governed on a fraudulent pedestal. For some inexplicable reasons we have
had a misfortune of not having the best leader at the top echelon of government. We have consistently
elected and appointed people with abusive character who in turn have failed repeatedly to solve the
problem of the state but have chosen to amass wealth through corruption. We have all resigned to our
fate because we believe that this crop of leaders and politicians cannot be challenged and confronted.

This fact is understandable because the government will unleash terror on any perceived critic of the
government policies and programmes .Robbery, kidnapping and other criminal vices was introduced
into the state and the government could not do anything to stop the menace and save the helpless
Abians instead the government choose media propaganda to deceive the world that all is well in the
State, dismissing it as a mere imagination of their perceived political opponents. This inhumane act
was sustained for more than three years while the people and state development suffers. No wonder
the residents of Aba recently petted the state governor with sachet water out of anger and frustration
during the reception of Ojukwu’s corpse at Aba stadium.

The last known development in Abia in terms of infrastructure was during the regime of Sam Onunaka
Mbakwe in the old Imo state between 1979-1983.What he was able to achieve is what the present
governor, local government chairmen, State House members, PA’s and SA’s have plundered and
exploited ,while the people suffers with decayed infrastructure. What we see today in Abia is
corruption, looting, criminality and exploitation of the weak, abuse of power and enthronement of
mediocrity. The consequences of these acts are deplorable state of roads, comatose health system, high
level of unemployment and no investments. In 2008, the Governor T.A Orji defrauded Abians to the tune
of $100 million by awarding a contract to construct Abia refinery to NEVADA Petroleum Resources Inc.
In US. This is a scam as the company quoted, has only 2 million shares and capital base of $2000.Abians,
where is the refinery?

Recently, Governor T.A Orji has been on the media to launder his image while lavishing our collective
resources .He had claimed that the government is providing infrastructure and dividends of democracy
to the people of Abia. After a wasteful five year period, his achievements are as follows:

Construction of pedestrian bridge at Abia state polytechnic Aba.
Rehabilitation of Ukwu mango area of Faulks road
Resurfacing of a tiny section of Obikabia road
Building of workers secretariat
Building of guest house
Small portion of Danfodio road

The road project alone is costing government a whooping sum of five billion naira but a cursory look
at the projects in the state does not worth or come anywhere close to the amount so far spent. This
contract was awarded to NEW IDEA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD.A Company wholly owned by the
governor and his son. Is this not a conflict? So where actually do they spend the money? It is also on
record that the state government has been collecting money from Abia residents for infrastructural
developments, environmental and sanitation levies through their agents and cronies. With all these
extortions, there are still no meaningful impacts.

In 2011 election, the governor openly confessed during the campaign to the people of Abia that his first
tenure in office was not devoted to the development of Abia but rather to a family. Now that the state
has been purportedly liberated from the clutches of mamcracy, what is still hindering the state from
being transformed as promised?

Against this backdrop of political instability, underdevelopment, non-participatory government, The
Abia Awakening Group was created to promote social, political and environmental change through
advocacy. We demand that good governance and dividend of democracy be delivered to the people
of Abia. As we have been coordinating a sustained campaign for good governance and change in
leadership style, the government instead of hearkening to the voice of the people have resorted to
media propaganda and blackmailing of our characters.

Government apologies and proponents of deception are yet to come to terms with the realities of
change. Those who think that we should give time to the present Abia government and leadership after
wasted years are unrealistic in their assessment and unwise in their thinking. Abians are known to be
resourceful and resilient people blessed with natural resources, human potentials and ideas to take the
state from despondency to where it is supposed to be amongst other states of the federation. These
realities can only come from true courageous and energetic visionary leadership. Together, we can do it better.

Abia must move forward