Propaganda has been raised a notch higher by politicians as a tool to whip up sentiments and garner support from voters. In Abia State, some candidates have made it their manifesto. In a contest that parades two eminent sons of Abia who are distinguished professionals in their own rights, amongst others, one is surprised why instead of campaigning on the strength of their superlative credentials; some of them have taken to cheap propaganda in their bid to discredit their opponent.

The election will be a straight contest between Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of PDP and Mazi Alex Otti of APGA. While the candidate of the PDP hails from Obingwa Local Government, a zone that has not produced a governor in the past, I do not know where the candidate of APGA hails from. This is because in a desperate bid to actualize his ambition, Mazi Alex Otti has denied his identity and his people to claim to be from a place where he is clearly not from.

This shouldn’t be an issue but it is because Mazi Alex Otti has been going round claiming to be a man of integrity who will work wonders, while casting the incumbent Governor and the PDP candidate in the mold of dishonest men who are only after the resources of the State.

Denying ones ancestry smacks of desperation as well as lack of character. This lack of character is further exemplified by the manner Dr. Otti quickly jumped ship to APGA when it became apparent he was going to lose in the PDP primaries. It revealed his lack of political ideology and shows that he is a man who is ready to trade anything for his personal ambition.

One of the things Dr. Otti’s men have consistently used to castigate Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is that he was foisted on the party by the Governor and that Abians should not support godfatherism. But looking at the manner in which he emerged, the flag bearer of APGA, one cannot help but shudder at the sheer hypocrisy of these politicians. Mazi Otti intimidated party members with loads of cash and literarily bought the party flag from Chief Victor Umeh (a revelation made by Chief Reagan Ufomba).

He cannot also deny that his candidacy is receiving the support of the former Governor. He has taken a moral high ground simply because he did not secure the support of Chief T.A Orji. If that had happened, I am sure he will have no qualms with godfatherism.

Perhaps a propaganda that offends commonsense the most is using the pictures of the late Igbo warlord, Chief Chukwemeka Ojukwu on billboards, apparently to swindle voters into believing that he has the support of the revered Ikemba. This is political opportunism taken too far. For what it is worth, Ojukwu may never have known him when he was alive and would never have supported the manner in which he grabbed the party ticket. It is a shame that the soul of our late leader is being desecrated for the sake of one person’s ambition.

For the records, Dr. Alex Otti is eminently qualified to be the Governor of Abia State, but he must pursue his ambition within the bounds of decency and honor. He can canvass for votes without spreading falsehood or running down his opponents.

Chief T.A Orji may not have performed excellently in Aba, but his best legacy albeit arguably, would be ceding the governorship to Ukwa/Ngwa zone. Now Aba people have the opportunity to drive the development of the Enyimba city through one of their own Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. Come February 28th, they will confirm this assertion by overwhelming casting their vote for “OKEZUO ABIA”.