Dear Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah.
I bring you greetings this afternoon from Umuahia. I sincerely hope you’re doing well. If so, doxology.
I write to update you on recent developments in Abia State seeing as you do not live here and you don’t know what is happening.
Are you aware that since your attempted coup in Abia State which was thwarted to the glory of God and shame of the devil, things have not been the same in Abia State?
Do you know that prior to your voyage in judicial and administrative rascality, Abia had found a rhythm. The administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had stabilised after the Supreme Court put Alex Otti where he belonged and we were cruising at an enviable altitude.
Contractual commitments were being entered on a daily basis and investors were falling over themselves to put their money into Abia State. Everyone was in agreement that we were on a good trajectory and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu came tops in most performance evaluation rankings.
Then you struck and murdered sleep. Since your unholy alliance with the Judiciary and INEC, things have not been the same.
I will give you a few examples.
The same week that you perfected your coup, the Abia State Government had secured the commitment of the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina to visit Abia State. You see, our plan was that in the course of that visit, he was supposed to sign off on the $200M facility the state was negotiating with the AfDB for the construction of Port-Harcourt Road, Aba and other arterial roads.
After your failed coup and the attendant tension that followed, Mr. Adesina called off the trip and instead, sent 3 of his officials. They came to Abia and after a tour of the proposed projects, they returned to Abidjan where the headquarters of the bank is and promised to file their report.
You see, an issue that would have been resolved on the spot now requires further lengthy administrative procedures. Is it Okezie Ikpeazu that will suffer? How? Do you know the businesses along Port-Harcourt road & what they have gone through over the years? Do you know how they’ve prayed for this project to happen? Chineke lewekwe gi.
I’m sure you read that Setraco had moved into Faulks Road, Aba leading to Ariaria International Market. Do you know how bad that road is? Do you know the negotiations and agreements that were reached before Setraco agreed to move to site?
I don’t know if you know that the finances of Abia State are precarious so for every project, we require the faith and goodwill of contractors to move to site with the promissory assurance that they’ll be paid for work done.
When you excitedly threw spanners into the wheel of the progress of Abia State, did you think you were hurting Okezie Ikpeazu? Do you know what your actions mean for the negotiating power of the Abia State Government with contractors and what your actions mean for investor-confidence in Abia State?
Peace, security and political stability are the 3 pre-requisites for economic development. How has your act of desperation impacted in these 3 developmental indices?
As of today, since after your gamble and the Certificate of Return bonanza between you, Justice Okon Abang and INEC, there are now 8 cases in different courts by different people all laying claim to the seat of the Governor of Abia State.
From Alex Otti to Friday Nwosu, Acho Nwakanma to Dan Onyeonagu, all the people who have since moved on with their lives after the 2015 elections and allowed Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to govern have suddenly woken up. If Uche Ogah can be issued Certificate of Return, why can’t they?
Do you know that there is no day that goes by without Governor Okezie Ikpeazu receiving at least 2 groups that came on solidarity with him. Do you know the man-hours we are losing to that?
Recall that immediately after his swearing in, Governor Ikpeazu banned all forms of solidarity visits to him so that he can concentrate on the enormous task ahead. It worked as his results are there for all to see.
He equally tried to stop these solidarity visits after your thwarted coup but his close aides vehemently refused. Their argument is that perhaps, you and your co-collaborators think he is alone in this struggle. They reasoned that it was important that the world saw that your people are not with you.
So because of you, Governor Ikpeazu, who is not given to praise and public shows of support, is now welcoming all who come to show solidarity with him.
Finally, dear Uche Ogah, why are you playing into the hands of those who swore that you’re not from Abia state? Do you know the harm you are causing to the progress of your state? Will any true Abian deliberately attempt to draw his state back? Those people who are egging you on, do they really believe in your cause or are they just playing you for the ‘mugu’ that you are?
In your heart of hearts, you know that there is no merit in your case. You know that there is no way someone who was employed by government will not pay his tax but you were banking on your wealth to acquire power for you through the window.
After your matter gets tossed out by the Supreme Court and after you have succeeded in distracting everybody and constituting a nuisance, what else? What does that do for your political future? Someone tried this same gambit before you. Ask him where he is today with all his ‘supporters’.
The journey to the sustainable development of Abia State is irreversible. With or without your distractions, this administration will succeed and Abia will be better for it. My only worry for you as a young man is that tomorrow, you will still want something from this same state you are hurting so badly. When posterity judges you, will the judgment be fair?
I leave you to decide.
Do have a pleasant weekend… If your conscience permits you.
Sam Hart wrote from Umuahia
