The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was not thinking about his personal political capital when he magnanimously returned subsidy savings to state governors instead of creating a special body to manage the funds, as was done during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
With increased revenues to states following the removal of fuel subsidy, every state in Nigeria became far more financially buoyant than under previous administrations, with allocations rising significantly. What past administrations couldn’t do, the current governors have four times more capacity to do better. So why is Abia still competing with the past?
Welfare of citizens became top priority for many responsive governors due to the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal. The Abia governor appeared more engrossed with social media propaganda aimed at creating a false impression around his administration despite widespread concerns over the poor welfare situation of Abia civil and public servants.
A visit to Enugu State, where Mr. Peter Mbah, an investor and entrepreneur, is at the helm of affairs, will convince anyone that a better Abia is possible when governance is intentional and focused on public development rather than growing branches of personal business all over Nigeria. Mr. Peter Mbah couldn’t have achieved so much if he was more interested in planting Pinnacle oil branches all over Nigeria.
A good workman does not quarrel with his tools. The Governor of Enugu State Mr. Peter Mbah without hesitation cleared the backlog of pensions, gratuities, and salaries he inherited on assumption of office.
His administration is also driving several major projects, including the acquisition of six aircraft for Enugu Air, over 100 CNG buses, constructed 6 mega bus terminals, the revival of Presidential Hotel, Nike Lake Resort, NigerGas, and many others. He has successfully completed a world-class International Conference Centre, a specialist hospital of international standard, a modern security command-and-control centre and multiple gigantic integrated mega green smart schools.
The government has also constructed many new roads from scratch, rehabilitated several existing ones, while still paying attention to the welfare of Ndi Enugu.
The alternative, I am offering will place Abia State on a faster path of infrastructural development across the entire state, not just a few rehabilitated roads. With over N1.6 trillion already received in total revenue, Abia ought to have achieved far more.
Reposting the same roads daily on social media cannot replace the number of new roads, industries, and development projects that should have been delivered with the revenue available to the state.
Abia must move forward and begin to compete with states like Enugu State and Lagos State not remain trapped in regressive comparisons with past administrations.
There is no reason to constantly lower expectations by comparing today’s performance with yesterday’s when the resources and revenue available to the state now are more than enough to achieve far greater development and transformation.
A governor who received resources enough to achieve 10 major projects but ended up delivering only 3 minor ones, simply because previous administrations managed to do just 2 during periods of limited funds, has shortchanged the people of Abia.
Performance should be measured by the opportunities and resources available today, not by constantly hiding behind the limitations of the past.
The alternative I present will deliver projects that are truly commensurate with the resources available to the state, instead of allowing public funds to be diverted into private business interests while using social media propaganda to exaggerate little achievements when much more is possible.
Our social contract with Abians is to quickly deliver multiple dividends of democracy across every sector.
*By ensuring contracts are awarded at the right cost and by blocking leakages in our internally generated revenue system, more funds will be saved for infrastructure, workers’ welfare, pension payments, youth empowerment, and development projects across Abia State.
A better Abia is possible.
CHIEF ERIC OPAH CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION
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