EBERE UZOUKWA, PhD
I find it extremely difficult to write about individuals. As a trained journalist and Public Relations practitioner, I am always conscious of my professional boundaries, ethical responsibilities and the fundamental principles of my profession. Even as a member of the Media Team of the Otti Administration and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Public Affairs, I have consistently conducted my media engagements within the established ethics and professional standards of journalism. This explains why my office has remained focused on reporting, propagating, analysing and explaining government policies, programmes and the activities of the Governor. However, for obvious reasons, yours truly will make an exception to address a matter of serious concern to the collective political identity, integrity and future of Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa.
Just a few days ago, I stumbled upon a social media invitation solely signed by one St. Moses Ogbonna, inviting twenty four (24) existing and purported Ukwa La Ngwa groups under the platform of Nzuko Ohaneze Ukwa Ngwa to a meeting allegedly organised to endorse a particular governorship candidate whom I deliberately will not dignify by mentioning his name in this write-up. Quite frankly, I find it difficult to believe that an organisation presented in such a manner enjoys any meaningful recognition, legitimate representation or genuine grassroots presence across the nine Local Government Areas that make up Ukwa La Ngwa in Abia State.
St. Moses is hardly an unfamiliar character in Ukwa La Ngwa and the wider Abia political landscape. His controversial political antecedents, reputation for political merchandising, questionable behaviour and persistent involvement in narratives that promote division rather than unity have remained subjects of considerable public concern. Over time, his political conduct has raised serious questions about his intentions, credibility and actual contribution to the collective interests of Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa.
Indeed, many people have come to associate St. Moses with confusion, division, hate, clannishness and destructive political intrigues. His antecedents, particularly in matters affecting the unity, progress and political interests of Ukwa La Ngwa and Abia State, leave much to be desired. At a time when our people should be consolidating their political relevance, strengthening their unity and protecting their collective interests, it is unfortunate that individuals appear more interested in exploiting our identity for narrow political and personal gains.
St. Moses has no known mandate, recognised institutional authority or legitimate political constituency that empowers him to convene a meeting in the name of Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa and present its outcome as the collective position of our people. The circumstances surrounding this invitation raise legitimate concerns about another possible political merchandising venture, with the name, identity and collective dignity of Ukwa La Ngwa potentially being deployed as bargaining instruments for personal interests.
It is difficult to understand how a governorship candidate who was introduced into the 2027 political contest without any demonstrable political advantage could suddenly become the subject of an elaborate endorsement arrangement allegedly orchestrated by an individual whose political credibility is already a matter of public debate. Is this really about the political future of Abia State, or another desperate attempt to manufacture relevance, negotiate political benefits and create an artificial impression of grassroots support?
Indeed, from the moment this particular candidate was introduced into the 2027 governorship contest, discerning political observers understood that he faced an uphill task against His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, the incumbent Governor of Abia State, who is seeking re-election on the platform of his party, the Labour Party. More troubling is the apparent abandonment of the candidate by some of those reportedly associated with luring and sponsoring his entry into the race. Having failed to establish a convincing political foothold, he now appears vulnerable to the manoeuvres of political actors who may be more interested in exploiting his ambition than advancing any credible political alternative.
Unfortunately, out of desperation and perhaps an exaggerated appetite for political validation, the candidate appears to have embraced the political calculations of St. Moses. But who, exactly, are the prominent personalities expected to grace this so-called Oha Ukwa Ngwa adoption meeting? Which respected Ukwa La Ngwa elders, members of the intelligentsia, youth leaders, women leaders, religious leaders and credible opinion moulders have identified with this questionable political arrangement? Where are the recognised stakeholders whose presence would lend any measure of legitimacy to such an ambitious undertaking?
Certainly, no serious minded individual who genuinely values the collective interests of Ukwa La Ngwa should lend credibility to a political arrangement that appears designed to exploit our people’s name and identity for narrow political and personal interests. Ukwa La Ngwa is not a political merchandise centre, and Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa are certainly not a commodity to be packaged, marketed and traded by self appointed political jobbers.
St. Moses cannot turn Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa into instruments of political bargaining or alleged extortion for a governorship candidate who, by every reasonable assessment of the prevailing political realities, faces an enormous challenge in the February 2027 election. His reputation as a political jobber and the allegations surrounding his political dealings are matters that have generated considerable discussion in political circles.
Consider the sheer absurdity of inviting the Chief Barr. Theo Nkire-led Aba Union, which has already publicly declared its support for Governor Otti, culminating in its endorsement of the Governor for a second term. What about the Abia traditional institution, particularly traditional rulers from Ukwa La Ngwa, whose members have equally endorsed the Governor in recognition of his interventions, respect for traditional institutions and improved welfare? Are we also talking about NNAUSA USA, whose members, during their last convention in Houston, openly endorsed Governor Otti following a presentation on his administration’s performance and achievements?
What about the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Tricycle Operators, who recently staged a solidarity march and equally endorsed the Governor ahead of the 2027 elections? Are these organisations expected to abandon their publicly expressed positions and surrender themselves to the political theatrics of St. Moses? Does he genuinely believe that the political convictions of these organisations can be overturned by a contrived endorsement meeting?
The truth is that St. Moses appears to be embarking on a lonely, ill-advised and politically unproductive expedition. His proposed meeting is dead on arrival as far as any claim to represent the collective position of Ukwa La Ngwa is concerned. The political consciousness of Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa has moved far beyond the antics of political merchants, self appointed jobber and individuals who mistake personal ambition for collective endorsement. Our people are politically discerning, sufficiently informed and perfectly capable of determining who genuinely represents their interests.
The reality is that Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa have identified with Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, and the ongoing transformation of Abia State. They want continuity in governance, not a return to the uncertainties, disappointments and failures of the past. They want development that is visible, measurable and sustained. They want a government that understands the value of public resources and demonstrates a genuine commitment to improving the living conditions of ordinary citizens.
They want the sustained and timely payment of workers’ salaries and pensions. They want the continuation of the massive construction and rehabilitation of roads across their communities. They want more Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), effective and affordable healthcare delivery, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of dilapidated primary and secondary schools. They want sustained improvements in the quality of education, better teaching and learning environments, and stronger research and academic standards at Abia State University, Uturu, Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, and other tertiary institutions across the state.
The people of Ukwa La Ngwa, like other well-meaning Abians, are eager to vote again for a Governor who has demonstrated the capacity and commitment to deliver good governance across the length and breadth of Abia State without discrimination. They want a leader who believes in meritocracy and applies it consistently in the civil and public service. Above all, they want a leader who genuinely fears God, demonstrates integrity in his dealings and embodies the virtues of Character, Competence and Capacity.
These are the defining qualities driving the ongoing transformation, infrastructure revolution and humanitarian interventions of the New Abia administration under Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR. They are also the reasons many Abians are determined to protect the gains already recorded and sustain the momentum of development. The people are not prepared to gamble away these achievements on the altar of political experimentation, questionable alliances and artificially manufactured endorsements.
Let it, therefore, be clearly understood that the political destiny of Ukwa La Ngwa cannot be auctioned by any individual or group of self appointed political merchants. Nobody has an exclusive right to speak for our people, manipulate our collective identity or deploy the name of Ukwa La Ngwa as a bargaining chip in a desperate political transaction. No individual, regardless of his political connections or self acclaimed influence, has the authority to mortgage the collective interests of millions of Abians.
St. Moses must be called to order. He must understand that Ukwa La Ngwa is bigger than any individual, bigger than political merchants and certainly bigger than any contrived endorsement meeting. Our collective political future must never be reduced to an avenue for personal enrichment, political blackmail or the desperate pursuit of relevance. Those who genuinely wish to serve our people must do so with honesty, credibility, transparency and respect for the collective will of the people.
Ndi Ukwa La Ngwa know what they want, and they know the direction in which Abia State must continue to move. They are not available for political manipulation, neither can their collective voice be manufactured through questionable meetings and self-serving declarations.
Ukwa La Ngwa is not for sale. Our mandate is not for auction. Our political future is not negotiable.
It is and remains OTTI OR NOTHING!
Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Public Affairs and a proud son of Ukwa La Ngwa.
