Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Reverend Dr. Chibuzo Raphael Opoko (DOB, TFSG, JP) has described the just concluded gubernatorial election in Abia State as outstanding judging from the wide range of Jubilation across the state after the announcement of the result.
While affirming his position on Abia election results, he advised Alex Otti and those who also won the election from other political parties on the belief that they have arrived to strive hard to meet the expectations of Abians and a new Abia which he envisioned.
Bishop Opoko gave his position as part of his Easter message while addressing newsmen in Umuahia on Wednesday.
Bishop Opoko however expressed dissatisfaction on politicians, some adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and those appointed by the commission to work in various capacity but dashed the hope of Nigerians.
In his word: In Abia state the people’s votes counted, I want to caution those who think that they have arrived, I want them to know that if you do not watch yourself because you have arrived, impunity is one of the fastest ways that people destroy themselves”.
“What happened in Obingwa has demystified Obingwa, how can you vote one hundred and something thousand when the accreditation is less than thirty seven thousand, where did the other numbers come from? . Bishop Opoko asked.
Speaking on the state of Abia, Bishop Opoko decry the state of Umuahia the Abia state capital which he said doesn’t befit the status of a state capital. He also expressed his expectations on the kind of Abia State he wished for.
In his words: look at what is happening at Isi-gate, how can you call this place a state capital. This is not a state capital!
” I want an Abia when you arrived, you will know that you are in a state capital.
” I want an Abia where salaries are paid, not just at 31st but before 30th of every month. When you pay people salaries the money will circulate.
” I want an Abia where local government can do projects within their purse as I see in Lagos where local government tar roads, build culverts and bridges.
“I want an Abia where Aba, the commercial nerve of the state is revivied so that those in Cameroon and other countries can come and buy things from Aba as it used to be in the past.
” I want an Abia where the local government can impact on the people at the local government level.
“I want an Abia where when you want to hire people, you advertise. Give me newspapers where it was advertised. I want Where civil service procedure is followed.
” I want an Abia that follows procedures that is lawful, an Abia that fears God.
“An Abia that has compassion for the people they rule.
“An Abia that the people will turn around and pray for their leaders because their leader is doing well.
“An Abia where youths will be employed and an Abia where there is steady electricity supply.
“I want a new Abia where there will be faith and confidence in those who are ruling.
“I want an Abia where civil service commission and local government service commission will do their job.
“I want a new Abia that can be thinking of dredging the Azumini Blue River in Ukwa Area so that we can have a port.”
Bishop Opoko however wondered how hair dressers and barbers are coping with the high cost of fuel.
There’s a lot of challenges for Alex Otti, but with God, all things are possible.
“We have a lot of sycophants, when the governor has not done anything, they say the governor has done.
“In fact the governor has built a mansion in the sky, go there you will see the government house. How long did it take Akpabio to build a government house in Akwa Ibom? How long did it take Odili to build the government house?
“Here, I think we are still tenants. I want an Abia state where we cannot be tenants.
Bishop Opoko also compared Abia election to that of Enugu state and the presidential election where he said the pronouncement of the presidential result by the INEC did not reflect the expectations of the people. He described it as “dumbfounding and outstanding in a very bad aspect”.
Bishop Opoko hinted that in Enugu state, “out of 24 House of Assembly seats, 14 were LP but yet another party won the gubernatorial election.
“There’s no way politicians will rig elections without the complicity of INEC. We need to ask questions, we need to ask those professors who sack students who cheat in exams and come in this kind of situation to suffered the will of the people”.
“What moral right will those professors have to tell their students not to cheat in their exams”? Bishop Opoko asked.
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