OPINION: Don’t Change The Winning Team- Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba

By Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba

~ it’s statutory
~ it’s spiritual
~ it’s the law of soccer

Great Abians,

I write to you not merely as a stakeholder in our collective journey, but as one who has walked the long and often difficult road in pursuit of a better Abia State; a road many of you have walked with me.

You will recall our collective historic journey in 2011, and that in 2015, I stood in contest for the governorship of our dear state alongside Alex Otti. That contest was not a fleeting political exercise; it was a protracted struggle that tested the strength of our democratic institutions, stretching all the way to the Supreme Court. It was a defining moment, one that underscored not just ambition, but conviction, resilience, and an unyielding belief that Abia could be governed differently.

That belief has not waned.

Today, I stand before you with the same clarity of purpose, but with an even deeper sense of responsibility. The quest to build a functional, prosperous, and just Abia remains my lifelong commitment. Yet, leadership is not only about contest, it is also about discernment, unity, and the courage to support what is working for the greater good.

It is in that spirit that I, alongside the entirety of the Changeabia Organisation and its 197 affiliate groups, took the deliberate and historic decision to endorse Governor Alex Otti for a second term. This endorsement was not casual, nor was it politically convenient. It was thoughtful, measured, and rooted in observable realities.

Across our state, from the grassroots to the leadership of communities, there is a growing alignment of purpose. The endorsement by 197 affiliated groups and the entirety of our village heads across the state speak volumes. These are men who sit closest to the pulse of our people, custodians of our traditions and witnesses to the daily impact of governance. Their collective voice is not easily swayed, and their support is not lightly given.

In our endorsement, we recognised something profound.
We recognised a flow, a sense of movement that defines power.
We recognised a direction, a deliberate pathway towards structured development.
We recognised a strategy, clear, methodical, and anchored on measurable outcomes.
Above all, we recognised a remarkable spectre of governance, one that inspires confidence, restores hope, and reawakens belief in what Abia can become that aligns with the Changeabia philosophy.

This is not to say the work is completely done. Far from it. The journey ahead remains demanding, and the expectations of our people rightly continue to rise. But what we have seen is enough to affirm that we are on a path worth sustaining. And as often said, “two good heads are better than one”.

My appeal to you, therefore, is simple but profound.
Stay the course.
Support continuity where continuity serves progress.
Protect the gains we are beginning to see.
Hold leadership accountable, but do not abandon a system that is showing great signs of working. Let us not, in impatience, disrupt a trajectory that is gradually redefining our state.
Abia belongs to all of us. Its future will not be built by one man alone, nor by one group, but by the collective will of a people determined to rise above limitations. Do not, in all sincerity, change the winning team.

As for me, my commitment remains unshaken unless taken for granted. My vision for Abia is alive, my passion undiminished, and my dedication to the welfare of our people absolute. Leadership, in whatever form it takes, must always serve the people, and I will continue to stand where that service is most needed. Together, let us move forward with wisdom, with unity, and with purpose.

May God bless the great people of Abia State.

Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba
Havard trained global negotiator across borders and cultures, National Convenor the Nigerian Project, and former governorship candidate, Abia State