Abia and the Internet Jobbers

                         
                                                              Chief Theodore Orji,

Kingsley Emereuwa writes that no amount of cyber attacks would deter the administration of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State
Abia State is unique in many senses. Apart from its pride of place as the number one state in alphabetical order among the comity of states in Nigeria, Abia is the only state that can, according to its indigenes, be sighted in the Holy Bible. Before the assumption of office of the present governor, Chief Theodore Orji, Abia was politically notorious. It was quite unfortunate that the otherwise peaceful state was caught in the web of political disagreement between then gladiators from the state and then federal government.

While the altercation and muscle-flexing lasted, the people of the state were no better for it as the situation then had made lucid the old adage that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Thus, as the imbroglio between the state and the powerful federal government lasted, Abia citizens both at home and abroad, suffered collateral damage in terms of self-advancement and political patronage.

How come each time Abia is in the news for the good or bad, it generates more than a passing interest? Why is the state always attracting interest from noisy busy-bodies who will always find out a bushy hair without noticing well-cut hair? During the menace of kidnapping, Abia was a feast for the commissioned agents.

As far as they were concerned, the governor was the cause of the incessant kidnap cases in the state. At the time of the total eradication of the vice, no one would commend the efforts made by the governor. But that was not all. Kidnapping started reigning in other places including the neighboring states to Abia. Quite unexpectedly, the media began to play down on it. Unlike Abia, kidnapping was no longer a front page story.
Then, the issue of an ugly gang rape! Suddenly the governor's detractors went to town with the gist that the incident took place in Abia State University, Uturu. Hell was let loose. Commissioned hack writers stopped short of alleging that the governor was an accomplice. Nobody gave the security agents any chance. Not even highly placed individuals could exercise restraints in their comments, of course indicting the state.

These persons incensed Abia indigenes by the unsubstantiated allegation that the incident took place in the state. The Police issued a statement but Linda especially would have none of that. To them, the state government and officials were guilty as charged in their estimation. The University issued a statement, and that further exacerbated the gladiators.

Just when the attack dogs had satisfied their paymasters, the police unveiled the criminals behind the dastardly act. And to imagine that it actually took place in another state while enemies had feasted on Abia without any tangible proof to link such to Abia suggests an orchestrated scripted being acted out.

It is however surprising to behold that all those who hastily abused a state and its people for a crime they knew nothing about have not found honour anywhere to ask for forgiveness. The question now is: who dunno it?

One may not search for long to find the answer. The hand of Esau is felt, but the voice is unmistakably that of Jacob. The people are also aware. They are even wiser than their tormentors of yesterday think. The era of rice and tomato politics in exchange for the conscience and commonwealth of the masses in Abia has gone for good.

Head or tail, the litany of accomplishments by the governor of Abia has put his detractors to shame to the point that they now merely haul sand at his efforts. And to sing the requiem, many laurels have come from several local and global awarding-organisations which gave honour to whom it was due.

Today again, the Internet is replete with ubiquitous fora on Abia manipulated by jobless thespians attempting to force themselves into relevance. Some use theirs as tools for blackmail and campaign of calumny against a governor who has touched his people's lives. Can the poor farmer at Mbom Ibeku not forever remain grateful to the man who caused the first coal tar to his village?

What more will they say that will mean a thing to the villagers of Obikabia, Emede, Okagwe, Ndi-Oji Abam or Amaeke concerning Ochendo and expect it to bear fruit? None! As for his place in history? Ochendo certainly does not need the verdict of detractors nor praise-singers, but history. And with the monuments already in place, his enviable place in history is comfortably assured.