THOMAS SANKARA: ABIA STATE AND ALEX OTTI by Agodi KANU
THOMAS SANKARA
On 2nd August, 1984 a young military officer named Thomas Sankara who took over the reign of leadership in Burkina Faso in 1983 renamed Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (BF). Prior to his ascendency, there was widespread corruption, underdevelopment, over dependence on foreign products, crimes and non payment of wages which led to many and protracted labour union strikes.
The dynamic, disciplined and intelligent Sankara took decisive steps to change their ugly story and one of such was changing the name to Burkina Faso which means land of honest and upright people. He initiated actions to stamp out crime, dealt with corrupt government officials, changed the psyche of his people, encouraged them to be productive and they became self reliant thereby restoring their dignity towards enhanced productivity. Before his coming, BF was bleeding with citizens dying in installments. He brought rapid transformations and developments to the West African country. Sankara moved from persecution to presidency. He changed their address from consumption to production. He loved his people and spared nothing in liberating them from shackles of poverty and helplessness. Burkina Faso changed for good until the same friend that brought him to power also extinguished the life in him. *He rescued BF when they were in crisis.*
ABIA STATE
Today, Abia State is in turmoil, despair, hopelessness and shame. Today, like Burkina Faso, Abia state is populated by all round corrupt minded government personalities. Today, the right of civil servants to receive their salaries at end of the month is now at the prerogative of government and peak of electioneering momentum. Today, poverty, hunger, forced prostitution is evident as a result of hardship occasioned by non payment of salaries and non lubrication of the economy. Today, avoidable deaths are no longer avoidable because of non existent Medicare. Today, many families have their loved ones six feet down because of deeds and misdeeds of government. Today, businesses are bleeding with option of either closing or relocating. Today, petty thieves induced by hunger reigns. Today, political desperation and unguarded utterances from agents of State government on do or die election is unfortunately no longer news. Today, we are governed from Aba and Obingwa than Government House Umuahia with expected poor decisions emanating therefrom. Today, we have a government that willfully and deliberately kept quiet while poor citizens and hardworking keke drivers are robbed at gunpoint by police on stop and search parting with their money 24/7 on Bende Road, in front of Commissioner of Police office, State Command, Umuahia. ( it’s happening now as you read, Go and Verify). Who will the impoverished citizens cry to or complain to?
DR ALEX CHIOMA OTTI
Dear Abia voters, there is one man who has the experience, exposure, expertise, political will and courage to dismantle the above mentioned government inflicted barricades and avalanche of monsters molesting Abians. His name is Dr Alex Chioma Otti . He will ride with you and not with godfathers because he doesn’t have baggages of papacracy, mamacracy, dedecracy but ohacracy. He will stand with and by you to ensure you rejoice. He will partner with you towards recreation of New Abia. Just like Thomas Sankara raised a generation of *upright people* that believed in Burkina Faso, Dr Alex Chioma will return us to our rightful place as citizens of God’s Own State. Like Sankara in BF, Otti will safely rescue Abia in this moment of crisis. In God, there’s uprightness and righteousness which will exalt us as Abians.
CODE
Dear Voter, like an advanced bride who’s faced with slim chance of getting married and finally got hooked up with date set aside for exchange of vows, please be expectant. The same way she will always and secretly be admiring her wedding regalia, please admire your PVC. As she will be having sleepless nights, waiting patiently for the d-day, please be agitated to cast your vote. Like she will keep calling family members and especially friends reminding them of her d-day, please proudly keep reminding family friends, colleagues, staff, neighbours and even foes alike that Saturday, 18th March is the d-day.
*The party to vote is Labour Party with symbol as Mama Papa Pikin. When you vote for LP, you’ve voted Dr Alex Chioma Otti as the next Executive Governor of Abia State.* Do not succumb to the distractive tendencies of rabble-rousers and Ahitophels. Be prayerful and steadfast for with Dr Otti, we shall weep no more.
Your vote will empower Dr Otti to transform Abia like Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso. We deserve better life that Abians may rejoice. *Network for Advocacy and Good Leadership Initiative aka Abia Political Movement (NAGLI-APM) is leading in mobilization and ultimate voting of Dr Alex Chioma Otti as Abia Rescuer come Saturday 18th March, 2023.
Mazi Dr Agodi KANU is a writer, author, political analyst, security consultant and Director General of NAGLI-APM. He writes from Nigeria.
