Chief Chamberlain Adiaso – The Ukwa Ngwa Man Who Stood Up For Dr Uche Ogah

OKECHUKWU EZEBUIKE  

The just concluded APC governorship primaries in Abia State was an opportunity to discover once again that there are Nigerians who have grown beyond cheap primordial sentiments which has become the bane of our underdevelopment and poverty. Particularly, it was an opportunity to salute the courage of the Ngwa nation, who are by nature very independent minded people. 

So it was, that when some political elements attempted to divide the Abia APC and to cause disharmony between the Ngwa nation and their brothers by fostering the agenda of the PDP, it was men like Chief Chamberlain Adiaso (The Agu Ji Egbe 1 of Abia State) that stood up to be counted. A governorship aspirant himself who did an honest assessment of the party’s standing in the upcoming general election and came out with a factual conclusion that Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah remains the best amongst many qualified aspirants in the APC that can beat the clueless incumbent PDP governor in Abia State.

Chief Chamberlain Adiaso displayed unparalleled courage and sense of leadership by being the first Ukwa Ngwa man to come out openly to endorse Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah. This is irrespective  of contrived ethnic interest being pushed by some elements in Abia State politics in order to gain undue advantage. Chief Chamberlain Adiaso showed that indeed the collective conscience of society can only be nurtured by truth.

Ordinarily, the constitution guarantees the citizens the right to free speech, the right to assembly and the right to associate freely and worship according to the dictates of their conscience. But some elements in Abia State politics does not want the full expression of that right by seeking to use ethnic sentiment and intimidation to subvert the popular will of the people and by trying to deny the people their right to choose the kind of leadership they want.

Therefore, the rare courage displayed by Chief Chamberlain Adiaso in the build-up to the last APC governorship primaries in Abia State must be commended. Because it is difficult to see a man of such repute and towering standing concede to another aspirant whom he considers aptly qualified to lead the struggle to liberate Abia State in this season.

The ruling cabal in Abia State have perfected a gimmick of pitching Abia indigenes against each other using ethnic and and zonal rhetorics. In the end, their so called zoning agenda has never benefited any zone so imposed. Rather, it has become the basis for bad governance and abysmal leadership. The last administration in Abia State was considered to be that of Abia central. But 8 years after, the people of the zone like other parts of Abia State became worst than it was before the zoning shenanigan.

Currently, the Abia South people and the entire Ukwa Ngwa who supposedly lays claim to the governorship seat is in bad shape; notwithstanding that a so called Ukwa Ngwa man is in power. Like every other part of the state, there is excruciating hunger, mass unemployment, failed infrastructure and financial stagnation. The governor being from that part of the state has not made any difference in the lives of the people of the zone.

This is why we must appreciate a man like Chief Chamberlain Adiaso who saw beyond the deception being bandied as zonal interest to endorse Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, a man that is well known in the state for his positive impact in the lives of the people of Abia State. Chief Chamberlain Adiaso has by his open endorsement endeared himself to the people of Abia State. His support and loyalty to Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah epitomizes the courage of leadership required to build an egalitarian society.

Chief Chamberlain Adiaso must be celebrated for his foresight and genuine love for the Abia people. His preference for quality leadership that will benefit the entire people of Abia State is a testament in the pursuit of what is the greatest good for the greatest number of Abia people. His loyalty to his friend and brother, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, exemplifies the the quality of thinking required for Abia’s development; the spirit of oneness and commitment to the overall interest of the state. The spirit that encourages unity of purpose rather than the narrow interest clutched in ethnocentrism.

I salute Chief Chamberlain Adiaso’s foresight and courage of leadership and also recommend him highly for public service in any major capacity in Abia State and Nigeria.

Agu Ji Egbe 1, you have my respect!