By Uchendu Precious Onuoha (Special Correspondent)
AFTER THE VICTORY OF GOD’S OWN
GOVERNOR IN GOD’S OWN STATE
Call him the preaching governor, the singing governor,
the dancing governor, Victor, and a governor after God’s own heart, for God’s
own state, Okezie Ikpeazu would fit in. In September last year in faraway Connecticut
in New York I met a man, and a leader who was clothed with Godly humility. His assertion
that without God, he cannot stand touched my heart. I watched him sing a song
he captioned his battle and victory song:
“Obughi mu ji onwem, ma amara ya jim aka kam hara ida”. I hold not myself, but His grace holds me so
that I cannot fall. And in faraway Spain, I was moved again when I saw him
singing and dancing his victory song once again few days ago after the Supreme Court verdict.
The Supreme Court verdict on February 3, declaring him
the rightful occupant of the Abia state government house after a hard fought
battle with a well formidable and “never say die” opponent confirmed truly that
his victory was an act of God. With the battle that ensued before victory came
his way, any feeble mind would have lost vision and focus. But in governor
Ikpeazu’s case the challenges on his way propelled him to devote himself more
to the service of the people, a rare fit among Nigerian leaders under such
circumstances who would have been distracted and lost focus. And like David, a
man after God’s own heart would do, Ikpeazu was all songs and took to praising
God for his victory after the Supreme Court ruling. And from a distance, I
could hear him sing his battle and victory song once again. As his name depicts
Victor, you cannot be a Victor without a battle. For Okezie Ikpeazu, the
initial battle is won but you have not finished the race. But the real test just started.
For his opponent Alex Otti, “Anu laa taa, echi bun ta”.
It was not a Victor and vanquished affair. You did not fail, rather it’s a
stepping stone to success. “The
phoenix must burn to emerge”
The election is over and the winner emerged. Irrespective
of political and party leanings, let everybody Join hands to make Abia great. It’s
not the Abia state of Ikpeazu or PDP, APGA or APC, but the Abia state of
Nigeria.
For Ikpeazu now that you have the
full mandate, the gloomy and cloudy storms are gone. The coast is clear. Strip
yourself of party politics and god fatherism agenda and go for the real work
God has chosen you to do in Abia state. You are not a PDP governor, you are not
the Ngwa governor, you are not the Umuahia governor, but you are Ikpeazu, the
Abia state governor. And may I remind
you during the interview with you in New
York September 5 2015 your answer to the question; Abia state is tagged as God’s own state, and you
are the governor of God’s own state… would it be right to tag you as God’s own
governor?
Your
response was “It would be a privilege, an
honor, in fact a virtue, it’s not a title I can own, and it’s a title I will
work towards to. I wish I could be God’s own governor. And I pray he will be gracious
and merciful to give me the grace to be that one day”.
Governor
Ikpeazu, the time has come to work towards that virtue and clinch it. Now that
the gloomy and cloudy storms that loomed on your path are gone, go for the
crown of glory and work to earn that virtue as God’s own governor through your
good works as you have already set out to do. In addition to your battle and
victory song, you can sing now a new song in the rendition of Jimmy Cliff; And
you can sing and say;
“I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all
obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be
a bright sunshiny day. Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone. All of the
bad feelings have disappeared. Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for”…
Indeed
here is the rainbow and the blue skies Abians have been praying and waiting
for. And surely it’s going to be a bright sunshiny days and years for the
people of God’s own state under God’s own governor.
