Last Friday (my good friend from Asa and a renowned Orator of Letters) would add the market day), the People’s Army matched to Asa, led by the their General, Governor Alex Otti, and took over Asa land. There was no resistance, no counter attack, no casualties. The Army simply overran Asa, hosted her flag, expanded her territory of control and established her sovereignty.
The battleground was the Central Obehie Primary School field. Asa came out in great numbers – Ndi-Eze, Chiefs, women, men, youths and illustrious men of repute – and pledged royalty to the governor. They came willingly, happily, confidently and with the deep conviction in Otti’s purposes and a stoic assurance of greater things to come. They also came out in colours, in beautiful apparels of royalty that bespoke of a people of class and taste.
The Asa ceremony was a loud statement about the governor’s conquering power and his overwhelming acceptance in Abia State today; an acceptance that is earned by two years of purposeful leadership and practical stewardship.
The Asa ceremony sends out the message that our good people of the state are not difficult species but good men who are appreciative and ready to give sincere loyalty; that what they have always wished for, yearned for and desired was a sincere leader who understands their predicaments and works to alleviate their situation. Otti has filled this vacuum in their hearts; the result is the Asa conquest.
The Asa ceremony confirms that our people are attentive and following the deeds of power. They are monitoring the governor’s works and his manner of distribution of resources. They have followed the overhauling processes, the introduction of new ethics and the rebuilding of a society. The people can see result in the emergency intervention by which the governor has deployed extraordinary measures to tackle the challenges of the state; what you might call breaking the norms to restore order. This has been evident in some of his policy implementation. The people have seen the merit of change. The people have seen transformation as Otti explores how transformation shapes reality in an evolving dynamic world.
The Asa conquest is indeed a signpost to the 2027 electoral battle. It is a picture of the future or a picture into the future. It signals that, as was the case in Asa, the people are ready to defend the mandate that has brought them genuine leadership. It shows that in the days to come the Otti expansionist wave will continue and the People Army will conquer more territories, win new converts and take absolute control. More people will surrender willingly, happily and pledge loyalty.
We do not need a soothsayer to see a landslide victory for the Labour Party, and it shall be a victory earned and kept by the evidence of good deeds.
