Shakespeare was right: “Misery does acquaint one with strange bed fellows”, so he said in his book, The Tempest.
In Abia State today, misery has acquainted or brought two political groups, the Remnants and Renegades (RR) into an unholy alliance. They are great soulmates of convenience, allies by circumstance, bind together by their unfortunate predicament.
The two groups are distinguishing themselves as committed partners and faithful strange bedfellows. The remnants are the miserable leftovers of what used to be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the great exodus. The exodus continues everyday, creating more disgruntled remnants. Renegades, by the dictionary definition, are persons who desert and betray an organisation, country or a set of principles. For her punitive policies, Nigerians see the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a betrayal to the country and in Abia State, they are deserters and mutineers.
Having been dislodged and displaced by the masses of Abia in the 2023 elections, these two groups are today stranded strangers in their own state and have been united by their ill-fate. The RR have been united into a common communion by their unfortunate condition.
In this emergency marriage of convenience between the PDP and the APC in the state are the fellowship of wayfarers, the mingling of two desperado-partners. Everyday, as the exodus continues and the once big umbrella continues to succumb to the natural laws of degeneration, the laws of natural wear and tear, what is left are remnants at a crossroad; a group in a quandary
But, the remnants and the renegades have found a common obsession, a war of attrition against the collective will of the Abia people, for Governor Alex Otti’s mandate was a collective will. In the last couple of days, Abians have been witnessing the hyper activity of two dislodged groups who found a common purpose in a guerrilla war against the government and the people of Abia State. Theirs is the last-ditch effort of a people struggling for survival and self-preservation. They are frantically seeking for any available straw to clutch unto as to remain afloat.
But, Abia has moved on beyond their antics. Abians cannot allow a throw-back to the gains and progress that Otti has achieved for the people under the New Abia experience. Abians know their harrowing experiences and are today living witnesses to the light and the assurances of progress that this governor has brought to Abia and will defend their against the RR.
Adindu writes from Umuahia, Abia State capital
