Viral Video: Why Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu Champions “Best Over Better”

 

The United States of America has the most stable democracy in the world; it is considered the bastion of democracy. Nigeria copied its version of Presidential system of Government from the US. Ultimately, the definition of democracy as practiced in Nigeria and America is the winner-take-all system. It is on record that When Former President Barrack Obama was running for the Presidency of the United States of America for the very first time, he had many intra-party challengers during the primary election of his Democratic Party; many of them he finally picked to work in his cabinet,after emerging victories at the general polls; Senator Joe Biden was picked as VP, his fiercest challenger Hillary Clinton, was picked as Secretary of State and John kerry another challenger, was later picked as Secretary of State in his second tenure. Same goes with President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

 

The United States of America, which is the standard of democratic practice world-over is politically divided largely into Red and Blue States; Red States are Republican Party controlled and Blue States are Democratic Party controlled. Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Senators, Congressmen, etc. all campaigned to see their party candidates win elections; whether it is the Presidential, Senatorial, mid-term Congress election, State Congress and gubernatorial, name it.

 

Read More:https://www.newsspot.com.ng/apc-will-take-over-abia-come-2027that-is-what-i-owe-mr-president-reps-deputy-speaker-vows/

Therefore, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives is politically and practically right to express his desire to work assiduously for his party, the APC, to take over Abia Government House in the 2027 gubernatorial election. If the United States of America our model and standard measure of democracy allows for partisanship, what is wrong in the Honorable Deputy Speaker’s viral video message to the Abia State Governor of Labour Party?

 

However, the Deputy Speaker was very respectful in addressing the Abia State Governor, who he acknowledged in the video as his friend. He even went further to patronise Governor Otti as performing better than the previous Governors, but emphatically posited that Abia State will go for the best not just be contented with better. The Deputy Speaker’s unequivocal stance in the said video was clear on why Abia shouldn’t settle for better when best is possible. Hence, he expressed his desire for Abia State to go for the best by aligning with APC, the party at the center.

 

Accordingly, the Deputy Speaker made a strong case for why it is imperative for Abia to get the best rather than get comfortable with just better. Even in developed democracies for instance; Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) and Reps Steny Hoyer (D), the majority leader at one time made cases at their home states on why their states must remain “Blue” (D) and should vote Barack Obama. If it was no crime for America democracy, it is entirely right for the Deputy Speaker to warn Dr. Alex Chioma Otti to either elevate governance to the best from better or get ready to be defeated and sent packing for the best to happen in Abia State.

 

Abia must leave the comity of states that are still struggling with mere asphalt of roads, salary payment to contend, compete and rank with Lagos and FCT in terms of governance deliverables.

 

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu was simply saying that regular payment of salaries with the new national minimum wage(#70,000), which Governor Otti is still struggling with, would ordinarily be taken for granted by APC Governor who is coming in 2027 for the best. The Deputy Speaker in his demand for change, proposed that the 2027 APC Governor who will offer “best”,will return all entitlements of Abia pensioners, than Governor Otti,who can only offer “better” result and deceitfully forced retirees to forfeit. For best results; all those poor workers numbering over 20, 000, that were unjustly sacked because they were engaged by previous administration,shall be recalled after reviewing their individual appointments. Permanent Secretaries and Directors sacked or forced to retire prematurely by the Labour Party government under the watch of Governor Otti, will be given the opportunity to make their case for possible reinstatement. Civil Service reforms with a human face will be introduced to replace Otti’s torture of Abia workers in the name of reforms. Workers that play by the roles, shall attain the zenith of their careers without fear of sack or retrenchment.

 

Consequently, because best trumps better, the 2027 APC Governor in waiting, will immediately put together a strong former Abia Governor’s forum,where every former Governor will be expected to pull their wealth of experiences together in advisory capacity for benefit of the state as government is a continuum. Programs and policies that previously worked shall be improved upon. No project will be abandoned. Governor Otti’s needless political witch-hunt, vendetta, wickedness and blackmail against ex- Governors shall be completely abolished. EFCC and ICPC will be handed over serious cases of fraud and embezzlement. Media trials with intent of ridiculing former public office holders will be a thing of the past. The divisive Old Abia and New Abia dichotomy, will be abolished for a united Abia. The social caste system introduced by Governor Otti for hierarchy of Billionaires against non-billions will be outlawed. The Local Government authority leadership will be returned to young people, as the supposed training ground for future leaders, not Otti’s retirement home for outdated oldies tagged Billionaire Mayors.

 

Resultantly, Abia will make tremendous progress when institutions are allowed to work under an APC Governor, which was exactly what Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu simply offered to Abians in the said viral video clip, as best alternative to replace the current averagely rated Otti of Labour Party.

 

Subsequently, the 2027 incoming APC government for best results will reverse Abia political toxicity which Governor Alex Otti promoted, the practice of recruiting aides for monthly stipends of N30k to N50k, just to abuse and insult fellow Abians shall cease. Instead of pay millions of naira to non-Abia social media influencers in Lagos and Abuja, local Abia bloggers and social media practitioners will be trained in capacity building for maximisation of money, making opportunities available on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok etc. There will be no more looting of funds, where N7billion was wasted on capacity building and orientation without a single Abian benefiting.

 

Assuredly, Abia will transit from better to best when it aligns with the government at the center because the state will be strategically positioned for Federal government projects. A cursory glance at the performance index of states not the propaganda Otti’s Labour Party sponsors on social media which are inconsistent with reality; one would discover that APC states received better Federal government attention than others. Similarly,
Federal appointments follow same trend.

 

Furthermore, the Deputy Speaker was simply saying in the viral video that with APC Governor, infrastructure will be seen and their locations made known to Abians, as era of audio and non-existent recreational facilities, ICT Infrastructure, Educational facilities, Agricultural seedlings; will come to an end.

 

Finally, Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti, recruited more than enough media aides including Hon. Obi Aguocha, the member suffering the good people of Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal constituency at the National Assembly, to be his attack dogs, why will Labour Party members expect the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu to declare no vacancy in Abia government House in 2027, when Abia can transit from better to best through APC?. Why will Labour Party apologists and their sponsors attack the Deputy Speaker who made similar overtures on former PDP Governor Okezie Ikpeazu,when he was still Abia Governor, to dump PDP and join Ben’s APC. The friendly banter never degenerated into personal attacks and abuse. What is Governor Otti actually afraid of?

 

Ahamdi Ebere is a Public Affairs Analyst and a member of the APC, Abia State