In Nigerian politics, where many leaders talk more than they listen, the ability to genuinely listen to the people is a rare virtue. That virtue, I have found, is what will define Eric Opah, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 elections.
I first met Opah over four years ago during a youth engagement. What struck me was not just his calmness, but his patience to listen — to allow you to reel out your challenges without interruption. It is a quality lacking in many public office holders today, yet it is the foundation of responsive leadership.
A leader who does not listen to the plight of the people will, in turn, be rejected by the people.
That listening character played out again on Friday at Flo FM, Umuahia.
A small group of protesters had gathered outside the station to protest in support of the APC candidate, accusing the Abia State Government of failing to address flooding that swept away their properties at Trademore Housing Estate, Umuahia.
Instead of dismissing them, Opah stopped, engaged them and listened to their complaints with rapt attention. It was not a staged political performance; it was a natural disposition.
That action speaks volumes. It shows the kind of governor he would be — a governor who listens to understand and to solve, not a governor who deflects with comparisons and asks, “what did the previous administration do?”
Abia today is bedeviled by many challenges — from flooding to infrastructure decay and economic hardship. What the state needs is not just a governor with ideas, but a governor with ears to the ground, who will get to the root of problems by first hearing from those affected.
In Opah, Abians have a listening governor-in-waiting. Whether we make that choice in 2027 is left to us.
Chimezie Amala writes from Umuevo, Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South.
2027: The Listening Virtue That Sets Eric Opah Apart ~ By Chimezie Amala
