By Chimezie Hope Chiamaka
Ahead of 2027, one conversation is dominating political discussions in Abia: trust. Abians are asking who can be trusted with the state’s resources and how public money will be managed.
For many citizens, especially those in the business community and civil society, the issue is not just about building roads and hospitals. It is about seeing the numbers behind them.
How much was budgeted, how much was spent, who got the contracts, and what value did the people get for their money. When governance lacks openness, confidence in government erodes no matter how many projects are commissioned.
It is within this context that the candidacy of Eric Opah under the All Progressives Congress, APC, is drawing attention.
Those who support him point to his track record in the private sector as proof of what he can do in public office. Under his leadership, Fortune Global Shipping and Logistics Limited ran with a level of transparency and accountability that is rare in Nigerian business. Financial records were kept open, processes were properly documented, and stakeholders always knew where money came from and where it went.
The expectation is simple. The same culture that made Fortune Global credible can be brought into the Government House in Umuahia.
If elected, Eric Opah has pledged to run an open government. That means regular publication of the state’s budget performance and audited accounts. It means competitive bidding for contracts, with details made public so citizens can see who is executing what project and at what cost. It means dashboards that allow Abians to track projects from conception to completion in real time.
Running a state comes with its own complexities, bureaucracy, politics and competing interests. But leadership sets the tone. A government that begins with transparency will force ministries, agencies and contractors to align. A governor who insists on accountability will build institutions that outlast his tenure.
Abia needs a government where nothing is hidden. A government where citizens do not have to beg for information about their own money. A government where trust is rebuilt because the books are open and the people are watching.
Eric Opah represents that possibility. His experience shows he understands that transparency is not a slogan, it is a system. And that system is what he intends to bring to Abia.
Abians, the choice is yours.
Opah will Address Transparency, Issues of Trust if Elected
