By Emmanuel Achilihu
In a political clime where propaganda has become the order of the day and white elephant projects are celebrated on billboards more than on the ground, the statement credited to Eric Opah during the unveiling of his Deputy, Dr. Godswill Agu Egbe, is nothing short of heartwarming.
”We will not claim 400 roads, whereas we did not construct up to 20,” Opah said with candour.
It was a simple statement, but loaded with meaning. It was a direct punch at the politics of deceit that has held Abia down for years, and unfortunately, a culture that seems to have been perfected under the present administration where, allegedly, non-existent projects are counted as achievements and media hype is mistaken for governance.
What Abians need today is not a government of photoshop and press releases, but a government that will call a spade a spade. For too long, we have been fed with inflated figures – hundreds of roads claimed on television and radio, while our villages remain impassable, our youths jobless, and our communities cut off.
Eric Opah’s declaration is therefore refreshing. It restores hope that there are still leaders who believe that governance must be about truth and accountability, not grandstanding. It shows a man who is prepared to be judged by what he has done, not by what his media team can invent.
If you build 10 roads, say you built 10 roads. If you built 20, say 20. Abians are not asking for miracles; we are asking for sincerity. Let what you say you have done be verifiable on the ground.
This is the kind of leadership Abia needs come 2027 – leadership that will not insult the intelligence of the people with bogus claims, but will earn trust through honesty, verifiable projects, and people-oriented governance.
For me as an Abian from Amade, Opah’s words struck a chord. They are a promise of a new standard where governance will be measured not by propaganda, but by reality.
Emmanuel Achilihu writes from Amade, Isiala Ngwa South, Abia State.
A Breath of Fresh Air: Eric Opah’s Promise of Truthful Governance Resonates in Abia
