This is the disposition of Opah, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.
For many who have followed his trajectory, from the boardroom where he has successfully run his shipping business to the community where he serves as the President-General of Nsulu Development Union, one thing stands out – his capacity to carry everyone along.
It is this same inclusive leadership template, observers say, that he intends to bring to bear in the governance of Abia State.
Opah, according to close associates, does not see himself through the narrow prism of clan or senatorial district. While he proudly identifies as an Ngwa man from Isiala Ngwa, his vision transcends the borders of Ngwa land.
His ambition is not to be remembered as an Ngwa governor, but as a governor for the entire Abia – for Ukwa, for Bende, for Ohafia, for Arochukwu, for Umuahia, for Ikwuano, for every community that makes up God’s Own State.
Those who have worked with him in the shipping industry attest to his managerial acumen – a man who understands global competitiveness, logistics, profit and loss, and more importantly, people management. In an industry where precision and accountability are non-negotiable, he has built a reputation for excellence and integrity.
Same story in Nsulu. As President-General of Nsulu Development Union, Opah has shown that leadership is about listening. He has carried stakeholders along – youths, elders, women, professionals at home and in diaspora – in pursuing unity and development. He does not run a one-man show. He consults, he builds consensus, and he delivers.
This, analysts argue, is exactly what Abia needs at this time – a governor who will not sectionalise development, who will not govern with bitterness or favouritism, but one who will see the whole of Abia as his constituency.
In a state where the politics of exclusion has cost us development and created distrust, Opah’s message of inclusion is resonating. The idea that Abia’s resources must work for Abians irrespective of where they come from, and that appointments, projects and policies must reflect the diversity and potential of the entire state.
From Ndiolumbe, the message is simple: Abia is in need of a unifier with proven private sector experience and community leadership credentials. And in Opah, many see that bridge – between old and young, between private sector efficiency and public sector accountability, between Ngwa and Abia.
He is not coming to be an Ngwa governor. He is coming to be governor for the entire Abia.
Chiemela Emeka writes from Ndiolumbe.
Why Opah Will Not Be An Ngwa Governor But Governor For Entire Abia – By Chiemela Emeka
