There has always been this debate concerning the roles leadership and followership play in building societies. While some argue that leadership is the major influencer of change, others hold that change comes from the interplay of the two. Obviously, these standpoints meritorious. Only when leaders and those they are leading work together does true development happen. However, judging from historical experiences, and realities on ground world over today, societies building process is almost always majorly driven by leadership.

It was leadership not followership that ended the obnoxious and centuries old slave trade. Before Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860 as the US President, slavery was deeply rooted in country. In fact, it was the lifeblood of its economy, particularly in the South. When he became president, fearing he would fight the scourge eleven Southern States seceded. Not only that they began a war against the country. Lincoln went ahead, fought them, defeated them, and still outlawed slavery in 1863. It was
Mathama Ghandi’s leadership that changed the course of India’s history for ever. Like all its colonies Britain ruled India with iron fists, and subdued almost every one. However, amid that hostility rose Ghandi. He came up with his “satagraya”, philosophy, a nonviolence ideology, meaning “love force.” In English. He carefully crafted it to contrast with the brutal philosophy of the colonialists.And after decades of painful struggles he freed India.

The same way Lincoln and Ghandi altered history forever was also how Dr Nelson Mandela’s leadership changed South Africa for life. The ongoing giant strides in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Arabian countries, is largely been influenced by leadership.

What is happening now in Abia State, particularly in Aba under the present administration of Governor Alex Otti, stands out as another strong proof that state or nation building, is more of a leadership responsibility than that of the citizen.

Only three years ago Aba, the famed Japan of Africa, Umuahia the capital of Abia, and indeed, all other urban centres and communities in state, were almost in total shambles in all aspects of development. They battled with grossly decayed infrastructure, from roads to hospitals, from schools to power, and from schools to markets. The shocking dearth of infrastructures naturally led to the collapse of the economic activities they supported. To say the least Abia was in total disarray prior to 2023.However, while most of the other parts of the state grappled chiefly with decrepit infrastructure, stunted economic activities, and near zero public services, Aba’s own case was far worse The city tethered on brink of collapse because of the combined force of the near zero government presence in the city, and its steep descent into the crime capital of not only the state, but South East, and even, Nigeria.

Before Aba fell into depression it was arguably the cultural, entrepreneurial, commercial, and industrial hub of Abia and South East. A land of opportunity where if you are determined, and patient, breasting the tape of success was only a matter of time.

But, between 1999 to 2022, Aba lost all its glories as masterminded by the visionless, incompetent and kleptocratic leaderships that took turns to rape Abia.
However, as soon Gov Otti arrived and instituted a deliberate recovery process, the story began to change. Now, barely three years on he has so re-engineered, recovered and rebuilt the city, and the state, that almost all the sectors of the economy have bounced back to life. This seeming miraculous turnaround no doubt is why Aba residents, Abia people,and Nigerians who love good things, are proudly saying that the governor is building a ” New Aba” and a” New Abia State.”

Prior to my recent visit to Aba i used to get the news of what was happening in the city from media sources. Once in a while too i reached out on phone to friends and relatives there. What they told me often matched with what the media sources also used to dish out. But, still a little shrill voice inside of me kept telling me that, personal experience remains the best way to authenticate everything. To find out if truly a ” New Aba” is emerging. This was why when I got the opportunity I took it.

I used to know the “Old Aba” the governor was reportedly rebuilding. As a student in the University of Uyo i used to travel through the city more than a dozen times yearly. I also used to regularly spent weeks and months there during holidays. As at that time all Aba was associated with was bad stories mainly crime stories that bestowed on it a notorious reputation that spread far and wide. Surely, that must have been the reason why concerned relatives used to enjoin me back then to always vigilant in Aba to avoid falling victim to one crime or another. Beyond criminalities Aba was also synonymous with terribly decayed infrastructures: deeply potholed roads that forced motorists to navigate bush roads; markets that mirrored shanties; streets taken over by overflowing garbage that stank to high heavens, and near zero electricity supply.

However, on touching down in the same Aba I used to know back then recently, what my eyes saw contrasted sharply with the visuals of the past. All the roads i used that day were in perfect condition. From Osisioma to Brass Junction to Ariria, and from Ariria A Line to Enyimba Park on Aba/ Port Harcourt Expressway where I boarded bus back to Owerri, i did not for once see any bad spot anywhere. The unprecedented environmental transformation of the city was another wonder that I couldn’t miss.

From Brass Junction to Ariria and down to the Enyimba Park yours sincerely didn’t see any pure water sachet on the ground. All the wastebins on the roads were also squeaky clean, and it too was obvious that environmental discipline was fast becominga way of life. These shocking observations compelled me to ask my brother who was accompanying me, and who is resident in the town, why things are the way they are now. He explained that residents are now very conscious of their environmental sanitation actions. According to him unlike before when people used disposed refuse like pure water sachets carelessly, now after drinking they’ll put the sachet in their bags or pockets,if there’s no waste bin around. And when they find one eventually they make sure they dispose the refuse properly. He further highlighted that the reason why the wastebins were very clean was because they are washed before being returned after every evacuation.

Inside Ariria Market the “New Aba” the governor is building waa also very conspicuous. A few years ago Ariria was just one big, sprawling shanty, with no single amenity,making it absolutely unconducive for business. The story is different today. Internal roads there are now paved, modern shops that have restored both the dignity of the traders and the market have been built, and more are ongoing. Without doubt the Ariria being built by Gov Otti can compete with any of its peers anywhere in the world when completely delivered.

What i saw in Aba convinced me that truly a “New Aba” is being built by Gov Otti simultaneously with the ” New Abia” he’s also building intentionally. Yes, much still needs to be done, but from what has been done these three years, it’s clear in eight years the building process would have reached completion,positioning Aba and Abia on the path to actualizing their enormous potentials. If there’s one lesson these miraculous transformations embody, it’s the fact that building societies begin with leadership.