Good morning All.
It shouldn’t be my turn to write today, but some thoughts refuse to stay bottled up. Maybe I’ll share this on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Maybe I won’t. Either way, these words were always destined to leave the haven of my head and land on your screens. That, whenever it happens, is my small victory.
I want to talk about the political “tension” in Abia State. There has been plenty of noise from different quarters as the elections draw closer, and I feel compelled to drop my two cents. I may not vote because I no longer live in Abia, but that doesn’t mean I should stay silent.
Governor Orji Kalu is, in many ways, one of the reasons this blog exists. The magic of Enyimba’s 2003 and 2004 CAF Champions League triumphs inspired a generation of us. Those elusive conquests gave us bragging rights we still flaunt today.
But let’s be honest. His eight-year tenure as governor marked the beginning of some very dark days for Abia citizens. Anyone who says otherwise is not being sincere. After him came T.A. Orji, and the story did not improve. Then Ikpeazu followed, and the mess only deepened. Roads were terrible. Salaries were delayed. Basic infrastructure was ignored. Even Enyimba’s footballing success could not mask the daily struggles of the people. These things were not done in secret. Abia’s decline happened in plain sight for over two decades.
Governor Alex Otti, on the other hand, has brought a breath of life to the state. From infrastructure to social empowerment, the feedback from Abians has been largely positive. There is visible progress. That said, his appointment of Kanu Nwankwo as Chairman of Enyimba remains a glaring error — an F9 on the report card, a fumble on the one-yard line.
Still, Enyimba is not on the ballot. Governance is.
The average citizen cares more about roads, salaries, healthcare, and opportunities than football trophies. And on that front, Orji Kalu — with a ₦7 billion fraud case still hovering around his name — has not shown the integrity such offices demand. For the sake of Abia’s future, he honestly needs to step away from active politics.
At the end of the day, football glory cannot pave roads, pay salaries, or fix broken systems. Enyimba gave us memories, yes, but governance determines how people live. Abia people have endured enough disappointment to recognize genuine progress when they see it. This is no longer about nostalgia, old names, or recycled promises. It is about integrity, accountability, and the simple expectation that those who seek public office should serve the people, not stain the offices they occupy.
History has already had its say on those who failed Abia in the past. The present is speaking clearly through visible progress. The future, therefore, should not be entrusted to yesterday’s disappointments. For me, that is the only position that makes sense.
EnyimbaEnyi.
