IT was not a surprise. It was expected, considering the situation on ground, that Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State would be coasting home to victory in the election in the State even before the election was conducted.

From all indications, the odd favoured him and it has come to pass as he trounced those that were grandstanding as opposition candidates without structure or base in the State.

In tandem with his name, Ochendu Nwachinemere, which means “the protector of life that God always helps”, his victory in the election shows that God is with him and his people. It shows that the liberation torch handed over to him by Almighty God to liberate his people from the stranglehold of darkness would not quench in his hand.

Before Governor Orji quit the family business empire called Progressives Peoples Party, PPA, which is now dead and buried (having failed to win a single seat in the general elections), the owners led by the demystified Mama Excellency without official position and his son have perfected strategies on how to disgrace him out office and instal their puppet as governor.

This was not based on any cogent reason or altruism, but out of greed to continue to have access to the State treasury that has allegedly been their source of income for over a decade, leaving the people of the State with nothing but hardship, agony and lamentation. To have their way, they allegedly went diabolical and desperate.

But divine opportunity came to the people of the State with the change of the power equation in the Presidency. Just like people in the wilderness yelling for him, they grabbed it and handed  the  mantle of liberation to Governor Orji with trust and confidence. Knowing what the people wanted and having been with them in the time of difficulties, Orji went to work immediately.

Bridges were built among stakeholders in the State who have been in deep- rooted animosity for years. Peace became the sermon on the mountain. Forgiveness reigned supreme. Political understanding was reached and obeyed. Those who were on the run came back on the track and wider consultations were made and major decisions affecting the State became eclectic. Brothers began to sit down to discuss, eat and laugh, a situation that was unprecedented in the State.

With Orji’s masterstroke in providing leadership platform in the State, opposition diminished as major stakeholders and majority of the people joined hands with him in the liberation struggle. Before one knew what was happening, the State  became peaceful and more united than ever before to the shame of the family that have held them to ransom for years.

The outcome of this was the overwhelming victory of Governor Orji and his party in the just concluded general election. This left the opposition parties with their paymaster who  was disgraced in the National Assembly election with nothing, but sorrow, grief and lamentations. It is clear that a new Abia State has emerged and old things have passed away for the good of the people.

Orji’s victory marks the end of godfatherism in the State. The question is,  what happens to those who took Orji for granted for years, now that they  have been defeated? The  State seems to be one of the luckiest  in the country today for achieving the feat of discarding godfathers for good because they (godfathers) are like cancer without cure unless  by divine intervention as  happened in  Abia State.

Clearly, Orji’s victory is a blessing in disguise as the State will surely witness the  era of a new dawn.

Mr. CHINEMEREM UGBOAKU, a political observer and commentator  on national issues,  wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.