By Benjamin Njoku

Pascal Atuma, a Canadian-Nigerian actor, producer, and CEO/Chairman of TABIC Record Label, has advised    Governor Alex Otti of Abia State against allowing  people he  calls the enemies of progress in Abia to derail his administration.

He also commended the governor for his commitment and dedication to the development of the state, saying ” I was shocked at the level of infrastructural development in the state”

In an Instagram post, Atuma said that what Otti  needs at this time is  to be  steadfast, courageous  and focus on the goal of building Abia.

The filmmaker was reacting to  the  gruesome killing of five soldiers last week in Aba, and Governor Otti’s  prompt engagement with the military hierarchy to avert what could have become a bloodbath in  the state.

He, however, urged the good people of Abia  to be law abiding , while commiserating with families of the fallen  soldiers.

He wrote: “In recent times, I have restrained myself from speaking about public office holders or make public my thoughts on their performances. You see, I have seen how partisanship has overtaken objectivity, more often than not, in these types of conversations enough to know that most times they lead to nowhere.

“At the same time, I have also travelled round the world  and enough to understand what good leadership and encouraging followership means to a society.

“So today, I will break my resolution and express  my thoughts on recent events in my dear state, Abia.

“I was left completely heartbroken by news of the gruesome killing of five soldiers in Aba. I am, however, for the first time in a long time, quite impressed with the quality of leadership and proactiveness shown by  Governor, Alex Otti on the tragic incident.

“His prompt engagement with the military hierarchy, show of compassion to the deceased family and unequivocal condemnation of the dastard act has gone a long way in stemming the tide, tension and indiscriminate reprisals that could have ensued.

“I hereby would like to give  kudos to the governor and encourage him at this time to be steadfast, courageous, focused and more importantly, do not allow the “enemies of progress in the state” to have their way.

“We need to stay focused on the goal of building the state and like John Maxwell said in the quote above, Mr. Governor should continue to show us the way in a manner that exemplifies quality leadership.

“That said, I also commend the Governor for his commitment and dedication to the development of the state. Traveling through the state capital Umuahia last week I was shocked at the level of improvement on the roads. From the tower entering Umuahia town to the road leading to Ikwuano that connects Akwa Ibom state to the world bank area, inside Umuahia town, all are now in better shape than they have ever been at the same time.

“You can see, feel and smell that we are truly in a new dawn!! Things are headed to the right direction and we must do all in our powers as followers to keep it that way! Like the renowned industrialist Henry Ford said, “you don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader”. Our job is cut out for us as indigenes and residents of Abia State. We must support a leader that is, to speak the local parlance, ‘showing working.

“I  join the governor and all well meaning people of Abia and indeed Nigeria to extend sincere condolences to the families of the deceased gallant soldiers and to the Nigerian Army in general and besiege the good people of Abia State to be law abiding and give every help and support to the military and police in securing our dear state ‘