My Aba Challenge - Honorable Prestige Ossy

In Onitsha, you'll see commerce in full coloration and almost everything there is about commerce. When you shift slightly toward Nnewi, I can bet that you will find almost any mechanical part between the two cities and whatever mechanical parts you are not able to get there might as well not be available in Africa.

In Enugu, the wonders of nature, particularly, the Nike lake and coal camp coupled with the absolute serenity of the city will hold you spellbound.

Other cities like Owerri are not different. There is no resisting the urge to enjoy and relish the ever endless hospitality and fun of the city and its people. I believe there should be a study of the impact of merriment on longevity with Owerri as a case study.

The war museum in Umuahia tells the story of our ingenuity and exploits as a people in a time when our fathers fought to preserve our race. The Igbo sense of improvising to fill any gap is something the nations of the world need to tap into, unfortunately, we are yet to fully explore this. Presently, even the once derided Abakiliki has changed their narratives and become a city of light and splendour. All road is suddenly leading to Abakiliki.

In all of our blessings and glory as nde Igbo, the city of Enyimba remains the greatest pride and best gift to us as a nation. It is not in vain that we are the number one recognised city in Nigeria. I almost cannot explain the nostalgia., when we take turns in the National Assembly and the first name you will always hear is Aba North/South Federal Constituency. Aba is a melting pot for Nigeria.

It is not gainsaying that every village in the Igbo land is duly represented by at least, a family in Aba, a city that welcomes and accommodates all irrespective of their tongue or tribe.

The ingenuity and creativity of the Igbo spirit is embodied in the Enyimba city. The Aba mix is such that it is the only city in the Igbo land with a perfect mix of commerce and industry. The good old days had the likes of equitable Industries, Star Paper Mills, Bata Shoe factory, array of cotton industries and the textile and garment deals. A city that allows every peculiarity to properly fit in.

How would any Igbo man feel to see that it was first the artisans in Aba who first rose in the wake of the pandemic to produce the local version of PPEs including the face mask to protect us from the invisible corona virus. You see the same daring spirit in our young men and women who make shoes and clothes that can compete with any foreign designs. We had the presidential tailors and other that were exporting designer wears and we still have upcoming ones like Toskyme that is gradually taking the world like a prevailing army

It is our enviable Ariaria, the popular international market that once used to play host to traders from foreign soils. Our glass industry may be down and Bata shoes may no longer be in the market but most of the genius that built those enviable industries are still alive and we must be deliberate to take some top business secrets and acumen from them while they are here.

As we bask in the nostalgia that our past history evokes, this challenge calls for soberness and even more, it calls for collaborative action among nde Igbo. We as a people need to converge on ideas to iron out where we got it all wrong and how to move forward together.

If our best days were yesterday, then we've failed in our duties today. As we recall with fond memories the defunct Leventis, Michelin, Bata, Equitables etc, we need to commit ourselves to bringing back the good old days even more than the Onwukas', Mike Merchandise, Dubics' and a whole lot of others both living and departed

It is my conviction that Aba still has the potential to remain the Japan of Africa and we can lead the renaissance of the black race. We must put the ingenuity of our people to good use and exploit our boundless potentials to the benefit of Ndi Igbo.

It is the above vision of a 'New Aba' that has sustained my commitment to nde Aba in particular and Abia in general and our development is not negotiable, as far as I am concerned. With every strength I can muster, I will continue to strive daily to ensure that our beloved Enyimba maintains its place as the pride of Ndi Igbo and the beacon of hope for Nigeria.

To me, this harmless challenge is simply a wake-up call for us to tinker through rebuilding the Enyimba city. Aba is a great city with rich history that tells the story of a better past and promising future.