Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal: A Symbol Of Integrity, My Reflection  

By Uche Nwosu

Surprised! And still surprised that some people in Ibeku land, a section of Umuahia North, Abia State capital could condemn the naming of Umuahia Bus Terminal as Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal. This is indeed surprising because the foundation which one thought was solid is seen sheaky.

Prof. Nnenna Oti, Vice Chancellor FUTO

The people you think would be excited because of the good news in town, the renovation, the remoulding, the renaissance etc are calling for the head of the hunter who hunted down the terrible predator, as if to say, ‘we loved it the way it was’. Umuahia before 2023 is a raw and run-down city; a far cry from what it is now is. And the beneficiaries are: Ibeku people and Umuahia residents.

And who’s the draftsperson, Professor Nnenna Oti; that woman that served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 Abia governorship poll appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). At the close of the election, Dr Alex Otti, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate and current governor of the state was heard to be cruising home to victory.

Results from various polling Booths, Wards and LGAs showed he was clearly ahead of his opponents. LGAs results so far declared gave him overwhelming edge over other contestants in the race: Chief Okey Ahaiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), High Chief Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressives Congress (APC) etc, all trailed behind.

But as the day enveloped into twilight, news filtered that the electoral devil that usually maneuvered failure to victory has crept in; that Obingwa result heinously delayed had come with a large margin that made nonsense of what the Labour Party candidate had got. The electoral officer in Obingwa cried foul! He rejected the result out rightly. He was beaten black and blue. Reports got to Professor Nnenna Oti who had the final say. Reports had it that she was approached for compromise, but she said No Way!

Aerial view of the Mega Bus Terminal in Umuahia

Anger and desperation led to Bedlam. Then hullabaloo, uproar, pandemonium. Nnenna Oti was threatened, she was harassed, she was ambushed in Umuahia. She stood her ground. She immediately alerted Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman. Yakubu directed that the whole results should be brought to Abuja.

Nnenna Oti flew to Abuja with the contestants and leadership of all the political parties that contested the poll. Thorough and thorough, some examination and analysis were done on all the results, LGA by LGA and at the end, Obingwa result was found to be FAKE and CONCOCTED.

The contestants all admitted except one.

Yakubu ordered that the real result of Obingwa, a little above 10 percent of what the concocted figure was be declared in Umuahia. Nnenna Oti came back to Umuahia and did the needful. Alex Otti won.

It was that uncompromising feat of this woman of integrity that made Abia to wear a new look today. The Bus Terminal wouldn’t have stood at that point if there was no Nnenna Oti. The Osah-Tower Highway renamed Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard and Express Tower-Onuimo Highway renamed Uma Ukpai Highway and other structures in Ibeku land and indeed Umuahia urban and other parts of Abia State wouldn’t have been there if there wasn’t an Nnenna Oti.

What we may be been witnessing could’ve been, a dilapidated ancient city, reeling from the hangover of devastation brought by cattle in the yesteryears.

Those who clamour for the Bus Terminal to be named Ogurube in lieu of Nnenna Oti forgot easily that Umuahia is the capital city of Abia State and NOT the capital city of Ibeku; that Umuahia is a symbol of Abia State like Abuja is to Nigeria.

That Ibeku prominent sons and daughters have had their names emblazoned on historic structures across Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. We have Aguiyi Ironsi Street, a high profile road between Wuse and Maitama, Aguiyi Ironsi Cantonment/Barracks, Aguiyi Ironsi Street in Lagos etc.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is another case in point, Michael Okpara, dual carriage way in Wuse District of Abuja etc are other indications that a hero or heroine does not garner honour only in his/her homestead.

Here in Umuahia, there are: Ogurube Layout, Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, Lady Aguiyi Ironsi Shopping Centre etc. Would the state name every institution and structure built in Umuahia urban after Ibeku people or their progenitor? This should be a deviant from the norms.

This honour to Professor Nnenna Oti represents integrity, honesty, and commitment to truth. It shows that sincerity, frankness, integrity, hard work, rather than falsehood, dishonesty, corruption etc pay. Her deed will continue to build in our youth the ethical value that germinates trust, social cohesion, and sustainable long term success. Indeed, her action, despite enormous pressure, restored public confidence in the electoral system.

Above all cases, perhaps this will serve as a case study. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of INEC; the agency that announced him winner of the 2023 presidential poll an Ambassador. What manner of good record does Mahmood Yakubu hold? Remember he was the person that inserted the cliché ‘glitches’ into the lexicon of Nigerian politics?

While there were glitches in the result of the Presidential poll, glitches didn’t occur in the Senate and House of Representatives polls held simultaneously the time and day.

Today, Mahmood Yakubu is the Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar!

*Uche Nwosu is an Umuahia, Abia State, based Journalist.*

A Shell BP Double Award Winner On Environmental Pollution & On Investigative Journalism – Year 2000.