AS an ardent reader of a column written by a former Southeast governor published every Saturday in a national newspaper allegedly owned by the former governor, the first thing I do Saturday morning is log on and read the column.

What is my interest in the column? Apart from being a Nigerian living abroad from Abia State, I am not only interested about events in Nigeria, particularly from my state but was about this columnist former governor.

One of the articles recently published in the column on Saturday January 21 titled “Paying Back Evil For Good” makes interesting read. At a first reading, one could know that the details in the copy were not factual but a mere fabrication, shocking and revealed the lamentations and confession of a man who had every opportunity for eight years to write his name in gold as leader of the people, but failed to do so, only to now become more philosophical and moralistic than the Pope, looking for whom to blame for his self-inflicted political woes.

The article which was full of innuendos, parables and teachings on betrayals of life was amusing and brought out the agony of man who is out of power, but instead of lying low, decided to expose the intrigues of the game he was a guru in. It is a crying shame that this governor columnist before now did not know that the only thing that is constant in life is change. Though, there were no name calling, but insinuations were made against those he believed had betrayed him after helping them. And the question is who betrayed who and why? That is if is any betrayal.

For eight good years, he was in-charge in a State as number one citizen, but instead of using the opportunity to better the lot of the people, the period and public resources was used to build a family political dynasty and the people were betrayed and impoverished.

Political propaganda, blackmail and gangsterism were the order of the day in the state. It was war of words everyday with the central authority while the state bled. Crisis within was overwhelming. Brothers could not see each other, how much more sit down to discuss or proffer solutions on how to move the state forward. Those in government were like rubber stamps without clear roles or functions.

Today however, this is not the case because the story is different. Comparing today and yesterday in the state is like comparing light and darkness. Apart from the massive infrastructure projects that have been completed and ongoing across the state which I saw during my visit at Christmas, there is peace and stability in my state now.

Our brothers and sisters are coming home more often unlike in the past and they are now sitting down to brainstorm on the way forward for the state. Who thought such was possible given the pervading environment at the time? All these were not possible in the past, because the state treasury and paraphernalia of power were in the hands of the family dynasty built and led by the now conquered mother Excellency ably assisted by the son.

So, who betrayed who? It is obvious now that our dear governor columnist has realised his mistakes, but instead of asking for forgiveness from God and those he betrayed, he took it to the village square. His is like the case of Okon who went around telling everyone what the villagers had done to him but refused to tell his listeners what he did to the villagers. He spoke about an agreement that was reached and breached? What agreement was this? Did it have a legal backing? Was it in the public good? He is the columnist.

If he is courageous enough, let him tell the public the nature of the agreement. Which confrontational approach is being referred to in the article? It is obvious to the people that confrontational approach has been tried against the present government in the state by forces against the people, but it failed because the government was able to match force with force.

For now, there is no hiding place for those who betrayed the people and the state for eight years and still have the guts to shamelessly shout on the roof top about betrayal. But for the leniency and humility of the present government in the state, a probe would have been made into the affairs of the state in the past administration and many would have been cooling off in jail now.

The possibility of one walking freely on the streets of the state now was made possible by the present government. It was not possible for the past government to provide such opportunity for their perceived enemies then who were chased out of the state for long till the present government extended an olive branch which they crabbed with both hands. One should ask why majority of those chased out of the state in the past by that government see reasons to identify with the present government in the state? This is enough evidence that there was a cog in the wheel of progress in the state which has been identified and taken care of for the good of the majority.

It is not betrayal, rather it is a right decision supported and applauded by the people, because government is nobody’s private or family empire as was the case. The people have the freedom and right to ask questions now without fear of state power being unleash on them like before now. So when one betrays oneself, one should carry the burden alone and avoid looking for whom to go down with, as the Holy book says, salvation is a personal race; or as one makes his bed, so he lies on it.

Mr. REGINALD AKAIGWE, a medical practitioner, Houston, USA.