Opinion
Why My Elder Brother, Chief David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, Ugoena Abiriba, Should Not Run
By Ndukwo Otisi
I have known Chief Bourdex for over 30 years, and I have so much respect for him for his achievements as an Abiriba son. But running for the Abia North Senate seat, I won’t advise him to run. He knows that it is going to be a race he won’t win. Those pushing him to run at 74 are simply setting him up for their selfish interest in 2031.
Firstly, they are using him to buy time ahead of the 2031 Abia State governorship election, when he would be 79. Knowing that at that age he would be blackmailed with his age not to either run for the governorship or senatorial election, thereby paving the way for them to either go for the governorship or possibly revert back to the Senate in case the governorship didn’t work out.
Who loses? Abiriba, as usual. They would simply remind us that we were given the opportunity to run for Senate in 2027, but we couldn’t get it, just like they told us in 2015, 2019, and 2023, respectively. This is why I’m circumspect about his ambition. At the end, it is still Abiriba that would lose out.
Chief, you know you’re at war with most of our big men here in Abiriba. You know they can never support you. The other people you’re banking on hate us as a community, and their desire has always been to oppress Abiriba. Or do you think that they now love you? They ganged up against you when the governor made you a Caretaker Mayor and frustrated your efforts. Now they’re using the incident that happened two years ago with their brother to blackmail you. Greediness is part of them. I do not trust them a bit.
Same with the man in Isikwuato. They are using you to play the politics of 2031, knowing that at 79, you won’t be a challenge to their ambition. This is why I’m skeptical about you running. If it was Elder U.U. or even a younger Jumbo, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But all I see is a well-calculated plan to embarrass you or use you ahead of 2031.
Don’t fall for this cheap politics. Play a wise game, my dear elder brother. Even in our Abiriba, it was our big man who fought hard to make sure you weren’t elected as the Mayor, in conjunction with the people running under the same Labour Party with you. If they could betray you yesterday, what makes you think they won’t betray you today?
The word Ohafia LGA is just an official word, but in reality, we’ve never been united. Their envy over our success in business would also make them frustrate you. Don’t fall for their game. You’re simply being used for 2031 politics. Check and see for yourself if any of the government appointees are openly supporting or campaigning for you. None of them, except their brother, who is using you and hoping to capitalize on your age for 2031.
Let me be honest, information available to me is that he was a contractor to your opponent, just like the governor was his banker. They are also very angry with you for exposing the juicy positions they are occupying in the government of Alex Otti during your time as the Caretaker Mayor. They are still bitter that you disrespected them back, and these people have never pretended about their animosity towards Abiriba.
Imagine having the deputy governor, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, Accountant General, two commissioners, Chairman of Abia Warriors and so many more, and they still wanted the chairman of the council. The fact that you fought them and put them in their place made them angry. They are never with you. Also, the former deputy governor and his people.
This is why I feel you should not run. Don’t allow yourself to be used. We value you as our own.
Your dear brother from Ameke, Abiriba.