WHEN ABIA WENT TO CANADA: A NEW DAWN IN DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL OPENNESS
In the serene chill of autumnal Canada, far from the red earth and lush greens of the homeland, the flame of Abia’s rebirth flickered brightly. It was not merely another diaspora gathering; it was an emotive reconnection between governance and the governed, between policy and people, between home and hope.
At the monthly general meeting of the Abia Community Organization of Ontario (ACOO), led by the indefatigable Chief Ojay Obasi Eke on 2nd November, 2025, the hall radiated with a unique sense of belonging, stirring consciousness that _“though distance may separate us, identity binds us still.”_
On this symbolic day, the Abia State Government delegation; composed of distinguished officials in the persons of Mr. Ken Ahia, SAN (A close associate of governor Alex Otti), Mr. Ikechukwu Uwana, SAN (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), and Mrs. Cleopatra Ubani (Special Adviser, Legal, to the Governor), stood before their compatriots not as distant bureaucrats but as servants of a new vision. Though in Canada for the International Bar Association (IBA) program, took out time to visit their compatriots in Canada.
Their mission was clear: to extend the hand of the Dr. Alex Chioma Otti administration across oceans, a gesture rooted in inclusion, accountability, and shared progress.
THE SPIRIT OF DIALOGUE AND TRANSPARENCY
The visit was no ceremonial courtesy. It was a live exercise in governance by conversation. Abians in Canada had the rare privilege to ask questions, receive instant feedback, and hear firsthand the heartbeat of their government.
The discussions ranged from infrastructural renewal, judicial reforms, and security stabilization, to human capital development and diaspora investment opportunities. The officials passionately detailed how the Otti administration, guided by prudence and purpose, has prioritized transparency, fiscal discipline, and infrastructural renaissance across all sections of the state.
As one elder in attendance emotionally remarked, “For once, we feel seen and heard.”
Indeed, it was an echo of the immortal words of *Marcus Aurelius:*
_”What we do now echoes in eternity”._
This meeting, though held in faraway Ontario, sent echoes back to Umuahia, reverberating with trust, confidence, and rekindled faith in leadership.
Also present at the gathering was High Chief Victor Ikeji, Ph.D, the immediate past Mayor of Umuahia North in governor Otti’s led administration. Though visiting his family in Canada, personified the seamless bond between diaspora and home. His presence added a familial and philosophical depth to the engagement, a reminder that the Abia project transcends borders.
In his brief remarks, he lauded the Governor’s initiative in maintaining open dialogue with Abians abroad, noting that no development journey is complete without the heartbeat of its diaspora. The engagement in Ontario symbolizes more than a meeting, it signifies a philosophical shift in the architecture of governance in Abia State.
The attorney general in his address stated that, Dr. Otti’s administration has redefined leadership as a conversation, not a command; a partnership, not a pronouncement. Through the lens of history, he recall that great societies thrive when the governed believe their voices matter. From the Greek Agora to the African village square, dialogue remains the soul of democracy. And in the global context, diasporas are not just citizens abroad but custodians of external capital, knowledge, and influence.
By engaging them directly, the Abia State Government not only strengthens the socio-economic bridge between home and abroad but also rekindles the ancestral philosophy of *”Igwebuike”;* that collective strength and unity of purpose that undergirds Igbo civilization.
Mr. Ken Ahai, SAN provided another perspective, not as an official of Abia state government, but a close associate of governor Alex Otti. Mr. Ahia who has been with Dr. Alex throughout his polical sojourn from 2015 till date, said It is not accidental that this new culture of accessibility has become synonymous with Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s administration. His open-door policy has turned governance into an ongoing dialogue. Where walls once existed, bridges are now being built. Where fear once lived, confidence has returned. In his governance philosophy lies the belief that:
_”Leadership is not the art of power, but the architecture of trust”._
This visit was, therefore, a living testimony to that creed, an affirmation that under this administration, every Abian, whether in Aba or Atlanta, Umuahia or Ontario, has a stake in the vision of a new Abia.
Beyond the sentiment, the practical implications of this interaction are profound:
1. Diaspora Investment Mobilization: Many Abians in Canada possess the technical expertise and financial muscle to catalyze local industries. The government’s direct appeal has now opened channels for investment in agriculture, education, real estate, ICT, and healthcare.
2. Enhanced Policy Feedback: The instant feedback loop between citizens and officials refines governance by making it responsive and people-driven.
3. Image Rebranding: The presence of high-profile legal minds like Ahia, SAN and Uwana, SAN, underscores that Abia’s governance has regained its intellectual and ethical gravitas, restoring confidence in a system once beleaguered by distrust and mediocrity.
4. Strengthened Diaspora Relations: The emotional and cultural bond rekindled during the meeting has transformed ACOO into a potential liaison hub between the government and other Abian communities worldwide.
When the meeting drew to a close, there was a quiet, shared emotion; that sense of homecoming without stepping on home soil.
Smiles lit faces, and hearts swelled with pride.
For in that room, Abia was not just a geographical space, it was a living spirit; a testimony that governance, when done right, unites rather than divides, inspires rather than intimidates.
And as the officials departed, one could almost hear the whisper of destiny itself:
_”The greatness of a people is not measured by their distance from home, but by the strength of the home that still beats within them”._
In essence, this historic visit by Abia State Government officials to the Abia Community Organization of Ontario stands as a defining testament to the transformative, people-centered, and globally inclusive governance philosophy of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, a Governor whose vision continues to remind every Abian, everywhere, that home is not just a place, it is a purpose.
