Reading through Nigeria’s political news, you’d think the 2015 Presidential election has become most combative between the two front runners, but the challenge of good governance in Imo state’s Governorship election suggest otherwise.
Ordinarily, the earlier assumption seems understandable. Same two Presidential candidates in the election – Jonathan and Buhari – were the same gladiators who engaged each other in the 2011 elections. Now, the stakes are higher as PDP will not want to capitulate easily and be disgraced out of office while Buhari the flag bearer of APC too, will not want to kiss the dust for the fourth time. So, both parties will fight with their last strength.
With the elections fast approaching, this frenzied trajectory situation has spread across states, with Imo state under close watch. Who blinks first? Sometimes, the dry cough of the thunder brings the first showers of rain of a new season. Some other times, the thunderous sound only seeks to laugh and mock us in the face of our impotence. What does the 2015 elections hold for Imo State?
The only regular feature of man is his ability to fumble and tumble, and his incapacity to escape the snare of time and history, says Galbo. We can no longer afford to bury our heads in the sand, like the ostrich and pretend that all is well in Imo state. Where have good responsible and accountable government, justice, equity and fair play gone? What has happened to the health care, the spirit of scientific inquiry and technical progress, sustainable agricultural production and industrial advancement? Why are so many of our rural population reduced to living a life of destitution. There are many more questions like these, and answers to them make one sad. To those who care about Imo State, the facts are embarrassing. Where, may we begin to ask, given the sordid nature of our public infrastructures and social utilities; the poverty, ignorance and disease devastating our people; mass unemployment and dysfunctional economic system.
Nevertheless, for the already bruised and battered Imo to limp high, we must jettison all romantic pretensions and idealistic delusions. It is not the “wringing of our hands, or the gnashing of teeth that will provide the vehicle for change, but ensuring our collective will for credible governance reign. Imo governorship election presents unique opportunity to elect a leader who we know, who shares our values, who we can hold accountable, a leader who will fight for our interest first, last, and always. It is in this context Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker, Nigeria’s House of Representative becomes the man of the moment.
In the raging debate in different social media e-groups, and other political discourse forum, many argue that the basis of future political engagement in Imo State must hinge on consistency, trust, demonstrated performance, and blueprint for good governance among contestants. Our so-called emergency patriots in politics and power, if you will permit me, are more or less operating like associations of gangsters. What you have at every point in time is like one gangster trying to outdo the other, probably, to take control of the state’s treasury and commonwealth. This is why you find politicians who are richer than the country. Very few of them have clear ideology. Does this not explain why a candidate seeking elective office will be member of not less than three different political parties within few electoral years. Rochas Anayo Okorocha was unsuccessful presidential candidate under All Nigeria people’s party in 2003, failed PDP presidential primaries in 2007, decamped to APGA and won Imo governorship in 2011, today he is APC governorship candidate. Simply stated, playing the role of political harlotry within his divinely allotted time on earth. These political and ideological contradictions on any aspirant cast serious personality doubt on any serious permutation to move Imo state forward.
Chukwemeka Nkem Ihedioha’s governorship candidacy stands towering. He remains happily married to one wife Ebere Ihedioha and never wavered on his belief “My word is my Bond”. From the start of his political career in 1995 when he joined Peoples Democratic movement (PDM), one of the four associations that metamorphosed and formed Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in 1998, till date, he has consistently remained in same party, using PDP not only to advance his political career, but essentially using the platform in promoting his transformation agenda to the admiration of Imo people. He says what he will do, and does what he says. Over the years, he has demonstrated the African proverb “no matter how a river flows, it will never forget its source.” Can Imo people afford this unique opportunity to enthrone such consistent, purposeful, trustworthy leadership as Governor? Yes we can.
The test of pudding they say is in the eating. Campaign Bill boards, political rallies are awash with fake promises. Political pretenders and contenders fill the air with claims and counter claims of achievements. Imolites are mindful of sporadic claims by Governor Rochas’s APC campaign taking credit for free education, payment of teacher’s salaries, and other lopsided claims. How come no one refutes the truth that the bulk of education and teacher’s salaries funding come from PDP led Federal Government’s allocation to states?
At the risk of boring you, it may not be out of context to highlight some of Emeka Ihedioha’s accomplishments in his capacity as the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria. These are not photo smokescreen projects, but projects geared towards upliftment of the socio-economic status of our rural masses. These include road constructions/rehabilitations; water projects, KVA power Substations, health care centers.
To leverage alarming youths unemployment, he has facilitated the employment of over two hundred and one Mbaise sons and daughters. More importantly, if Emeka’s record achievements which dot the landscape of Imo is not a testament that God has blessed Imo State with the next Governor who is development minded, with uncommon zeal for good governance, I don’t know what else.
To reinvent Imo to her enviable heights, every lover of Imo state need to be engaged at this eleventh hour of campaigns for the emergence of Ihedioha’s visionary leadership. Articulate, but humble Emeka has been touring Imo state three senatorial zones, twenty seven local government areas preaching the biblical message in Isaiah 6:8 HERE I AM, SEND ME. CHANGE is difficult, but yet the greatest topic for intellectual masturbation. Daily we hear people call for change on one hand, yet agonize on why it cannot happen- a defeatist attitude afflicting us. CHANGE will only come as each of us do our own part, no matter how little, and not by demanding more from others. We are calling on all open minded, courageous, lovers of Imo state, to join this movement for good governance now. The struggle to emancipate Imo and Igbo land has begun. Whose side are you on? We must reclaim our destiny from the present discredited leadership, by electing an exemplary leader at this time.
As political campaigns end draw near, Imo in diaspora must rise to the challenge of our times. It is okay to mobilize resources, organize rallies across ASIA, Europe and USA in support of Emeka Ihedioha. It is time now to actively engage in social media forum, reach out to Imo people across the globe, tweet, place constant phone calls to relatives, parents at home, beneficiaries of your western union transfers, town and village unions, Imo voters who are blind folded with unsubstantiated claims, to vote Emeka Ihedioha for Governorship of Imo State.
I see the emergence of a statesman, patriot who is prepared, at all times, to be judged by his belief in and performance of the sacred tasks of good governance, not in any future times, but in the present age. I see him in the light of the momentousness of history, its processes, identity and affirmation of possibilities. In order to make concrete this testament of faith, and leave on record the element of our social contract with our children and generations unborn, we must harness all our talents and expertise to ensure his electoral victory. Our time is now; our moment is immediate. Hon. Chukwuemeka Nkem Ihedioha represents a quintessential patriot who embodied the ennobling qualities of humility, with an ingenious talent for hard work.
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By Uzoma O Nwagwu
New Jersey, USA
