Less than five days from today, Imo indigenes as a matter of democratic imperative will go to the polls to choose the candidate who will preside over the affairs of the state in the next four years. Although many candidates from varying political platforms are currently jostling for the endorsement of the Imotites to emerge as Governor ; it is only fundamental for Imo people, at this stage of our democratic renaissance, to vote wisely by choosing the best candidate who has the right equipment to lead Imo into desirable growth and state-wide equitable development. Evidently, that candidate is Rt Hon, Emeka Ihedioha, People’s Democratic Party flag bearer and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.
The critical need to vote for an inspiring leader such as Ihedioha on Saturday is not far-fetched. In the past four years Imo has witnessed unprecedented retrogression in virtually all the sectors of the state economy owing to palpable incompetence of government to identify, harness and shore up the resources and fortunes of the state for the benefits of Imo indigenes. It is therefore incumbent on the people to leap prudently by voting for the profoundly competent Ihedioha with exceedingly appreciable public service record to enable him turn the sectors around within a reasonable time frame.
Besides, identifiable growing level of absurdity in government has also resulted in a steady and embarrassing fall in the standard of education since the inception of the present administration and therefore makes an urgent call for an Ihedioha to step into the state ship to rehabilitate the state, a political imperative. Prior to Okorocha’s regime, Imo comparatively sustained somewhat pre-eminent status in academics , ranked as one of the best performing states in external examinations. But lamentably, the 2014 and 2015 records place Imo among the worst performing states in the country with overall rating of below 45 percent.
This unfortunate situation regrettably extends to the state-owned Imo State University that recently had more than ten of its departments including the Law Faculty de-accredited in one swoop by the National Universities Commission (NUC) due to poor staffing, inadequate facilities, tools and so on, resulting from government’s shocking insensitivity to the urgent needs of the institution. Consequently, the University that ranked among the best in the country during pre-Okorocha’s administration is currently placed 72nd, and this is verifiable from NUC’s website
Evidently, Imo state has not been so badly governed as the situation is, currently . Imo is manifestly administered on ad hoc basis , fraught with a lot of deceits, shortcomings; unbridled trickery and fantasies. Most of the policies of the government are inherently deceptive and self-serving.
The government has since inception remained a study in lawlessness. Rule of Law is non-existent in Imo as many court decisions are obeyed in breach. Put more crisply, the government has disobeyed virtually all judiciary pronouncements and thus creating ample room for anarchy and civilian dictatorship
Local council administration has been deliberately but brazenly destroyed peeving way for one man to corner monthly allocations to the 27 councils in the state. In the past three and half years incontrovertible records show that over N175b of such fund has been so cornered to the detriments of grassroots development. Public funds are spent and loans collected and bonds raised without recourse to known fiscal principle and discipline and lay down procedures for public fund management.
Contracts are unfortunately awarded arbitrarily without proper record. The result is that road projects are agonizingly substandard, executed in abandonment. Thus, resulting in government’s unlimited courage for public waste.
The picture is even more worrisome in health care delivery system with no consultant to boast of in the state and industries all virtually going moribund. The result is unimaginable multiplier effect on unemployment, low level of wealth creation in the state with attendant socio-economic crisis.
As the day of reckoning is here, providing Imolites another opportunity to choose their leader the above articulated , evidence-based and instantly-recognizable background on the dismal state of Imo should essentially constitute their guiding principle and fulcrum to vote out the government that has put them under ruthless conditions.
Imo voters should as a matter of urgent state importance go to the polls on Saturday with the tendency of voting for an inspiring, visionary leader who has the desirable character, integrity, knowledge, experience and stability to rebuild Imo and accordingly set the state on the path of posterity and socio-economic rebirth
Obviously, at this stage of Imo’s enormous development challenge, the state is desirous of a committed, forthright, sincere and genuine leader whose words are his bond; a tested and trusted leader whose pedigree, accomplishments, achievements and legacies, evoke passion. The right leader today with proper and fitting credentials to rebuild Imo is Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha popularly called ‘Omenka ahuruanya’ because of many notable development-led initiatives to his credit.
As Hugo Victor rightly observed that “there is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.”Ihedioha’s governorship bid is an unmistakable idea its time is now.
There are many profound reasons to substantiate this belief. First is Ihedioha’s manifesto aptly branded, “Together we will Rebuild Imo” which was launched penultimate week in Owerri. Focused on qualitative free education, job and wealth creation; quality health services; agricultural revolution; peace and security; integrated infrastructural development and principles of democracy and rule of law, the 7-point agenda manifesto was robustly articulated to clinically grapple with the development crises bedevilling the state
As attested to by many Imolites who attended the launch, Ihedioha’s manifesto is instructive of a creative thinker who clearly understands Imo challenges and as a result developed a sure-footed blueprint to liberate Imo people from depression.
Ihedioha’s record for respect for the rule of law and deliberative democracy is incontrovertible. He plans to enthrone collaborative governance, accountability and participatory democracy that will allow the people of Imo be at the centre of government process so as to be deeply involved at planning and implementation levels
In his more than two decades stint in public service, occupying strategic positions, Ihedioha has been known to cut a picture of a social entrepreneur who sees a problem, envisions a solution and thus comes up with an initiative to actualise the vision. Among all those contesting to occupy the Douglas House Owerri, Ihedioha is most qualified in public service experience, pedigree and academic training and retraining.
An astute parliamentarian who for twelve years has bestrode the House like a colossus Ihedioha has set a towering record in parliament, too ample to beat which he will certainly replicate in higher proportion in Imo when elected . As chairman House Committee on Marine Transport; House Chief Whip and later Deputy Speaker he has been able to make South East and Imo people proud on account of the unlimited list of infrastructural development projects, empowerment programmes, federal appointments he has attracted
As observed by many Imolites, Imo is indeed blessed that this young man of great accomplishments and uncommon, inestimable public service experience is coasting home to be elected Imo Governor. History thus beckons to Imo people to actualize it on Saturday for the sake of posterity and Ihedioha’s audacity for development-led priorities.
Dr Uganwa, wrote from Owerri
