IMO AND HER INVARIABLE ANTICS DURING ELECTIONS
The last time I checked,
pathetically among the several states across the federation that were meant to
witness the rerun elections scheduled to hold on Saturday 20th of
February 2016, only Imo State the acclaimed Eastern Heartland was deprived of
the awaited event.
After a long unabated wait by the concerned electorate as well as
Imolites in general, they were abruptly informed the previous day by the
electoral umpire that the said elections had been postponed indefinitely owing
to foreseen security hitches. The most pitiable aspect of the melodrama was
that most of the electorate weren’t even aware of the postponement due to their
inability to acquire news on time; the vulnerable persons in question left
their various homes for their respective polling units to cast their votes on
that fateful Saturday.
The moment the news got to my humble desk, having tried to reach the
state Police Commissioner in the person of Mr Taiwo Lakanu via cell phone to
acquire more detail from his noble office to no avail, I was deeply wondering
what kind of sensed security threat could warrant the postponement of elections
that had enjoyed all the needed and consequential preparations.
Though my inward inquiry yielded no tangible answer but luckily I was
able to grab an antidote that succeeded in calming my boiling system down. The
said antidote wasn’t unconnected to the conversation I established therein
through phone call with an astute electoral officer; I was rightly intimated by
the INEC official that Imo wasn’t safe for the proposed rerun polls, thus going
ahead with the election was not unlike risking the mandate of the electorate
coupled with their precious lives.
It appears as if Imo is synonymous with anomalies considering how far
she has fared ab initio during electioneering eras thereby making her seem
laughable. A state that is meant to be educating others particularly her sister
states, when it calls for electoral issues in view of her age and experience
political wise, and what have you, is ironically found doing otherwise.
Members of a certain political party would be freely talking from both
sides of their mouths whilst the other staunch political party on its part
would be busy seeking for an avenue to defend itself. Every now and then the
god-sent state is being besieged by fathomless tantrums accompanied with lies
while concerned stakeholders like us would prefer to observe, hoping that
Imolites already know where to go from here.
For crying out loud; isn’t it time we detested these jaundiced appellations that are really and seriously telling on our polity? Rather than acting childishly, I expect every Imo statesman to act child likely because a childlike idiosyncrasy, which is a quality that befits us, is no doubt worthy of emulation. Noisemaking, name-calling, character assassination, et al, aren’t what are required of people who address themselves as ‘politicians’.
In any society especially in democratic societies, leaders are gotten
from the political class. Needless to say that every politician ought to see
him/herself as a potential leader. If this assertion holds water, then why are
the teeming politicians in the state acting or reacting as the case may be,
like followers? Honestly, something must be wrong somewhere and needs to be
addressed in earnest.
Please I’m earnestly appealing to Imo politicians irrespective of their party affiliations, to endeavour to desist from indulging in activities that are liable to make our young ones or their children laugh at them. It’s really absurd and disgusting to observe that when we are expected to educate them (the children) on the ethics as well as modus operandi surrounding a worthy lifestyle, we are busy dancing Makosa.
My joy remains that our consciences are very much alive even when we try
to pretend that they are dead; hence, our consciences will continue to judge us
based on what we do on a daily basis even in seemingly secret arenas. Come rain
come shine the law of Karma will invariably prevail; and it must surely surface
while we are still alive and not after our deaths as most of us presume.
When I try to embrace despair over the antics usually displayed by these
so-called politicians or statesmen, I often find solace in the fact that
majority of Imolites cannot be deceived again; they now understand their left
from their right because they are politically aware at the moment. To this end,
I enjoin them to concentrate only on the individuality of the candidates
involved rather than laying emphasis on their respective political parties.
Unequivocally, the era of party-politics has gone for eternity not just in Imo
State but in Nigeria at large.
My utmost worry now is the INEC. Considering the obvious fact that the
said independent body is answerable for any failure recorded in any election
regarding Presidency, gubernatorial, federal and states Assembly that took
place in Nigeria, its personnel needn’t be told or reminded that the country’s
future lies in their bare hands. In other words, they are expected to do
nothing but the needful towards ensuring that every election becomes an
absolute success. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc
Nwaozor
