Opinion II Imo 2019: Contenders And Pretenders

IMO 2019: CONTENDERS AND PRETENDERS

       

The last time I painstakingly checked, Imo – and Nigeria in general – was on the verge of yet another electioneering era that is meant to usher in another interregnum in our political system. The last time Imolites and of course Nigerians witnessed such a moment was in 2014.

        

We aren’t unaware that a period of this kind is usually characterized with a lot of intrigues and intricacies, hence this very one wouldn’t be exceptional.

         

Soonest various political parties domiciled in the state would, according to the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), be involving in their respective primary elections towards nominating the candidates that would be posing as their flag-bearers for the forthcoming governorship polls in the state.

        

This implies that, at the moment, several aspirants are littered all over the state in the name of looking forward to occupying the number one seat in the Eastern Heartland after the awaited expiration of the ongoing Rescue Mission Administration.

         

Presently, each of these aspirants is deeply involved in consultation tours across the length and breadth of all the existing twenty-seven (27) Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. In the visit, he would be opportune to meet with the leadership of the political party in which he belongs.

        

In every tour any of them embarked upon, as the custom demands, he is expected to therein formally disclose to the hosting clan or LGA his intention to vie for the state’s guber seat come 2019. He would equally be required to tender his mission statement. In other words, he would be expected to tell the people what he intends to achieve if eventually elected as the governor of the revered ancient state.

        

A tradition of this type didn’t commence now or this year. It’s needless to state that it has been one of the features of any pre-electioneering era. It’s noteworthy that, in most cases, the hosting community is usually induced with a huge sum of money with the aim of seeking their collective support.

        

However, it’s also worthy of note that, at such a time like this, most of these aspirants are mere pretenders while just a few are contenders. What I’m saying in essence is that most of these men who have disclosed interest to emerge as Imo governor come 2019 are only pretenders whilst only few of them are truly seeking for the number one position.

        

It’s imperative for us to comprehend that those I referred to as pretenders are only interested in distracting the electorate. It suffices to assert that they do not have any iota of mission as regards the impending guber race. Their only concern is to distract the mindsets of the unsuspecting Imolites with a view to causing havoc at the polls.

         

This set of aspirants is very dangerous, to assert the least. Some of them are looking for an avenue where they would make money through the so-called aspiration. What they do is; in the long run, they would decide to merge with, or throw their support behind, other aspirants, hence would expect the benefiting aspirant to lobby, or present gratification to, them.

         

Similarly, some of them are only interested in making themselves popular. They are of the view that by printing posters and posing on various banners and billboards, Imolites would get to know that someone like them truly exists. Hence, in future, they would irritably be criticizing the government in power by presenting themselves as one-time gubernatorial aspirant or contestant.

        

The point is that, this set of aspirants is visionless and lack Imo blood in their system. This is so because, anyone who really possesses the Imo blood or who such blood flows in his veins will never attempt to deceive the good people of the state let alone looking forward to defrauding them.

         

Imolites, therefore, are required to beware of this ugly happening. They must acknowledge that not all that glitters is actually gold. They must understand that among these numerous aspirants, most of them could simply be described as vampires, because their only mission is to suck the blood of innocent people of the state.

         

On the other hand, they must equally take into cognizance that we still have contenders in the midst of these aspirants. They need to comprehend that there are those who truly want to emerge the governor of the state and actually possess genuine mission and vision.

         

The fancy fact is that the contenders among the countless aspirants are just a few of them. Why it is amazing is that, if the electorate are wise and cautious enough, they can easily detect the pretenders amidst the aspirants. It’s very easy to separate the pretenders from the contenders because by their steps and speeches, we shall know them.

        

Against this backdrop, I challenge my fellow Imolites to become wiser than the serpent. They need to become much more awake to enable them separate the chaffs from the grains. They cannot be able to do so if they refused to become wiser than the serpent.

         

The pretenders need to be fished out as soon as possible with a view to enabling the electorate concentrate on only the contenders towards averting any form of distraction at the polls. And, the time to do so is now.

        

We cannot continue to claim that Imo is made up of discerning individuals and groups, yet these deceits would have the opportunity to play on their intelligence. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

 

TechDeck I What's Delaying The Pencil Production?

WHAT’S DELAYING THE PENCIL PRODUCTION?

        

 It wouldn’t be mistaken for anyone who knows Nigeria too well to boldly assert that the country is being taken aback as regards science and technology.

         

As a tech expert, I’ve personally been bedivilled by the lingering soured and pathetic physiognomy of the Nigeria’s science industry or tech sector. The situation has unendingly been so pitiable that any discerning mind is required to ascertain where exactly Nigerians as a people have gone wrong.

        

Little wonder, on assumption of duty in 2015, the current Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was apparently piqued by the lamentable situation, hence consequently pledged that the country would soonest start manufacturing some technologically-oriented goods locally.

         

In view of the quest, in the first quarter of 2016, Dr. Onu who is a graduate of Chemical Engineering disclosed that Nigeria would start producing its own pencil in the year 2018. Based on his perception, local production of such a product was long overdue.

         

The said boss expressed hope that the plan, if duly implemented, would have a “meaningful impact” on the economy because the wide aim of the ministry was to “commercialize developed ideas and research findings to principal levels”. He further boasted that Nigerians would be amazed at the multiplier effects, which according to him, would include the creation of at least 400,000 jobs.

         

When asked the reason his ministry had chosen to begin with such a ‘minor’ device, he proudly responded “Yes, I have heard questions on why pencils? We chose pencils to symbolize the problems that we have and our commitment to local production”.

        

The science minister went ahead to stress that his ministry had already urged the Projects Development Agency (PRODA) to ensure Nigeria starts producing the device in question “in two years time” by embarking on the required holistic research.

        

One may then begin to wonder why at this point nothing has absolutely been heard about the proposed pencil production. It’s appalling that after two years of tendering such frantic promise, the concerned ministry is presently mute over the quest. Could it be that the required raw-materials were nowhere to be found across the federation, or the needed manpower is missing?

        

Lest I forget; it’s imperative for us to take into cognizance the materials needed towards setting up the pencil production industry. To manufacture a pencil, items such as wood, graphite, paint, possibly rubber and aluminium in some cases, are required. Aside rubber that’s mainly found in the Southern part of Nigeria, wood, graphite and aluminium could be obtained from virtually all the parts.  

        

It’s noteworthy that Nigeria abounds with these items. What else needs to be done than to harness them? The government ought to create the enabling environment and ensure that the necessary taxes surrounding the awaited industry are reduced to the barest minimal toward encouraging the prospective investors?

        

The government might have the plan to establish and manage such anticipated industry by itself. But the day-to-day management of such firms doesn’t necessarily need to be carried out by the government. What it rather needs to do is to create the rudimentary platform on which the prospective private investors would thrive.

         

I’ve observed that the prime bane of the Nigeria’s democratic system is lack of political will. Sometimes, a certain government might made up of sound and exemplary brains but once the political will is missing, it would certainly appear as if there’s no available knowledge and experience to perform or put the thoughts into actions.

         

But if the political will is available, even in the absence of sound brains within the system, the government will definitely extend hand of fellowship to the cognoscenti. In a nutshell, if one has a lofty idea but there’s no will or zeal to drive it, such conceived plan would arguably die on arrival.

        

It’s very saddening that a government would promise to carry out a particular initiative but in the long run, would pretend as if nothing was actually said in the first place. Funnily enough, in some cases, the government in question may even deny that it ever tendered such a pledge when confronted by the concerned citizenry.

        

When most Nigerians were bitter that among all the products in the world, it was a ‘mere’ pencil that Dr. Onu’s ministry decided to give an attention, my joy knew no bounds because as a tech professional, I was aware such a step would go a long way in conscientizing and awakening the country’s science and technology sector. But at the moment, it seems every hope is lost.

        

Brain drain has overtime caused an untold harm to the Nigeria’s economy. It’s worthy of note that such an endless phenomenon usually takes place as a result of the government’s inability to utilize the available patents cum talents domiciled in the country.

         

In his speech, Dr. Onu also disclosed that the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIR) had developed “more than 250 research studies up to the point of commercialization”. Furthermore, he stated “And in incubation, we have an agency in charge that has done up to 1000 products”.

         

This revelation indicates that we invariably find it very difficult to strive beyond ‘research studies’ and ‘incubation’ stage. It’s even mind-boggling that the research work itself isn’t aptly funded by the concerned authorities.

          

It’s, therefore, high time Dr. Onu and his team implemented the pencil production policy before they unleash the wrath of technology upon themselves. Think about it!        

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Chief Consultant, Docfred Technologies

_________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

Twitter: @mediambassador

ShortStory I Decisive Decision (II)

                          DECISIVE DECISION (II)

        In 2005, which marked the end of his first tenure, Chief Dele Adelakun was determined to re-contest for a second-term in office as the extant law permitted having made his intention known to the members of the party as well as the electorate. Hence, he gained the support and encouragement of virtually all citizens of Ojeiran Local Government Area (LGA) owing to his tremendous and overwhelming performance during his first term. Consequently, he re-emerged victoriously during his party’s primary election thereby placing him as the party’s flag-bearer in the area.

        On a very sad note, on Sunday, 11^th September 2005 just less than eight weeks to the election, something unimaginable and horrific transpired. At the night of that very day, around 8:30pm to be precise, Chief Adelakun – ‘the People’s Choice’ as he was fondly addressed, was brutally murdered alongside his driver in his black Range Over Jeep while returning home as soon as he finished attending to a very crucial meeting involving leadership of his party in his office. Ascertaining the assassins or persons behind the bloody killing remained far-fetched and a mirage to the Police fraternity.

        His party, Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) was left with no other choice than to provide a substitute as their flag-bearer as the awaited election, which was scheduled for Saturday, November 5, 2005, was already by the corner. So, they had to organize a primary election for other interested members of the party.

         Fortunately, Chief Abiodun Olatunji emerged victoriously. Chief Olatunji was the runner-up to the late Chief Adelakun during the previous primary election of the party that produced the deceased as the party’s flag-bearer for his second term bid.

         In one month’s time, the LG polls took place as planned and amazingly, Chief Olatunji won the election. No doubt, his anticipated victory was not unconnected with the fact that his party, CDC remained the greatest as at then coupled with the remarkable footprints his immediate predecessor, Chief Adelakun left behind.

       It suffices to say that the electorate were of the indisputable view that CDC was determined and consistent in producing sincere and distinguished individuals as its flag-bearers. According to them, such tradition as presumed was an uncompromising principle as well as the watchword of the political party in question. Thus, they sheepishly concluded that any aspirant coming under the aegis of the party was definitely flawless.

         On the contrary, Chief Olatunji’s administration was completely opposite that of his immediate predecessor, that, the people’s optimism faded up. In the first and second years of his tenure, nothing new was done or implemented in the whole of the LGA and the worst was that maintenance culture was thrown to the waste bin. Rather than doing the needful, Chief Olatunji was obviously busy enriching himself and his entire household.

         As a result of Chief Olatunji’s nonchalant and lackadaisical attitudes toward good governance, there were speculations and insinuation among the people of the area that he could be responsible for Chief Adelakun’s demise, but there was no tangible proof to nail him down even though it was apparent.

         The most interesting aspect of the ordeal was that, the electorate learnt a lesson that a political party wasn’t meant to be dependable or reckoned with by the people during any electioneering era when it called for good governance; rather, whom the party uses as its flag-bearer.  
         In view of the lofty observation, they concluded that they were supposed to concentrate mainly on the antecedents and accomplishments, or the individuality of the aspirants, instead of laying emphasis on the political party they intended to contest under. Needless to say; Chief Olatunji’s misdeed served as a deterrent as well as an endpoint to their longed nurtured fallacy.

          Subsequently, the people were placed on an untold hardship that they were pushed to make a decisive decision. Hence, the leaders among the electorate with the consent of the entire electorate forwarded a Vote of No-Confidence on Chief Olatunji to the Legislative Council of the local government.

         After all the consequential investigations carried out by the ad-hoc Committee set up by the local parliament, a unanimous motion was moved by the majority of the members of the council for immediate removal of the alleged culprit from office for gross-misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

         In consequence to this development, a letter of impeachment was served on Chief Abiodun Olatunji. Furthermore, precisely on Wednesday, 17^th October 2007, almost two years of his stay in office as the Executive Chairman of Ojeiran LGA, he was successfully and duly impeached by the parliament, thereby authorising his Deputy to take over as the Acting Chairman prior to when he would be duly sworn in substantively.

         Few days later, he was arrested and thereafter arraigned by the country’s anti-graft agency. It’s noteworthy that he was eventually sentenced for twenty years for gross misconduct.

        The rest is history, please.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

___________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador