Recent Political Tempo In Imo

THE RECENT SOCIO-POLITICAL TEMPO IN IMO

  

Brethren, by acknowledging the absolute effect of a sincere and polite language, a true Nigerian on the average would rightly tell you unequivocally that the country is currently salvaged by antagonism coupled with sycophancy due to political rivalry.

The ongoing socio-political tempo in my home state, Imo, popularly known as ‘the Eastern Heartland’ is not unconnected to the aforementioned scenario, political rivalry. Regarding the devastating and uncalled phenomenon, initially I thought it wise to remain a mere observer, but lately the overwhelming nature of the ‘madness’ angered my humble pen that appeared to be fast asleep. 

It is no longer news that since Governor Okorocha has been at the helm of affairs in Imo State, to the best of the knowledge of every concerned individual, the masses who were jubilating when he emerged victorious as the governor of the state, precisely on Thursday May 6, 2011, are still in their euphoric mood, which has to do with the good governance they have enjoyed since the emergence of the ‘Rescue Mission’ Administration, ranging from education, to health care delivery, infrastructure, road network, security, agriculture, prompt payment of workers’ salaries/wages, pension matters, among others.

No wonder when the governor publicly indicated his interest to vie for the presidential position, the said masses felt like descending on him as if the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, had spoken an abominable thing. When I interviewed one of them, he frankly told me that they wanted the governor to run for a second term in office. According to the interviewee, it wasn’t because they didn’t want Okorocha to become the President of Nigeria someday, but on the contrary, simply because they wanted him to consolidate the dividend of democracy he has ushered to Imolites.

Fortunately for the masses, Governor Okorocha who is popularly regarded as the ‘Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) and the ‘Commander of Free Education’, lost the presidential bid. I must tell you; when he was away to Lagos for the presidential tussle under the aegis of the All Progressives Party (APC), some of the persons I was opportune to meet on the streets of Imo disclosed to me without mincing words that they had been frantically praying for Chief Okorocha’s downfall at the presidential primary election, so that, he would return to the state and participate in the incoming gubernatorial race. Yes the narrated incident sounds weird and funny, but the truth of the matter is that the story was real. Let’s ride on!

Today, Imo is at it again as usual, just as it was prior to April 26, 2011. During the 2011 race, it was mainly between the then governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) having defected from Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), and Chief Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in which the latter emerged victorious after the supplementary polls that took place on the 6^th of May 2011.

Presently, the gubernatorial race is mainly between Owelle Rochas Okorocha - the seating governor of the State, of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha - the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP); Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Osmond Ukanacho of the United Progressives Party (UPP), and Chief Ken of the Accord Party.

No doubt, the heat is really on in Imo State as regards the forthcoming general elections that are fast approaching. The recent uncalled and ‘crazy’ tempo in Imo, which has negatively affected both the social and political lives of the residents, has constituted a state of anarchy among the people. Frankly Imo, likewise any other state in Nigeria, is currently undergoing an unwarranted torture by the political rivals that parade themselves as gods.

Considering the charismas of the above mentioned candidates, as a well experienced analyst, I observed that all of them want to assume duty as the governor of the state, come May 29, 2015, by all means. Also, by critically looking at the respective manifestoes of the opposition parties including PDP, APGA, UPP and what have you, they seem to be repeating one thing; which is, that the present governor has ‘rubbished’ or has already ‘killed’ Imo State. In retaliation to the accusation, the accused person Rochas Okorocha, would tell you that his rivals are mere ‘wolves in sheep clothing’; stating that, they are seeking for a slightest chance to bury or take the state to a ‘graveyard’ just as they had done in the past before he resurrected the state.

 

Which implies; as the opposition parties are accusing the seating governor who is also an aspirant of having killed the state, the governor on his part is of the opinion that they are seeking for a medium to bury the body he (the governor) has murdered. Very funny indeed!

The most devastating side of the scenario is that, presently in Imo State, you would hardly recognize when the governor is coming because virtually everyone goes by convoy as well as siren. Honestly, the show has taken a different dimension, that, even the blind could see.

The funniest part of the ongoing melodrama is that the aspirants in some parties are of the view that the acclaimed flag bearers of their respective parties are just mere purported candidates; stating that, they are the ‘rightful flag-bearers’ of the said parties. For instance, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Chief Okey Ezeh of the PDP and APGA respectively have allegedly declared themselves the winners of their parties’ primaries, and are presently campaigning vigorously in the state, which has put some of the members of the affected parties in a state of imbroglio. Believe me, the tempo is excessively high.

The question now is: who truly do the people want to see emerge as the governor of the Eastern Heartland, come February 28, 2015? Indeed, it is a puzzle no one can answer because the arena in question is predominated by fake as well as opaque homo-sapiens. Think about it!

 

COMR. FRED DOC NWAOZOR
-The Media Ambassador-
Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
Founder/Leader , Imo Fans Fortress (IMOFAF)
----------------------------------------------------
frednwaozor@gmail.com   
+2348028608056  
http://facebook.com/fred4nwaozor/
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor

            

Thinking Beyond Party Politicking

THINKING BEYOND PARTY POLITICKING AS THE GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE FAST APPROACHING

        

An election is a decision-making process in which a population chooses an individual or group of persons to hold an official position or a public office. In the same vein, the election of a person or a political party is their success/victory at the electoral polls; or the situation whereby one is being chosen for a certain position of authority by the majority.

Elections are usually employed in order to fill vacant offices in the legislative and/or executive arm of any government. The process is also used in many private or business organizations such a clubs, voluntary associations and corporate societies.

The universal use of elections as a tool for selecting political leaders or representatives in modern democracies is in contrast with the practice in the democratic ancient Athens whose elections were conducted by an oligarchic process in which most political offices were filled via Allotment method through which officeholders were chosen by a lot.   

Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the Seventeenth (17^th) Century. These aforementioned assertions have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that it is only in a thorough democratic setting, that, elections are witnessed or allowed to take place.

Democracy which is referred to as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, is indeed a practice that needs to be sustained by all means by any concerned country or nation because it is only the form of government that grants the citizenry the opportunity to choose their leaders or representatives. And for democracy to be sustained, elections or electoral matters must be taken very seriously by the electorates.

Since the emergence of democracy in Nigeria, the giant of Africa, it is obvious that elections which are widely regarded as a veritable tool have been maltreated by both those seeking for political offices and the electorates due to corruption. Ab initio, disheartening cases including molestation, thuggery, sale of Voter’s Card, bribery, lobbying, impersonation, as well as election rigging among other forms of electoral malpractices have been the order of the day.

As the 2015 general elections are fast approaching, there is urgent need for the electorates to look beyond party politicking while making their choices, especially as multi-party system is being observed in Nigeria. Perhaps, since the multi-party system routine has the tendency of distracting the electorates, they are therefore expected to concentrate on the individuality of the candidates rather than their political affiliations.

In view of this, the background of the aspirants ought not to be taken for granted. The social, religious, educational and parental lineages of the aspirants speak volume than any other factor because it is the recipe that would inform the electorates where exactly the candidates is migrating from thereby enabling them (the electorates) to know what he/she can offer if emerged victorious at the polls.

Also, for the candidates seeking for second or third term, or who wants to divert to a different position, as the case may be, the electorates should thoroughly assess his/her accomplishments during the first tenure or while in the previous office. In this aspect, the person’s achievements during the previous term(s) should also be seen as his/her background thus must be critically considered by the concerned electorates. By so doing, they would be able to separate the grains from the chaffs.

On its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ought to as a matter of urgency, disqualify any candidate with any questionable character or any trace of criminality. Those who have violated or who possess the tendency of violating any of the electoral laws or regulations should not be exempted in this line of action.

The electorates should also assist INEC that is poised to conduct free and fair elections, by ensuring that each of them is registered for the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and afterwards, go for its collection at the designated quarters. Registration for and collection of the PVC is the civic right of any bona-fide Nigerian citizen who has attained the age of eighteen (18).

Anyone who registered at a particular ward, zone or state but wishes to cast his/her vote elsewhere is statutorily meant to apply at the INEC office for onward transfer of his/her bio-data to the affected electoral ward, zone or state as the case might be. Also, those who have registered in 2011 and were issued Temporary Voter’s Card (TVC) are not meant to register again before they would be entitled to collect their PVC. INEC and the civil society should on their respective capacities help to create more awareness in this regard.

Above all, we must ensure that our votes are duly counted having voted for candidates of our choice. Our votes are our mandates; therefore we must at all cost endeavour to safeguard them irrespective of the circumstance. We ought to note that, for the anticipated free, fair and credible elections not to end up as a mirage, all hands must be on deck towards its actualization.

So, as the various political aspirants in the country are currently busy with their respective electioneering, we are expected to look beyond party politicking and concentrate on the candidates’ individuality and most importantly, the future of the country. Think about it!

 

   COMR FRED NWAOZOR
  The Media Ambassador
-------------------------------------------------
   frednwaozor@gmail.com  
         +2348028608056  
       Follow: @fdnnwaozor

Newstalk On Gov Okorocha's Tour To Oru East LGA By Fred Nwaozor

GOVERNOR OKOROCHA’S CAMPAIGN TOUR TO ORU EAST LGA, ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 14, 2015

It is no longer news that it was jubilation galore in Imo State in its entirety on Thursday 6^th of May 2011 when Chief Owelle Rochas Okorocha, OON emerged victorious as the Governor of the State in subsequence to the supplementary election that took place at Oguta, Ngor-Okpala, Ohaji/Egbema, Owerri North and Mbaitolu LGAs due to the inclusiveness of the main gubernatorial election that was conducted on Tuesday April 26, 2011.

On that fateful day coupled with the days afterwards, the cripple were jumping and the dumb were seen talking because they were of the view that Imo State, the Eastern Heartland, had at last gotten a Messiah as a leader. No doubt, the euphoric mood noticed among the electorates was not unconnected to the free-education programme via the Rochas Foundation Colleges which Chief Okorocha had sustained across the nation for several years.

To say the least; since Governor Okorocha has been at the helm of affairs in Imo State, to the best of the knowledge of every right thinking individual in the State, the masses that were agog when he emerged victorious as the state Governor are still preoccupied with their usual mood of excitement. This is as a result of the dividend of democracy they have enjoyed from the onset of the ‘Rescue Mission’ dispensation; ranging from education to health care delivery, security, road network, infrastructure, agriculture, prompt payment of workers’ salaries/wages, pension matters, just to mention but a few. Not forgotten the indelible programme of the amiable Imo First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha – the She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP) under the auspices of the Women for Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI).

In regard to this fact, some of the masses who could not hide their feelings would say unequivocally that Rochas Okorocha has done virtually everything he needed to do for Imolites; stating that, whatever the governor has done in the state is visible unlike what was the case during the past administrations. This is the reason the Commandant General of the Imo State Civil Guard Corps, Hon Sir Donatus Ewe Ejifugha described the governor as ‘Ome nke ahuru anya’.

No wonder the entire state was agog on Monday January 12, 2015 when the Governor formally disclosed his interest to vie for a second term in office under the aegis of the All Progressives Party (APC). On that historic and epoch-making occasion, the people’s governor categorically stated that his second term would focus mainly on industrialization and job creation since other aspects have already been actualized during his first term.

Today Wednesday January 14, all roads would lead to Oru East Local Government Area ably led by Honourable Prince Lasbery Okaforanyanwu, as the governor – the Senior Advocate of the Masses and the Commander of Free Education accompanied by his able entourage is ready to visit the council in line with his Rescue Mission Campaign Tour. The rally is expected to unfold many things such as presentation of the party (APC) flag bearers to the people of the area, addressing the youths of the area on their civic responsibilities during the forthcoming general elections, among others.

As the indisputable Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, OON and his running mate Prince Eze Mmadumere, MFR visit Oru East today, we are using this avenue to appeal to every good spirited individual of Oru East origin who are pleased by the numerous charming achievements of the Rescue Mission as well as every leader of the council and all the officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Oru East Chapter including the traditional custodians, commercial drivers/motorcyclists, the youth, school children, the Nneoma Women Organization, and all the women groups in the area, the Booth Leaders, APC Youth Vanguard, and the APC Ward officials, to come out en masse.

I want to sincerely appreciate all the leaders of the council who have been working relentlessly to ensure that the Governor’s visit becomes a success such as Hon Prince Lasbery Okaforanyanwu and the Transition Committee Councillors, Chief Sir Donatus Ewe Ejifugha – KSJI, Chief Bernard Nwananya, Chief Chime Nzeribe, Hon Law Nwobodo, Dr Emma Ogbenta, Hon (Mrs) Nma Nzeribe Michaels, Chief Romanus Egbuladike, Hon Nathan Udogwu, Barr Obinna Amagwula, Chief Dr Nicholas Onwumere, Chief Nkenna Nzeruo, Barr Nicholas Nkendeme, High Chief Calistus Ugoeze, Hon Alphonsus Onwumere, Hon Jude Opurum, High Chief Abu Nnanna, Chief Augustine Onyedebelu, Barr Nelson Ezerioha, and Barr Evaristus Duru. In the same vein, I want to commend Evang Esther Obong Egbuna and Mrs Stella Udogwu who have been very supportive from the onset.

The People’s Governor, Ndi Oru East Na asi gi, Ijeoma oo!!

 

        COMR FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
-------------------------------------------------
            frednwaozor@gmail.com   
              +2348028608056