By Dr. Chibueze Chizaramoku
Sorganizations have been organizing poliince the beginning of democratic government in Nigeria in 1999 various tical debates to enable the citizenry make up their minds on who to vote for. Various methods have been adopted by the organizations. They include the use of electronic media, town union forum and public debates. In Imo State the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has been organizing debates for contestants to political office since 2007. In 2011, when Chief Ikedi Ohakim was the sitting Governor, the debate was organized at the Obiri-Odenigbo Pavilion. During the debate, all the governorship candidates then participated. The}7 include Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Rochas Okorocha and others.
At the end of the debate, the present Governor of the State Rochas Okorocha emerged through that platform. This followed all the promises and issues he raised which attracted the applause of the audience. Unfortunately, since his emergence as the Governor virtually all the promises he canvassed at the forum have not been realized or have been partially but artificially realized. Also he has since his emergence as the as the Governor been antagonizing the people and the platform that brought him to power. The welfare of the electorate has been relegated to the background, As H 7015 general elections draw closer the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri on Wednesday March 11 decided to hold another debate to enable the electorate assess the capabilities, manifestos and the genuiness of all the governorship candidates. As early as 8 in the morning that day, people from various political parties had throned the venue of the debate while the Governorship candidates from the PDP Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the APGA candidate Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, UPP – Osmond Ukanocho and others came in later. That of the All Progressive Congress – APC – Owelle Rochas Okorocha rather than attending, dispatched his functionaries which include the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Anwuka, his son-in-law and Commissioner for lands Uche Nwosu, Commissioner for Information Chief Chidi Ibeh, the Youth and Sports Commissioner Kenneth Emelu, the Commissioner for Health. Dr. Ihejirika, the Senior Special Assistant on Culture Mr Paddy Obinna and other APC supporters and their cronies to go and disrupt the debate so that it will never see tire light of the day. These APC thugs not only took over the podium, they broke the chairs, overturned the tables, unplugged the equipments, destroyed the lectern which is used to celebrate mass, read and preach the word of God and above all, assaulted some of the priests. The most reprehensible action of these APC government functionaries is that most of them claim to be Catholic Knighted Christians. The way and manner they surged forward and charged to the front can only be compared with the Boko Haram fundamentalists of which some people accuse their party of taken its roots. In fact when they moved to the podium and seized the microphone and started scattering and destroying the equipments many people thought that Boko Haram members have invaded Imo State and began to scamper for safety to save their lives. The most shocking of the activities of the APC government functionaries one would ask is what such people and their supporters came to the House of God to do with knives, machets, iron, rods, axes and sticks just like the Boko Haram fundamentalist do when they capture and kill their captives. One of the APC thugs almost hacked down someone with the axe but for the intervention of a Civil Defence Officer. One question on the lips of many followers of the political debate at the Assumpta Cathedral Podium since 2007 is why the APC Government in Imo State who came to power through the same debate should import fundamentalism into Imo State and above all in the House God? Does it mean that should they loose in the election come April 11, Imo State will go on fire or blood will flow as they attempted on Wednesda}7 March 11? From the activities of these APC government functionaries and their thugs, one deduces that they are not true Christians but real liberal Christians or Catholics as their Principal-Owelle Rochas Okrorocha will always say he is.
It is based on this premise that Imo people should shine their eyes and avoid voting into power any person who does not really understand the sacredness of the Holy of Holies, the sanctity of the House of God, the cultural values and religious orientation of Ndigbo. The only way to stop APC from further desecration of God’s House is by the Imo people to come out enmasse on Saturday April 11 and vote out the APC State government – a party that is alien to Ndigbo and their culture.
At least for now, the leadership of the people of Owerri through their umbrella body Owerri Peoples Assembly has made it easy for Ndi Imo to know the candidiate they have presented to the State in the person of Hon Emeka Ihedioha. From the communique issued by the people of Owerri zone, Hon Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party- PDP is the best candidate among the lot. He has been tested, he is a great performer. He is a lover of the people. He is a good Christian and is not boastful. He has no sugar coated tongue to deceive Imo People. His word is his Bond. Rightly, he has a deputy in the person of Rt. Hon Chuma Nnaji – a former Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly a one time Commissioner of Information in the State. A seasoned journalist and Communicator, Chief Nnaji with his Principal Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha will give Imo State the best of quality services. Vote for Emeka Ihedioha and Chuma Nnaji for Progress, quality development of Imo State, religious tolerance, quality education and the return of the integrity of School Principals, Head teachers, so that education in Imo State will take its rightful position in Nigeria civil servants will be proud of their work and quality Medicare delivery in the State will be returned.
