According to Sir Winston Churchill; “if we open quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future”. At the moment, Imo people are conjecturing the future and one good thing that lurks around is the fact that there is hope in the future. It is hopeful that Imo is always on the threshold of better days ahead. We need a true leader in the future not a ruler anymore.
Unarguably, true manhood is found within the heart of a man, the inner, true man; his character the real man, that exudes beyond all external devices for the people to see, for as long as men live and memory have its seats in them, the name of some men like, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho will forever be linked with goodness.
Who can stop a moving train? A train built and loaded with people’s good will and support, a tram designed out of well articulated dreams and vision, an unstoppable, moving and fast racing train Trying to stop this peoples train, will definitely amount to committing political suicide.
I believe and strongly too, that it is time we begin to recognize, appreciate and celebrate those who render selfless service to our people, rather than erecting and building walls of obstacles just to destroy all they have built or are building. Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Oil and gas, has built a legacy, name and goodwill enough to aspire to any political office in Imo State and the country in general; his forthrightness, probity, accountability personal and official integrity, largeness of heart and spirit, coupled with his fine disposition stood him out among the ravaging crowd of aspirants jostling to occupy Imo State Government House popularly known as Douglas House come 2015. The cap fits him, let him wear it. No one can give what he does not have. For short period in the saddle as the helmsman in the ministry of interior (Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs), he served meritously, recognized his roots and employed many Igbo people and beyond. In fact, his exploits as a minister of internal affairs are testamentary to his true leadership qualities. In 2011 when Imo electorate became tired of bad governance in the State, Capt. Iheanacho, was on hand to assist them in installing the man they believed then would take them to the promise land. He tested the waters by his immeasurable contributions, and left victorious whether that dream is realized two years down the line is left for them and their conscience and a matter for another day. For the much I know about the amiable, unassuming, quintessential technocrat and philanthropist, called Capt. Iheanacho, I can truly testify, that his success today was one that came out of dint of hard work, persistency, resilience and dogged determination, rather than mere luck and chance. He worked himself to where he is today. A product of careful envisioning, planning and total articulated vision. He severally took very serious and daring risk and the result of what we all seem to envy today. Those who aspire or dream to become true leaders, build not on what they can gain from the moment; but on what will benefit for life. The societal ills, prevalent and ravaging our nation today like locust, was as a consequence of the lost of our value system, ill manners and nauseating characters, prompting and forcing people not to be interested in others but only in themselves, promoting and projecting individualism, rivalry and undue competition. This is our bane today Capt. Iheanacho as a proud son of the soil, undoubtedly, tried all his life to figure out who really he was putting that insight thoughtfully to work in protection of his ancestry, background and family ethos It worked for him, firstly, he asked himself, a very straightforward question, regarding his personal qualities and attributes; he got an early answer. He started to work assiduously to achieving those dreams. The answer, he got, was to be a successful ship captain, ship merchant entrepreneur philanthropist, politician and servant leader. All these, he achieved, still exhibiting down to earth humility, doggedness, persistency, a steel-strap mind, a great imagination, a positive attitude, a strong sense of values. He has always insisted and maintained full transparency in all his undertakings, archetypical of due process, respect for rule of law and that, he hopes to replicate in the governance of Imo State. He lived, breathed and talked his vision, even when everybody, including friends, family members and loved ones, thought it is all over for him. I am still at a lost and wondering widely why our politicians and leaders refuse to engage in politics of meaning, substance and conviction, but always indulge in pulling dynamic and progressive ones down. Why on earth should the people of Owerri Zone think it twice to stand behind an eagle, iconoclast, genius and sterling stuff of a human being like the elegant and amiable Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, quite unrivaled among his peers’? True leaders build not on what they can gain from the moment, but on what will benefit for life, for ‘life is so composed of our choices, constructed by words and revealed by our character Within Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho’s awe-inspiring, intimidating frame and personality, lies a remarkable warm heart of a humanitarian. It is not euphemism to state that he epitomizes humility and gentility. I thank and can rightly say that humility seems to be his strength, yet, it is a rare virtue. From the series of events that unfolded itself in recent time, all directed to Capt. Iheanacho, (refer to his atrocious abduction by a vicious gang led by the notorious militant Tampolo). I think, I may not be wrong, if I conclude that there is a well planned and calculated effort by some cabals and charlatans to run this God’s gift to mankind down. Will it work? I’m very optimistic, it will not. The good news is that Imo people are now wiser, more enlightened, having paraded uncountable number of those who have engendered innovations; literary giants, world renown scientist, academics, philanthropist, successful entrepreneurs, true patriot, those who are regarded as inspirational, pride and ray of hope to the young generation and will be ready to defend their votes. My candid advice to them is that they should not try to play god, they should also watch it, yes, and they should watch it. For he who God has blessed and ordained, nobody can bring down; power belongs to God, and there is nothing any mortal can do to subvert His divine will, no amount of conspiracy, blackmail, frustration, intimidation and campaign of calumny can stop him; for it will surely backfire if they continue in that unholy trade. Imo State, especially the youths, traders and market women must open their eyes very wide and shine it too; for these scavengers are out again, the cheats, the disreputable godfathers and thieving acclaimed leaders are out again. Imolites should remain conscious of their antics and get battle ready, because there is little or nothing in their bosom other than deceit and hopelessness. Imolites this time should carry out a dispassionate assessment and appraisal of the past leadership of the state, to enable them be in a better position to separate the gram from the chaff. My most sincere advice to Capt. Iheanacho is, he should turn all those cowardly attitudes, behaviors and attacks into personal and peoples challenge. He should use all those negative attitudes of both the government to Nigeria (FGN), Imo State and others to fuel an incredible positive strength. He should understand that only him can answer them by thinking positive and victorious in advance, behold, it will come to past. Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, must also as a matter of urgency re-examine his electoral chances in crises ridden PDP. To me, I am thinking, it is not going to be easy with PDP considering the present political jostling in the party by its leaders. In the words of Benjamin Disraeli; “The secrete of success in life u for a man to be ready for time when it comes”. This is Capt. Iheanacho’s time, and he is ready and, Imo people need him. The legendry Nelson Mandela did say; “the time is always right to do right’ The right thing now to do is for Imo voters to away around this cynosure of peoples eye and proceed to the promised land.
Finally, I am confident that Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho will deliver, he will not disappoint Imo electorates, and he will do everything possible to add value to his people if voted as the next executive Governor of Imo State come 2015.
