by chuksu ofurum
There comes a time in the history of a people that certain events help to shape their destiny. At every epoch, men and circumstances collide to create a dramatic episode that will alter the course of history.
As the 29th November, 2014, Peoples Democratic Party PDP, guber primaries approaches, there is palpable anxiety and excitement among the indigenes of Ngor Okpala local government area as the people who have been wickedly neglected, abused and disenfranchised over the years as far as Imo State politics is concerned have suddenly woken up to the stark reality that politics and politicking is purely interest based-personal or collective, and those who are ready at any point in time took it either by force or treachery.
Already different groups, organizations and individuals in the LG, have painstakingly but elaborately prepared their dance groups, guns, bands and timbrels awaiting the all-important guber primary of the largest and best organized political party in Africa.
From the Obiri Ngor Okpala – a socio cultural and political group, the Ngor Okpala in Disapora, Ngor Youth Movement, Ngor Women Emancipation, Ngor Okpala Equity Group and many such organizations and groups, the present political dispensation has presented to Ngor Okpala people the great opportunity of a life time to see one of their illustrious son in the saddle of Imo State. For a people who has never produced a governor, deputy governor, senator, Minister or Ambassador, this opportunity of a life time to produce a governor of Imo State is not to be toiled with and so the apprehension, tension and excitement heightens. And rightly so. To be honest, this largest local government in Imo State and one of the largest in Nigeria, has not only been marginalized politically but has been criminally relegated to the lowest rung economically with successive government’s only delighted in exploiting her natural and human potentials to better their individual enclaves.
History, justice, fairplay and equity are on the side of this people as they rightfully demand for the right to produce the next governor of the state having presented a credible candidate with high level of administrative acumen, an unquantifiable pedigree in performance in previous assignments and who have the intellectual capacity, comportment and mass appeal to emerge victorious, in the person of Prof. Jude Ejikeme Njoku, erudite scholar and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO.
This humble knight of Saint Mulumba, who was also Imo State Commissioner for Education and that of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning is arguably the most qualified of all the plethora of aspirants for the Douglas House seat, a credit to Ngor Okpala. This Professor of Agricultural Economics has not only shown the dexterity, commitment and unparralled patriotism in his aspiration, but has demystified the concept of participatory politics and elevated politics to the intellectual realm with his brand of politicking. No wonder, Imolites from all shades of life, opinion and persuasion – the church, clergy, the students, the youths, women groups and the traditional institution are rooting for him and praying that the PDP will do something different this time around by fielding a person with known track records of performance, someone whose identity and antecedents are known not only in Nigeria but all over the world, someone who has a milk of kindness, a humble person, a person with an intellectual and professional background, a person who will bridge the increasing dichotomy between the poor and the rich and ensure equity and good neigbourliness among the three senatorial zones of the state. Imolites are praying for someone who will bring peace, restore sanity to the polity and motivate the citizens to play their role in the participatory politics of modern democracy. This is what Ngor Okpala has presented to Imo people and there could not be a better choice. Ngor Okpala has presented to Imo State a man with an impeccable record in both academic and administrative fields of endeavours. Ngor Okpala has presented to the conscience of the people a humble man, a papal medallion award winner, the best Vice Chancellor award winner in Nigeria in 2004, a national and international consultant to FAO, USAID, UNESCO, World Bank, WHO and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Ngor Okpala has presented the best among the best and are waiting for the response of other citizens. But this time, there are no excuses, no reasons for denying them this deserved, long awaited and eagerly cherished opportunity to be counted among the people of Imo State. Imo people owe Ngor Okpala this debt.
To compensate for all the years of neglect, marginalization, exploitation and brutal denial of their rights and privileges and indigenes of the state. Ngor Okpala deserves this token of appreciation for her contributions to the stability of Imo State. Imolites must not deny them of this opportunity. For doing so will create a wound that will be difficult to heal. It will create in the people a sense of loss, of rejection and of perpetual condemnation.
But should the PDP do the right thing by fielding Prof. Njoku as their gubernatorial candidate, Ngor Okpala will erupt with joy. There will be a volcanic eruption, the one that happened when Barrack Obama, an African-American was elected by the Social Democrats in the USA. Of course, the revolution swept the Republicans away. It will be like when late Dr. Nelson Mandela was selected by the African National Congress, ANC, as their Presidential candidate. And the result was an emphatic victory. Should the PDP, for once, forget the traders, in politics, business moguls and “Iron must obey” politicians and select the peoples choice, what happened in America and South Africa will be a child’s play. Ngor Okpala people are waiting. The church is waiting. The students and the traditional rulers are all waiting. As Hon. Sebastine Obirieze puts it, “It will be a revolution in Ngor Okpala if PDP select Prof. Jude Ejikeme Njoku as their governorship aspirant. Ngor Okpala will be on fire. The people have already stocked their bars and fridges with drinks waiting for November 29. That day has a lot of meaning for the people of Ngor Okpala. Forget about the so-called endorsements, every Ngor Okpala son or daughter is’ praying fervently for the emergence of Prof. Njoku. At the primaries, the delegates from Ngor Okpala will all vote for him because this has become a collective dream and it has become an obsession among the people,” he emphasized.
No doubt, November 29, 2014, is pregnant with the expectations of Ngor Okpala people. The day could turn the people into the happiest people on earth or cast gloom, or a perpetual scar on them. For Obichere Amagwu from Imerienwe autonomous community, “we are anxiously waiting for the PDP to do the right thing by selecting Prof. Jude Ejikeme Njoku as their flagbear. Anything short of that will be calamitous to the people. But I assure them (PDP) that should Ngor Okpala have this opportunity, there will not be any other party in the local government. Every Ngor Okpala will automatically belong to PDP. Anybody who will think or do otherwise will see hell on earth,” he warned.
Well, will there be hell on earth or songs in Heaven. Either will happen as the people wait with berthed breath what PDP will do. Will the party disappoint the people again, their expectations, their hopes and their aspirations, or will the PDP toe the part of equity, justice, modernity and uncommon courage to create a revolution that will sweep off the feet of the current occupant of Douglas House. Will the PDP rekindle the hopes of this neglected people and give them a sense of belonging. “Chief Nduka Obihara elaborates further, “Owerri zone is anchored on four blocks,
viz a viz, the Uratta block which comprises of Owerri West, North and Muncipal. This block has produced a Senator, Deputy governor, minister (two times) and an Ambassador. Mbaike block is made up of Mbaitoli and Ikeduru. This block has produced a governor, deputy governor, minister (2 times), Senator and a Senate President.
Mbaise block is comprised of Aboh, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte. They have produced three(3) senators, deputy governor, minister (2 times), two House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Chairman of Federal Boards and Parastatals and other federal appointments.
Ngor Okpala is the fourth block. It has never produced a minister, governor, deputy governor, senator or Ambassador. So it is not fair for us. As Owerri zone is agitating for the governorship position based on Charter of Equity, they should also look at the statistics and compensate Ngor Okpala with the governorship seat. That is the only way justice and fair play anchored on brotherliness would seem to have been done. Ngor Okpala are asking for equity and common sense. We have one of the best candidate now. So nothing should prevent the block from enjoying what others have enjoyed,” he stated.
