By Sir Bright Nwelue
Thinking aloud” to me began to make more meaning when Sir Mike Ahamba SAN used it many years ago when he was a member of the then Imo House of Assembly and now I seek the patience of my readers to concede me the right to think aloud in the cause of guiding the conscience of our generation on what kind of man or woman should occupy the Douglas (Imo Government) House come 2015.
A little bit on the memory lane, those who have made the most pronounced efforts in the race of occupying Douglas House never made it rather the least imagined always succeeded. Those who know or still remember can reflect on this as there is no intention of mine to recall historical details.
Taking a cue from the last general elections, it was unimaginable to any Imo man that another Orlu man could occupy Douglas House in 2011 thereby truncating the hopes of Okigwe and even Owerri people. If it was settled that the next occupant of the Douglas House will come from Owerri Zone it will be needless for a group like Owerri People’s Front to begin to sermonize 50 reasons why their son, daughter or wife (?) should be the beneficiary in 2015. It is clear that the sermon of “it is the turn of this zone or the other” in Imo guber race can no longer fly and I strongly believe that in no time it will spread to other contestable positions even that of the Presidency hence making it instructive that the electorates as well as the political calculations should concentrate more on what kind of man, or woman should emerge as Governor, Imo State in 2015.
I am not a Professional Columnist as to claim to have the power to manufacture a lengthy write-up to deliver my message hence I make straight to what I think should be done.
The only question I asked my son in-law when he first came to ask for the hand of my daughter in marriage was: are you from a community/generation that has shame? He instantly answered yes and I quickly approved that my first daughter was his. Fear he/she who has no shame; this is my belief.
Pedigree, experience and antecedent should be the yardstick to asses and endorse the next occupant of Douglas House and not where the person hails from.
If the bible was not clear where Jesus Christ – Our Saviour – was born, wealthy people today would have imagined that his parentage was of Presidents, Senators, Governors, billionaires, etc. From an “unknown” parentage yet God used Christ to give the world salvation. I am inclined to someone whom we can verify his parental/community background, class/school mates, how he/she went up the ladder as well as evidence of enhancing society with his/her previous opportunities, etc. The occupant of Douglas House in 2015 must be someone whose past has never been associated with any means of livelihood that ran foul with the laws of the land and must demonstrate capacity in leadership arising from known exposures and assignments he/she must have handled in the past. We must concentrate on someone who understands the cosmopolitan nature of Nigeria and possibly has been a player in the complexity of leadership both locally, nationally and internationally.
Our target should be on one who has appetite to institute a robust environment capable of stimulating economic growth that translates to empowerment and improved security. The occupant of Douglas House in 2015 must not suffer the sins of the forefathers or the cobwebs of where he/she hails from.
As soon as INEC confirms the atmosphere clear for all political intentions to be declared, the forerunners should constitute a panel where every candidate should have one member in that panel and participate in a live radio and TV interviews with them as to generate impressions on the minds of the people through which they can independently choose their Governor. Peradventure moneybags still think that 2015 will be business as usual, I counsel everyone who is lucky to lay hand on such money, eat it, help the poor around you with it and still stick more to your conscience while voting. Above all there should be a zero-tolerance of strangers invading communities only for the purposes of rigging elections. I still believe that if the Nigerian Police Force and all Security Agencies resolve to stamp out electoral crimes, infact all crimes, they can simply do so. Once they say to hell with connivance and compromise, the game is up for all enemies of society.
Make public the background, pedigree and experience of all aspirants to Douglas House in 2015 and the right candidate will simply emerge. My joy is that no one will escape judgment in the sight of God no matter how much you pretend, hide or cut corners. It is important that we remove clannishness in 2015 elections to enable someone whose personality and profile can fit into the dream of a prosperous Imo to emerge. Leadership, to my mind, is not a popularity contest but election seems to be. The maturity of a candidate in seeing government as a social service and not a business entity counts as well as the ability of a N0.1 citizen not to visit children with the “sins” of their fathers. Power is never gotten on a platter anywhere in the world more so in a democracy. It involves a contest. I only seek that the contest must have a human face as well as a substantial dose of conscience. One who wants to sit in power with the spirit of vengeance will totally miss it because a praying man without love is like a naked wire with full voltage that will not bring light but sorrows.
An unforgiving and shameless heart should be distanced from leadership. Pretend to believe a liar – he will then lie even more and reveal himself. Let the will of God happen in 2015.
