It was Dr (Mrs) Kema Chikwe, the former PDP National Woman leader who said that the undoing of the people of Imo State since 1999 is the emergence of emergency governors and other public office holders. I agreed with the postulations of the ex minister intoto and this prompted yours sincerely to write on this column a piece titled Kema Chikwe and the Emergence of Emergency Governors.
I reproduce some relevant portions of that piece which is crucial to the above topic in today’s exposition.
I wrote: “I tend to concur with the postulations of Mrs Chikwe, on the basis that a look at the scorecard of past administrations in the State will readily justify the comments of former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Iceland and Ireland.
“Mrs Chikwe anchored her new found political gospel on the basis that Imo State has not had it so good since the ship of democracy berthed on the shores of the State some years ago but she however failed to hit the nail on the head by shying away from the reasons why our beloved State has had emergency governors since 1999.
“It is painful that Mrs Chikwe missed the point in her assertion by failing to go further to explain to her audience why Imo State has been gripped by emergency governors.
“Her emergency governors concept is a case of diagnosing a headache without recommending a cure. It is a case of identifying a problem without proffering a solution……….
I continued “Such emergency plans run contrary to the expectations of the people. And because Imo State is not in an emergency condition or situation, the emergency policies of those elected through emergency process are totally out of tandem with the problems confronting the State.
“This is why Imolites have not seen dividends of democracy in quantum. And this is why the quest and yearning for a leader in the character and mould of Late Dee Sam Mbakwe will continue to elude the State until those processes that encourage emergency governors are eradicated from our political culture”
This is the crux of this piece. One can say that the emergence of emergency public office holders is the sole factor responsible for the sorry ordeal of the people of Imo State.
We have seen more or less cosmetic approach to governance by these emergency leaders who gate crashed into
the realm of governance of the State. And because they were unprepared, they gambled with the task of leadership and the people of Imo State have continued to pay dearly for it. This is why no civilian administration since 1999 has satisfied the yearnings and expectations of the people of Imo State.
We have always faulted every Administration that comes on board on the ship of governance of the State. This is expected considering the pluralistic political configuration of the State.
Despite the fact that past Administrations such as that of Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim, to an extent, strived to leave indelible marks on the sand of history that will compel the people to remember their legacies , they have continued to receive the boot of the people for one reason or the other.
The Rochas Okorocha Administartion has not been an exception either. The Rescue Mission it bandies about has been faulted by some critics on the basis that it is yet to meet and satisfy the expectations of the people. Another School Of Thought however disagree on the basis that it has surpassed the achievements of previous administrations.
Perharps, the outcome of the next general elections will put a stop to this raging debate. I will leave this gist for another day.
However , I will admit that in Imo we have seen more of braggadacio in governance. And we can only wish an end to it if we can choose our first eleven and eventually queue behind the one among the lot we consider can provide the brand of governance we seek and yearn for.
Like a football team where there are over 23 players, it is the first eleven considered good enough are selected to engage opponents in a football match.
This approach has become important as we journey to 2015, a year which will provide us the opportunity to either re elect or reject leaders whom we consider will provide the desired leadership that we all crave for.
Chinua Achebe, the late literary icon said “Those whose palm kernels are cracked by benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble”
In Imo, we have seen leaders whose palm kernels were cracked by the spirit of benevolence and choose not to be humble thereafter. We have seen governors, senators, state House of Assembly members, federal lawmakers who came in as humble as a dove only to become as aggressive as a lion when they eventually suceeed in their political adventure.
Across the length and breadth of Imo State, we have continued to see frowning and wrinkling faces put up by majority of the people who lament over either poor representation or little or no delivery of dividends of democracy by those who begged and scrambled for their votes in the last elections.
This has led to despondency in the land as the people eagerly await the arrival of a new political era that will afford them the opportunity to have a rethink and make amends. This write-up is brief, in order to enable numerous readers to understand the message passed across in it.
I have always advocated the need to identify our first Eleven who can give us what we earnestly crave for.
I have come up with a list whom I consider perfectly suit into this category. I reserve my judgement on the basis that some politicians are chameleons with sweet coated tongues that easily deceive the people just to earn their votes and vanish thereafter.
However, the search continues and at the right time, they shall be unveiled. Be part of it!
Send in your nominees on 08066605375 via SMS only
