There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the problems we face has been lack of capacity in leadership. People seek top legislative positions without first of all getting themselves acquainted with the rudiments of such positions or try to have a clear cut idea on how they would take advantage of such positions to tackle societal challenges for the overall interest of the greater percentage of the people. The effect, is that at the end of the day, the general well-being of the people they represented becomes worse than it was before they were elected into office.
Yes, some of these politicians has brainwashed some of their supporters to the extent that they now place sentiments above credibility and their future. The question is, beyond the quest for political power, support for DSP and money which are all personal gains, what else could have been the new-found interest that Chief Athan Achonu, is looking for in the senate? This question was necessitated by the fact that whatever he can become or achieve in the senate can be determined in his flopped 7 months representation in the senate which saw Okigwe zone descend to the lowest ebb in senate representation throughout history and one wonders what he is going back to the senate to offer since he was unable clinch a principal position, chairmanship of any import committee or even show signs of picking up, by making informed contributions during plenary.
The good news is that Okigwe zonal people are educated enough to know what they want and look for such qualities in the candidates. But it is instructive for Okigwe people, especially the youths who constitute a large percentage of the voting population, to dig deep into the profiles of the two frontline candidates and see who has the best blueprint, political party and the ranking membership advantage to change the fortunes of the zone for the better. Considering the significance of this election, Ndi Okigwe must put sentiments aside and vet the character, advantage and track record of service of candidates vying for this election before extending their support.
Ideally, political contest for legislative positions are decided on the strength of experience and ideas which the people, as the heart of democracy, could relate with as capable of truly changing their socio-economic and political conditions.it is on this premise that the people of Okigwe zone need to rise above primordial biases, partisan sentiments, hatred, clannish interest, jealousy and other tendencies that kept them divided across political party and clannish lines even when faced with a common enemy, to strongly refuse to accept second fiddle as what is best for them in the present administration.
In an enlightened society, experience and political party advantage are painstakingly evaluated and weighed by the electorates, in other to form an opinion which will inform their judgment on how they will vote on the election-day. And the ultimate goal would be to elect the best representative who has what it takes, in terms of experience and the political party advantage to advance the cause of their people and achieve happiness for the greatest number of people in their society.
These are consideration which should agitate the minds of Ndi Okige zone ahead of the rescheduled Okigwe senate election which pitches the former Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly and a former board member of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Rt. Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu of the All Progressive Congress APC, with Chief Athan Achonu of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, in a contest which analysts has dubbed as contest between ‘’ development and retrogression’’.
Beyond politics of propaganda and verbal attack, the understanding should be reinforced that the Okigwe senate election is about the future and advancement of a region that is in desperate need of attention from both the state and federal governments, thus the need to elect a ranking member who equally has the political party advantage and the legislative panache to take advantage of legislative instruments to bring about positive changes, that can address the numerous challenges our people face in the area of workable infrastructure, budgeting, political appointments, direct employment, youth and women empowerment, etc. And as well as, the opportunity to connect our people to the mainstream affairs of the Nigeria nation.
Of truth, like in all human activities, where people are expected to garner experience before fitting in properly into their respective field of endeavor or better put in the context of our discussion, learn the herculean processes or rudiments of lawmaking and other legislative functions, in order to get themselves fully acquainted with the mechanisms or acts of legislation before being taken seriously by the leadership who always site extant laws ( House rules), as well as, their capacity and sagacity on National discourse as excuse to relegate them. inexperienced representatives, who are often times, regarded as benchwarmers, are most times denied the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of their immediate constituencies of even have a Bill or Motions to their names by the system, while the ranking members have wilder leverage to advance the course of their people, using the budget instruments, legislative and oversight activities to attract projects and employment to their constituencies.
For those who are conversant with legislative processes, as well as, familiar with the perks, incentives and niceties that accompany principal legislative offices and juicy committees in a legislative House, heading an important committee or being elected as a principal officer is seen to be more lucrative and profitable than having three first time senators.
But this not to say that the inexperienced legislators are completely shortchanged in all affairs of the chambers, no, they are often appointed Deputy Chairman and Members of committees, which the House rule dictates that every member must be a member of a committee. Most of them are seen as novice who do not deserve to enjoy the flowery lucres and perks from the committees of the National Assembly. In making presentations, sponsorship of motions or bills and other contributions on the floor, they are often not recognized, especially when the lawmaker comes from an opposing party.
For the avoidance of doubt, ranking membership procedure in the upper legislative chambers of the National Assembly, is a procedure whereby the House rule, only empowers lawmakers who got reelected after serving out their first tenure or have served as principal officers of a legislative House, to become principal officers, Chairmen of caucuses and chairmen of important and sensitive committees. This underscores the reasons why Okigwe zonal electorates must not be swayed by politician’s tricks but most differentiate between those who has the experience advantage, as well as genuine interest and passion for the development of the people from those who just have lost for power.
Why electing an experienced ranking senator who will enjoy more influence and support from his colleague senators and the President, is best at this time for Okigwe zone, is because the entire Igbo Nation needs more than ever before, an experienced senator with the APC political party advantage, to correct Ndi Igbo’s costly mistake of putting all their eggs in one basket, a situation that has seriously affected the development and reintegration of Ndi Igbo into the current scheme of things in Nigeria. This has also caused the current shaving of the Igbo man in his absence, which is also militating against the interest and development of Okigwe people.
Based on the foregoing, the need for Okigwe people to elect Rt.Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu, former Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, cannot be overemphasized because he possess both the experience and the political party advantage, being a member of the ruling APC, as well as the zeal, passion and federal connections needed to attract the necessary infrastructure, employment and other dividends of democracy which will engender economic growth and address the issue of Igbo exclusion in the present scheme of things.
Emeka Ahaneku writes from Owerri
