The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates in:
Section 176.
(1) There shall be for each State of the Federation a Governor.
(2) The governor of a state shall be the Chief Executive of that state
177. A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if
(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;
(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;
(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and
(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
At face value this may seem a simple requirement but in reality a difficult thing. As there are a million and one persons who may think they are qualified and therefore go about parading themselves in such light. They make noise and blow their trumpets that they are the best for the job.
However, politics is not about noise making! There are noise makers…political blabbers making noise so that they can be noticed and there are serious contenders. Good leadership is not accidental. It is deliberated and purposeful. One must be prepared and knows exactly what to do and what not to do. From the whole lot we need to separate the wheat from the chaff. Imo State deserves the best and nothing but the best is good enough for Imolites! Mind you I have not made any reference to any political party. I am just presenting these individuals on their individual merits.
Putting sentiments aside and taking a closer look at all the 2015 Imo State governorship hopefuls, I have painstakingly come up with four names any of which if given the chance to lead, can take Imo State to the next level. These four are my personal favorites who I have painstakingly studied without sentiments. Based on verifiable facts about them arrived at logical conclusion .Thus making them top of the list of best candidates for Douglas House who can deliver dividends of democracy to Imo State. In no particular order of scale here are my top 4 contenders for Douglas House in 2015!
OCHOUDO MARTIN AGBASO: Sterling qualities of a good leader are: Strenght of Character to follow through his Vision, Benovalent Capacity to do good for his People. And an Inestimable competence in ensuring that the Welfare of his People is numero uno….That is Martin Agbaso for you…he is intelligent enough to understand the COMPLEXITIES of governance. Chief Martin Agbaso is Resilent and Focused to follow through a just cause. If we can put behind us the debacle between him and Owelle Rochas Okorocha, a situation many have termed as him becoming an Esau (who sold his birthright) and really turn our focus on the man Martin Agbaso. We will see a man of class and good taste. From his outlook to his abode, you see a man who ascribes only for the best and who can only render the best and excellent service to the people of Imo State. His determination to lead Imo State probably bordering on his desire to give Imo State the best leadership is something to be commended and after being denied his mandate twice now, giving him the next four years to prove his worth isn’t out of line from my point of view.
KEN IKECHUKWU OJIRI: Even though a green-horn in Imo politics, this is one man who through his personal achievements both to himself and his community have not failed to impress and inspire me. With the advantage of youth on his side, Ken Ojiri is the embodiment of hardwork, dedication and above all, the fear of God. With a very impressive educational portfolio and a massive wealth of international knowledge in financial management and investment, Ken Ojiri has all it takes to move Imo State from our current levels of economic stagnation and bankruptcy and transform Imo into a thriving economy with job and developmental opportunities for the Imo youths which I concur with him is the most important agenda by any government. His desire for perfection is unequalled as is obvious from his country home and his outlook. Those who have worked with him attest to a man with class while his people sing of a billionaire with the heart of a common man who knows where it pains the common man. Over the years through his foundation has uplifted youths in his community and even this year granted several scholarship that produced many graduates including three medical doctors. Now this is another person I can comfortably leave the running of Imo State in his capable hands.
SENATOR CHRIS ANYANWU: This is one woman whose zeal and courage really inspires and impresses me a great deal. Chris Anyanwu proved her courageous nature during the regime of the late dictator Abacha who incarcerated her for her doggedness and stand for truth and social justice. As a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Owerri Senatorial District, Senator Chris Anyanwu has through her connections both in the armed forces and media helped youths of her Senatorial zone and other zones secure jobs amongst other things she has done to uplift and empower the youths of Imo State. She is someone I have observed closely and seen that she is someone who can deliver having fared and struggled and excelled in a society clouded by the domineering force of men. There is something that women will always have that men will never and we must never underestimate them. That is the empathy to internalize the challenges other people face and seek to provide solutions to them. Probably because she is a mother she exemplifies this quality but for her to understand that the good of the youths of the state matters more than anything else places her high on my books for next governor of Imo State.
SENATOR HOPE ODIDIKA UZODINMA: If not for the demand by Owerri Zone for a crack at Douglas House and the Okigwe zone’s desire to complete their rudely interrupted tenure, Senator Hope Uzodinma for me holds all it takes to become the next governor of Imo State. Loved and respected by all and sundry all over the state, the first son of Orlu is a man who understands what his people want and being a man of good standards and connections knows how best to provide for his people all the dividends of democracy as he has been providing for Ndi Orlu in the Senate.
All said and done, we must not overlook the fact that there is an incumbent and from all indications is very much interested to have a second tenure. Owelle Rochas Okorocha when viewed dispassionately would have been a good candidate. In 2011, I worked relentlessly for his ascending to that exalted office. However, along the line, he got himself enmeshed and surrounded with sycophants and political jobbers who invariably made him deviate from the straight and narrow path. I believe that no human being is beyond savage. Even in the most “useless” person talking nonsense a wise person would still extract sense from it. ORO is definitely not beyond savage. We all can still call him to order and if he shows that sign of remorse and willingness to make amend and retrace his step he every much stands a good chance.
Sentiments aside, these are my four best choices for Douglas House come 2015. All the other contenders with all their noise and hype so far cannot run away from the controversy of inefficiency. Especially those who have already been given the opportunity to represent their zones and constituencies in various capacities and who have not lived up to expectations. Many of them have turned our commonwealth into their birthright yet they come again promising heaven on earth despite failing us severally with the chances we have already given them.
It is pertinent to mention that If not for the Constitutional stipulation that one must be at least thirty five years I would have made this list top 5 and believe me with all due respect be a strong contender for Douglas House. The lizard says if no one praises it that it would praise itself .We need to appraise the contenders from the point of whether one has the capacity, competence and character to take Imo people to the next level. If Imo people will unanimously agree to give anyone of these people the next four years to prove their mantle, I have that deep conviction that with them, Imo will raise to its greatest glories.
Umu nwannem ihea wu ihe anyi obugi ihe otu onye! My people! My people!! Make we join hands and legs to pursue, overtake, recover and restore our land IMO STATE….IMO MUST BE BETTER IN OUR TIME!!!
