The first part of this piece The Search for Imo First Eleven which appeared on this column last Tuesday has elicited swift reactions from Imolites.
Phone calls have been forthcoming despite the fact I humbly pleaded to numerous readers that they should send via SMS their nominees for the governorship seat of Imo State in 2015.
Anyway, I bear no grudge. I understand the fact that the task of selecting eleven capable men and women among the litany of Imolites who have the ability to govern our dear State is very important to our people. It is a serious exercise and based on the response I have received, I am convinced that there is an awakening amongst the people of the State to carefully peruse those who say they want to lead us.
Further, it goes a long way to prove that we are conscious of on- goings in our political environment and also alert about political developments in our dear State. Every Imolite is politically inclined and seem to be conversant with the trend of political events in his or her environment.
This strengthens the fact that gone are the days any dick, tom and harry will sneak into the political arena and tell us he wants to pilot the ship of governance of Imo State.
The spontaneous response to the first part of this piece is an attestation or indication of our firm resolve to put on our thinking caps and binoculars and look critically at those who are seeking for our votes for one elective office or the other.
If we understand the fact that Imo State has been invaded by some political marabout, political turn coats, political misfits and those not cut out for the onerous responsibly of leadership in the first place, then we must embrace any effort no matter the scope and size of such exercise to ensure we get the best that will govern us. Political happenings in the State in recent times has shown and proved that all that glitter is not gold!
No responsible society can afford to gamble with the task of identifying those who have what it takes to guarantee responsible, responsive and good governance. From Rome to Kinshasha down to Cairo, people now shine their eyes before casting their votes for anyone. Our dear State will not be an exception in 2015! Did I hear you say Amen.
Ongoing political events in Egypt is a casestudy for the Imo electorate to be conscious of those who aspire to govern them. We have seen how the Egyptians have defended the mandate they gave to their choice leaders and representatives. Despite the repression of the military backed Interim Government to silence the people, the Egytian populace has maintained a tough stance . The situation in Syria is also an example how determined the people can be to reject a bad government.
This is the stage democracy has grown. Democracy has been nourished with the manure of change. This is the new dimension it has taken. And it is high time, Imo State join the queue.
The Holy Bible says a people without vision are bound to perish. A society operated by visionless leaders is doomed to fail and crumble. It will drift to the rocks. If we take into consideration the amount of money that has accrued to the State from the Federation Account since 1999 till date, we will assimilate the fact that we should not be classified as one of the underdeveloped States in Nigeria.
Have we had the best of leaders since democracy berthed on our shores since 1999? And if we had any, where their efforts good enough? The development of any society is measured with two key factors: economic prosperity and human development of the people. Can we sincerely say we have attained these feats in Imo State?
One of the fine ingredients of democracy is the happiness of the people. Are we happy in Imo? Do we have cause to be happy? Are we satisfied with the social and economic policies introduced by past administrations? Did such policies impoverish or improve our conditions? Did the political and economic roadmaps of past administrations improve the economic condition of Ndi Imo?
Have we fared better and well? Has the tears of despondency vanished from our faces? Has economic prosperity come to our doorstep? Has the deplorable condition of our youths ravaged by unemployment changed for good? Has hunger and crushing poverty that is perverse in the hinterlands in the State vanished? Where are the industries that will create jobs for millions of graduates our higher institutions churn out yearly? Is Imo developing or not? Do we have cause to smile yet?
What are the economic indices to show that we have had leaders whose reign improved our lot? Is the living condition of Imolites something to happy about in the last 14 years we have been compelled to go to the polls to elect those who will lead us?
The time has come we stop clapping for public office holders when they construct new roads and sink a borehole. It is their responsibility to cater for us. Moreso we should be able to decipher the difference between genuine and cosmetic governance. What manner of governance have we seen in Imo in recent times?.
We should cease to resort to hero worshiping those whom we gave our votes. They are mere caretakers and not landlords of our commonwealth. We have the right to ask and probe what they have done with our resources entrusted to them.
Imo has no business to be classified a back ward State. Is not laughable that it is only those who govern the State that are rich when they leave office? We have seen millionaires and billionaires emerged after they held public office.
This is the reason why those who propel or have propelled the wheel of governance in the State have either failed the people or were not cut out for the task of governance in the first place.
We deserve and desire more than what we have now. The era we celebrate those we elect into office only to regret and gnash our teeth thereafter should be eradicated from our physche. If we cannot take advantage offered by democracy to elect leaders that will render dividends of democracy in quantum and make us happy, then we better shut our mouths and accept anyone even if it is a zombie that eventually find his or her way up there.
Elections offer us that opportunity to elect those we consider posses what it takes to govern, but we must be conscious of this fact early enough and hinge our hopes, expectations on some set of public office seekers whom after a careful assessment can make a difference in our living conditions if they are eventually elected .
Since the return of democracy in Imo, we have either complained about the style and posture of those who piloted the ship of governance. Despite whatever efforts those we elected did in the overall interest of Imolites, the fact that we still have cause to grumble after the lifespan of every administration especially since 1999 should be a source of worry to any concerned Imolite.
An octogenarian in the State that told me that Imolites are gullible, they shout hossanah when a new politician with razzmatazz appear on the political stage. According to him, we care less to ask or know the capacity and ability of such a person to lead us only to cry when things go awry.
Also, we erroneously believe that every politician is a leader. Leaders are made and ordained by God. It is only the forces of nature that conspire to elevate one to a leadership position. Therefore not every politician is a leader or tailored to be a leader. Was Madiba Nelson Mandela of South Africa really a politician?
He was a freedom fighter and when he was elected President he performed creditably. Such characters are not in short supply in our dear Imo.
Here, we are guilty of this singular mistake. We lack the ability to decipher who is a leader and who is a politician. It is difficult for us to ascertain the difference. This has given ample opportunity for megabucks characters, men of questionable character and little or no integrity who should be miles away from the political landscape to sneak in through the back door and find themselves in positions of authority.
In the past we blindly voted for political comedians, jesters and those who enticed us with political goodies, got our votes and off they zoom to their new found political abode. And when they sit in the comfort of their new found political fortress, bingo, we are forced to swallow hook, line and sinker whatever they concoct and feed us with. And because they find themselves living in glass houses and enjoy the comfort of power, they tell us go to hell.
After Late Dee Sam Mbakwe’s reign, we have consistently craved for a leader or governor in his mould. We only wish and wish forgettting that wishes are not bed of roses. And because we have continued to live in a paradise of wishes we never get what we yearn for.
Democracy has offered great nations the opportunity to choose the type of leaders they want and such nations have remained better off. We will continue to grope in the dark until we rise and define the calibre and quality of political leaders we want in leadership positions. The Bible says Ask and It Shall Be Given. Have we asked ourselves what manner of leaders we desire in Imo in 2015? I do not think so.
Do we need those who hide under the canopy of philanthropy as a passport to the seat of governance? Is philanthropy a passmark to attain leadership position? Do we want those whose antecedents are shrouded in secrecy but decide to queue in the governorship race simply because they have quantum naria notes and dollars to expend on a despondent and impoverished Imo populace?
Or do we desire a governor who has no political pedigree whose only qualification is that he wines and dines with men and women of power in Abuja and beyond? What manner of governor do we want? Do we want a leader with no pedigree whose report card is not known to us?
It is painful that after several years we have seen different personalities occupy the seat of governance in the State we have turned a blind eye to important issues that matter in electing or choosing a governor.
We do not care a hoot about small but serious issues that is important in electing public office holders. We have rather sunk deeper into trivial issues such as zoning and the size of the pockets of aspirants for the governorship position of the State.
Have we deemed it appropriate to inquire from our intending governors their temperaments, family and educational records, comportment, public acceptability , political antecedents, composure, speech style, depth of tolerance, religious belief, political ideology, mental stability, physical ability, perception of contemporary issues, sexual behaviour (lesbian, homosexual, bisexual), work experience, perception about drugs, work ethics, work rate, etc.
These are part of the requirements and criteria that will shape the search for Imo First Eleven. Other issues such as political programme and economic roadmap of intending aspirants will also be anaylzed . The search continues. Send in your nominees on 08066605375. Read on till next week.
