By Okwudiri Echebir
Ever seen a land where marginalization walks on all fours seeking whom to devour? Have you heard of that land where man’s inhumanity to man has rendered it politically desolate, and stagnant? Or, have you perhaps, felt the choking, desperate gasps of a land trampled underfoot by Federal and State politicians voted into power by the same people they want dead?
If your response here to these posers is yes, then we thank God for your witness. You are our eye or ear witness. A witness to a history of gross political marginalization. Conversely, if you say you have not seen, heard or felt our pains this tearful narration is for you. All you have to do is gird your
Loins, put on the hardest of your skin and heart to avoid throwing up and follow this mind blowing story straight out from the land of marginalization.
This land whose other name is marginalization is Ngor-Okpala. Those enslaving us usually humour us with the bogus alias of the largest LGA in the state. ‘Ngor-Okpala is the largest council in the state, it’s the food basket of the state and the people are good’ they would rant trying to lull us to sleep.
Yet, beneath that seeming façade of love lies deep seated hatred and revulsion the type Hitter had for the Jews. Outside they laugh and smile with us, inside they frown and mock us; outside they talk good of us but inside we are ‘Nwa Ndi Ngor-Okpala; outside they fake love and genuine interest to help, inside they scheme and plot how to finish us politically.
It is that bad. Ngor-Okpala people labour and work to install governors, senators, Reps and president but sidelined as soon as these men and women are sworn in. What we see in Ngor-Okpala is endless motion without movement. A well crafted, and consciously implemented marginalization strategy that keeps the people and their council going round and round in circles and finally arriving the same spot they took off from. Nothing changes and with two full years gone in this dispensation, it is certain nothing more is going to happen. Everybody has gone back to their drawing board trying to figure out what style they would adopt in 2015 to deceive us again. What a shame!
In the days leading up to the 2011 guber supplementary elections both Gov. Rochas Okorocha and Ex-Gov. Ikedi Ohakim became Sons of NgorOkpala. They slept, woke and ate with the people. It was as if the area was the office of INEC, the electoral umpire.
You could clearly see “I would do anything you ask” expression on their faces as they combed the land for votes. They made promises and signed agreements. Gov. Okorocha, we were told, promised Ngor-Okpala SSG position plus other freebies as compensation if he is voted into power. He anchored his hope of winning in the area with Colonel Lambert Iheanacho (rtd) Co-ordinating.
Chief lkedi Ohakim also made overtures. He promised to increase his political patronage to the area if re-elected. In his first four years, he told us Ngor-Okpala received more than a fair share of appointments. About six of its sons and daughters were in strategic positions, a good pointer that in his second coming the people would have more reasons to smile. Ohakim tried all he could but Ndi Ngor-Okpala said No! They choose Gov. Okorocha.
Now, two years down the line what is the lot of the L.G.A council? Gov. Okorocha like a toaster has gotten what he wanted desperately and turned his back on us. His administration marginalized us. That is why in his expanded state Executive that is threatening to burst at the seams Ngor-Okpala only has one wretched slot of commissioner in the Local Government service commission. What would have made it two which is member judicial services commission given to Chief Fabian Osuji has become a mirage. For toeing the path of illegality and lawlessness in dissolving a tenured board, Gov. Okorocha is now in court with the board members over that illegal decision. So, as the legal tussle lasts, the Commission sits in Limbo, including those the governor foisted.
Some maybe shouting blue murder right now for my omitting Barr Soronnadi Njoku’s name. Well, for this group, I sympathize with them because they perhaps, do not know the story of Barr. Soronnadi’s appointment. The true story which we know is that the commissioner came under the banner of Chief Achike Udenwa. His slot was the slot offered the former governor by the incumbent for playing a role in his victory. And because, Barr. Njoku, had remained a dyed in the wool loyalist of Chief Udenwa he naturally became his choice for the job.
So one can without fear of contradicting oneself say that he Barr. Njoku is occupying Chief Udenwa’s slot. Or if you want to extend it Orlu slot. On this basis, he has absolutely no obligation to Ngor-Okpala but to his benefactor. Whatever, or whoever he chooses to do, or help, nobody from here can question him.
To make this worse Gov. Okorocha, sometime last year rubbed salt into it. That was during the month long visit of the leaders of the 27 council to his office. Those who attended came back to tell how the governor in response to a statement to the effect that Ngor-Okpala made him governor openly chided the delegation. The governor, they said had asked rhetorically if you people actually made me governor why then did you people not defeat Hon. Emeka Ihedioha? Surely this was a jab that shook everybody to the marrow. Yet, if you ask me that question was actually not a rebuke but a wake-up call to the people.
Is there anyone alive in Imo State today that does not know that PDP’s existence owe largely to Ngor-Okpala sons. Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu and Chief Blyden Amajirionwu. These two men we can recall with the courage of wounded lions dared Gov. Okorocha and exhumed the remains of Imo PDP which the present administration buried in the wake of its inauguration through the dissolution of the elected councils.
For those who know the truth and can say it as it is the dissolution of the councils was actually the last straw that was designed to finish off the party in the State. Yes, because having lost the guber the only strand of hope for the party was the councils. This explains the silence of the graveyard which descended on its leaders and members after that 6, June, 2011 broadcast. Everybody gave up hope. Those who lived in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities in and outside the country quickly packed their bag and baggage and hurried out of the state in defeat.
But, Enyinna Onuegbu stayed back and filed a suit that challenged the legality of the governor’s action. When the matter came up we were told it was filed by Enyinna Onuegbu and 26 others. Besides, taking the bull by the horn he fought gallantly until victory came on July, 5 2012. As I write he has remained defiant and courageous becoming the face and symbol of the PDP in the state.
On the other hand Amajirionwu using the platform of state publicity secret of the party has become a thorn in the flesh of the government. No week passes without one press release or the other condemning perceived wrongs in government policies. In short, he became the Lai Mohammed of Imo PDP.
By the combined courageous struggle of these Ngor-Okpala sons and at great personal risk we must add, life gradually returned to PDP. Today, the party has fully recovered its voice and talking out loud and clear. But what did these men and their area receive as thank you for job well done? The PDP Imo State and Federal Government paid them back in bad coin.
This is exactly what its recent rolling out of Federal Boards appointment implied. Of the hundred of names published and over ten chairmanship and membership position ceded to the state Ngor-Okpala got only one miserable membership. What a heartless and wicked way of saying thank you!
Mbaise bloc which had already creamed off all elective and appointive positions still received the lion share of the Boards. Three of its sons Dr. Alex Obi Mr. Paddy Njoku and Hon Alex Emeziem are Chairmen of National industrial Institute, National Examinations Council (NECO) and FCT Scholarship Board respectively. Till today, many are still in doubts if Mr. Paddy Njoku, Chairman of Board of National Examinations Council (NECO) is even a PDP member yet he got board Chairmanship. What other injustice is greater than that Mbaise alone boasts of over fifteen Federal appointive and elective positions while Ngor-Okpala has a paltry two. Owerri Federal Constituency, the next power bloc of Owerri zone boasts of two Federal Board Chairmen plus National woman leader of the party. Mbaike also has a chairman in the person of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Without doubt this pathetic marginalization is deliberate and designed. It is to the best of my understanding being unleashed with the motive of ensuring a permanent political subjugation of the area so that our neighbors would forever enjoy what otherwise belongs to all of us. How possible is this, someone may ask?
Well, its very easy. In Nigeria of today politics and political power confers quick economic gains. With money in your pocket you are sure you have overcome about 50% of the problems of contesting and winning elections particularly at the primary level. Even at the secondary level, money still plays a crucial role. Or, have we not been told that politicians budget huge sums of money for the sole purpose of rigging elections. Now, considering this all important role of money a person or group without cash stand any chance of winning elections? Its very rare. Such feats can only occur once in a generation like it happened in the state in 2011. For those masterminding this marginalization therefore, the strategy is keep them far from power and you hold them down for as long as you desire.
Unfortunately, for these men and women everything that has a beginning must have an end. 2015 by all signals seem the terminal year of this political manipulations. At least, in terms of giving our mandate the lessons these parties and governments have taught us would definitely help us make the most of that year.
But, beyond that I think the best option is to contest all contestable elective seats come 2015. Sometimes, ago Dr. Theodore Ekechi propounded this theory which seems well received by his people. Since the constitution of Nigeria guarantees every Nigerian the right to vote and be voted for, it is my position that we contest governorship, senate and House of Reps elections. With God on our side, one of these positions could be ours. Once this is achieved, I am sure it would fast track that very critical movement out of this present political dungeon
