“Have you noticed the increase in political activities in the State since INEC released the time table for elections? It has almost slowed down the pace of governance across the country”
“It is so because everybody is fed up and in a hurry to vote out the APC at all levels”
“Was it the APC that released the time table or INEC?”
“It does not matter who released the time table. Everybody, not just the politicians alone are in a hurry. In fact the people want the elections to come as soon as possible”
“And what makes you think the APC will just crumble in the State and at the federal level in 2019”
“Are you coming from the moon? Are you not in the State? Is the stinging poverty and hunger not affecting you and your entire household?”
“And who is the cause of it? Were we not hungry in the past? I get angry when I hear these things. Has poverty and hunger not being part of the black race. When the PDP was in power, was hunger not ravaging us? Is it something new?”
“Are you a civil servant or a pensioner in this State?”
“You know I m not”
“Good. Are you a trader or Keke rider in Imo State?”
“Certainly not.
“Was your shop and wares at Eke Ukwu Owerre and New Markets demolished without compensation?”
“No. Please do not give me that jingle. I know where you are heading to. You have already joined those who have cooked up all these negatives and will use them as campaign tools against the present government in the State”
“Did I hear you say cooked up? It is no campaign jingle. The level of hardship in the State is as a result of all these things I mentioned to you. You think the people will forget in a hurry the pain inflicted on them by the actions of the Owelle government”
“The people do not have a revolutionary spirit. They will only complain and murmur. They cannot do more than that.The government also has some good sides”
“You are wrong. Times have changed. You cannot fool them all the time. They will call for a change because it has never been this bad in Imo”
“Please have a broad mind. There are also some gains, some good innovations which generations will be thankful to this government. I wonder why so much emphasis is placed on the bad sides of the government. They have done well in many areas”
“Which areas”
“They have improved infrastructure across the State. Owerri now have some good roads comparable to the ones we have in Abuja. The roads have been expanded. This government has more than 1,000 projects to its credit. These are verifiable and no film tricks”
“You should have mentioned the statues of foreign leaders as well as a major achievement”
“Oh, the statues…. Beautiful artworks…. They reflect a genuine commitment by Owelle to connect the State to the rest of the world. We cannot continue to operate in isolation. We were backward before he began to attract foreign dignitaries to the state”
“And has that in anyway put food on your table. What are the benefits of the statues and how have such jamboree improved the living conditions of the average Imolite”
“New innovations will always sting your eyes particularly when you fail to see anything good about the government. You can never appreciate anything they do”
“You have nothing to say. A hungry populace can never see the positives from these utopian ideas of yours”
“You are missing the point. This government is the most misunderstood”
“Misunderstood? A leader is misunderstood by his people if his actions do not have any impact on them. How do you expect a pensioner whose pensions are deducted, a graduate who has no job and chose to ride keke or become a trader and suddenly, he is thrown out of business by the actions of the same government which never catered for him”
“Nothing is permanent in life. Life is dynamic and change will always be resisted. Owelle wants to take the State to the next level. And to achieve this, we all must make sacrifices”
“Did he join us to make those sacrifices? This sacrifice you talk about is it meant for some and not for all”
“Are you saying he has not made any sacrifice for the good of the State”?
“The sacrifice he wants to make, is it to have his in law as his successor in 2019″
” Haba. Who told you that? This is another wicked rumour. The man said he has three people in mind he is considering to take over from him and you have already made your conclusions”
“But his body language says it all”
“And what is wrong if his in- law is the one that can continue the good works he has done”
“What did he start for the people? You mean hunger, pain and agony across the land”
“No, roads, free education, good schools and many more. Stop being sarcastic here”
“I m not. I say what the people are saying.
“Which people? Is it those that will make a u turn when the elections come?
“That scenario has changed. Gone are the days they sell their votes for pecuniary gains and benefits”
“You think so? You do not know Imo people very well. All these agitations and complains will die off when the elections come and their palms are greased”
“Things have changed. They will collect the money and vote for who they feel will salvage them from this misery”
“And who will be the one to rescue them. Is it Araraume, Ohakim, Ihedioha or who”
“And what is wrong with them. Are they not capable hands? Araraume was a senator, Ihedioha was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps and later Speaker, Ohakim was Governor before Okorocha, are you saying they do not have the experience to lead this State? They have the experience in governance and not this abracadabra governance we have now”
“None of them will go to Douglas House in 2019″
“You lie. Are you God that will stop them?”
“These are not leaders but expired politicians. What did Ikedi forget in Government House?”
“He wants to complete his term and I do not see anything wrong with that”
“If you say so, what is then wrong if Owelle wants Uche Nwosu to take over from him in 2019?”
“Must he handover to his in law. Can’t he get someone else?”
“Which law forbids the young man to aspire for any elective position?”
“Imo State is not his business empire”
“Is Imo State anybody’s empire. Why should all these ex this, ex that fill the political space and suffocate the youths from aspiring”
“As long as the law allows them, they are free to contest. Is anyone stopping the youths from aspiring. Who is stopping them?”
“Imo belongs to all of us”
” If you believe so, then continuity is the key”
” To continue what”
” The goodies of the Rescue Mission”
“You are insane”
“May God open your eyes to see goodness of this government”
” Such Prayer will be rejected by God”
” You are wrong”
Ejimkonye Writes From Owerri.