Having understood and known that “success” is not a destination but a journey, takes us down the rationality lane of a prolific mobile thinker to make due with the fact that success in life is just but a continuum and not an end point.
However, true success can only be said to be pragmatically true when one identifies and develops a qualitative successor. That is to say that any great leader who is found in his “exit period” must have invested in a successor who would take up to protect and develop the legacies of his predecessor.
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Nevertheless, in the history of Nigeria good and qualitative succession has been a very big complication in our transitive politics of leadership. This has not only sprung up as muddle even to the extensive parts of the various federating units of the federation but has also augmented as a contributive factor to the exhaustively dilapidated and deteriorative statism of our developmentalism.
Using Imo state as a cognitive point of reference, it has been on records that since 1983 during the reign of Samuel Mbakwe till date, there has never been a successful hand over or transition of governance for the purpose of continuity of vision. Instead there has been a colossal and pantagruelian truncation in agenda and vision fulfillment. This can be seen in the realistic analysis as stated below:
Chief Sam Mbakwe a civilian governor from 1st October 1979 – 31st December 1983, had an agenda of governance which majorly included and encompassed a viable, sustainable road networking and massive infrastructural development which ended immediately after his unsuccessful secession of government.
Evan Enwerem a one time governor from January 1992 – November 1993 was unable to effectuate much,because of the failed third republic era of Nigeria government.
Dr. Achike Udenwa came on board as a governor on the 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 with an agenda of intimating and exploring the political grass roots of the state through the effective functionality of the third tier government. Unfortunately he didn’t hand over successfully to a successor and his vision automatically ended with his reign including the development centers all went into extinction.
Afterwards Dr. Ikedi Ohakim became a governor from 29 May 2007 – 29 May 2011 in which he had a political agenda known as “Clean and Green” but unfortunately he couldn’t do much because of his unexpected transition from office.
Subsequently His Excellency Rochas Okorocha (HERO) became the executive governor of Imo state on 29 May 2011 till date with the agenda popularly known as “The Rescue Mission” along side with free education.
The governor in his sagacious nature haven understood the workings and importance of continuity in vision has invested and developed a successor whom for the following reasons is seen as the most fit and proper amongst his counterparts for the purpose of succeeding the incumbent governor come 2019. This successor is no other person than Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.
Uche Nwosu is a man of puritanical predilection spartan simplicity and stentorian discipline.
He has attained and delivered in certain sophisticated administrative position in Nigeria.
Invariably, his administrative working force and experience spans over 20 years in different capacities ranging from his days at the higher institution as
*The secretary, SUG caretaker committee,
*Secretary, National Association of Nigerian Students , Imo State Chapter and
*Most importantly he rose to become the first SUG Director of Transport throughout the historiography of the existence of Imo State University.
Notwithstanding all these efficacious achievements, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu never stagnated his zeal to serve humanity. Due to his burning passion and desire for servitude, he kept on serving in diverse and different capacities even after his graduation from the higher institution.
Subsequently after his graduation, he served in the following capacities as:
*The Director of Finance, Action Alliance
*The National Secretary, Action Alliance
*P.A to the President of the Nigeria Red Cross Society.
*P.A to the Special Adviser on Inter-Party relations to the president of Nigeria, just to mention but a few.
In furtherance to this and in recognition of his hard work, diligence and sense of responsibility, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu was appointed the Deputy Chief of Staff, Imo State Government House.
Afterwards he was appointed the Honourable Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development. In continuity of his servitude to humanity,he was later appointed as the SSG and currently he is serving as the chief of staff, Imo State Government.
During these periods of proficient service to the people of Imo State he was nationally recognized and awarded with many awards including the best commissioner in Urban Development throughout the territory of the federal republic of Nigeria.
In respect to punditry title of this write-up, one that becomes a political friend or a political son now solely depends on one’s relationship with the kingmaker. Ipso Facto, it has ever remained a reoccurring statistical fact that 95% of out-going governors hand over the mantle of power to their political sons and not just there political friends. Illustratively writing, history has it that since the inception of the 4th Republic till date, only two outgoing governors willfully handed over to their deputies. This was in 2007 when governor Ahamed Sani Yariman Bakura of Zamfara State handed over governance to Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi his Deputy then.
The question is how did it end? Your answer is as good as mine. Recently Gov Rabiu Kwankwanso handed over to his deputy, Dr Umar Ganduje as governor but today can Kwankwanso enter Kano State, your answer is as good as mine. The question is, is it better to make your son a king and bow to him or to make your friend a king and bow to him?.
After this, never has it been heard again that an out-going governor allowed his deputy succeed him rather they prefer handing down political power to their Chief of Staff who is seen as the machine house and pillar of every government. Just as we can see in the cases of Orji Uzor Kalu and T.A Orji, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola just to mention but a few.
Fundamentally, these actions of theirs are geared primarily towards continuity of their government policy or policies for effectual actualization, realization and inevitable development of the state. This is based on the established fact which is also a truth that in the business or governance “truncation” or termination of some government policies which are actually nice render the act of governance ineffective. Also, for a policy or an ideology to live long after the owner, he must entrust such ideology to someone who he has eaten or dinned with, that’s someone he trusts and believes in his capabilities and abilities both intellectually and otherwise to continue the vision. Change of government and government policies have always been a hindrance to development in our country Nigeria and black Africa as a whole. For how long shall we continue like this? There is sure, a pertinent and sacrosanct need for continuity. Ndi Igbo turu ilu si “Nwa fee eze, eze eruwe ya aka”, “aka aja aja na ebute onu mmanu mmanu”. Drawing inference from the Holy Bible specifically from the book of Luke 22 vs 28-30, Jesus Christ the greatest leader of our time speaking said; “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom as my father hath appointed onto me; that ye may eat & drink at my table in thy kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”.
It is both a natural and spiritual principle that whoever that suffers with the king enjoys the right of dinning with him. It is time for ndi Imo to think continuity, it is time for ndi Imo to think Uche Nwosu. He has laboured with the king, he has right to eat the fruits of his labour. He understands more, the rudiments, rhythms and nitigrity of governance in Imo as well as the mistakes and victories of the present government which keeps him in the best position to deliver.
Am I advocating Godfatherism? This is rather a myopic way of thinking. Well if I must clear the air, I am advocating for continuity, credibility and accountability. It is time for ndi Imo to curtail, limit if possible absolutely eradicate this popular habit of truncating government and government policies before they ripen.
However, some sensibilities in Imo State are clinging their pernicious arrows of animadversion and venomous criticism against Ugwumba Uche Nwosu succeeding the governor come 2019 on the parlance of distributive moving of power. Contemporarily, every compos-mentis homogenous homosapein would agree with me that the aphorism called “Zoning” was annihilated in 2011 when H.E. Owelle Rochas Okorocha became the governor of Imo State and buried in 2015.when Okorocha was re elected.
Also, suffice to note that zoning in terms of distributing power or selective quota is not of pertinent essence in this contemporary era as we can even see in the bible (John 1 v 44) when Jesus the greatest leader of all times out of his 12 disciples consciously selected three disciples from same tribe/city namely; Andrew, Peter and Philip. This was done for a singular reason which was to tell the world that leadership is all about, accessibility, credibility, capacity, stability and continuity.
Conclusively, effective leadership cannot be attained without continuity. There can’t be continuity in governance if the King doesn’t hand over to a trusted son to continue and accomplish that which has been put in motion.
Without prejudice and sentiment, zoning of power only comes to play when the government has without reasonable reasons left out a section of the state unattended to. To the best of my knowledge this is not the situation in Imo state. Great Imo people, let’s embrace this myrrh opportunity brought to us. Lets say Yes!!! To an answered prayer in the person of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu. Ndi Imo Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is our own and we can’t trade off our own on the sentiments that he was endorsed by the head of the party he intends to run with. For it has never been established that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is incompetent.
This is the main reason why I wonder if it has become a sin and crime to be ambitious?
Well no.
Lets go get our PVC’s and make our king ourselves. Remember, INEC won’t count our prayer points.
Ukpala okpoko gburu, nti chiri ya.
Ka chineke mezie okwu.
Comrade Ikokwu can be reached on 08037093499