By Kennedy Eweama (08035529265)
All over the world, power is taken and never given. In political contests or even in any warfare, there is also no love, or unnecessary effusion of emotions until the battle is won one way or another.
The political battle for the soul of Imo State in 2019, will remain a watershed in the governorship contest history of the State. Intrigues, doggedness and the manifestation of the spartan spirit permeated throughout the contest.
The good news, however, is that today, the people of the State can beat their chest and proudly assert with gratitude to God, that the State is in good hands.The new order in the State has left no one in doubt of its determination to rid the State of the era of familiocracy, unbridled financial malfeasance, nepotism, disgusting greed, prevalence of China (or substandard) infrastructure, disregard for justice and rule of law, amongst many other abnormalities, and aberrations.
That Senator Hope Uzodinma is on the driving seat of the State’s automobile,eliminates melancholy and despondency ; it rather elicits hope for a better Imo of everybody’s dream. His actions so far,lucidly underscores his altruistic desire to improve the sociopolitical, economic and cultural fortunes of the State.
Many analysts contend that, but for the prompt, smart and decisive intervention of Governor Uzodinma, Imo State would have jumped from the frying pan to the real fire. They opine that if not for Governor Uzodinma, the infamous reign of terror, suppression, oppression and looting spree witnessed under former Governor Rochas Okorocha against Imo people, would have continued through his son in-law unchallenged and unabated. The political formula Governor Uzodinma used to pull the rug off Okorocha’s seeming huge feet then, has remained a mystery till date. Many consider Governor Uzodinma as the real rescue missionary, and not Okorocha.
From the party primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the election proper, the incumbent governor sustained the tempo. He was resilient, focused and unperturbed. That is the spirit of an ideal leader.
As a political generalissimo, Uzodinma fought from the front during the 2019 political war for the liberation of Imo. Despite Okorocha’s control of the humongous State resources at his disposal, Uzodinma still overwhelmed him. The rest is now history.
Not yet done, the political maestro, Governor Uzodinma, felt that the quest to liberate Imo wasn’t yet complete with his ousting and retirement of Okorocha. The battle shifted to the courts.
Here again, he was faced with the gargantuan task of correcting a perceived electoral injustice. Pundits are of the firm view that Uzodinma’s action was predicated on the aphorism which posits that “it is wrong to rub Peter to pay Paul”. And, I agree intoto with such assertion . It is improper for one to fight and defeat the perceived enemy of Imo people, while another, like a hyaena, surreptitiously grabs the spoils of the war.
For emphasis, let me state at this point that many people including my humble self, were lured into flying zonal cards rather than appraising the contestants and their idiosyncrasies holistically devoid of zonal bigotry or irredentism. But as the saying goes “man proposes, but God disposes”. Man cannot dictate for God. And thank such human foible was rectified.
As God willeth, Governor Uzodinma again, emerged victorious in the court. That feat left many amazed and pondering over what manner of a power broker Governor Uzodinma is.
Was it just a happenstance,a divine action or an irony of sort? Many kept asking these question and even more.
To some, it might be ironical to note that on his way to ascending the governorship seat, Governor Uzodinma shoved aside two sitting governors – Rochas Okorocha and Emeka Ihedioha. That had never happened before in Nigeria’s political history.
To another school of thought, Uzodinma’s emergence as governor was a divinely ordered fate. This group argues that God works in mysterious ways and that all powers derives from Him. They posit that what might seem impracticable and wrong in the sight of a mere mortal, is very possible and appealing to God.
I am inclined to concur with the latter school of thought. Governor Uzodinma’s governorship is indeed divine. Considering the herculean tasks he encountered and surmounted before becoming governor, one needs no seer to acquiesce that Uzodinma’s governorship is divinely packaged.
To those who may tend to think otherwise, let it be known to them that God does not take permission from anybody before He chooses whom to bless or give power to rule over His people. Besides, “equity does not help the indolent”, but hard work and focused resilience does.
So far, Governor Uzodinma has discharged his mandate creditably. He has proved his critics and doubting “uncle Thomases” wrong. He listens to his people, and has commendably re-engineered the psyche of Imo people into believing in government again, just as the people’s confidence in government has been restored.
Infrastructurally, quality has returned to government’s contracts. The era of China roads is now an unpleasant history. Most crevices for financial malfeasance have been blocked, accountability and probity have now become the acceptable norms among government establishments and officials(including past government officials), just as nepotism and familiocracy have been incarcerated. In fact, the successes recorded so far by the Uzodinma administration are eyes-popping.
While the role of critics of government’s policies are appreciated and considered invaluable in any democracy, it is also important to advice that criticism should be deciphered from damaging propaganda. So far, it does appear that what thrives in Imo is pernicious criticism and destructive propaganda.
People have this crab (Nshiko) mentality of pulling people down, especially those who brand themselves as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria. Opposition does not entail reckless utterances, bitterness of heart and use of opprobious or gutter language against the government or any dissenting view.
Nevertheless, it must be noted willy-nilly that Governor Uzodinma has come to stay. No amount of ill will, aggression or profuse manifestation of nshiko mentality against him shall come to fruition,for “whom the Lord has blessed, no man can curse”.
Governor Uzodinma remains the new generalissimo in town. The earlier Okorocha, the lame duck opposition and their likes, appreciate this incontestable fact, adjust themselves to it as well as learn to play by the rules, the better it will be for them.