Nigeria is in a season of politics. The politicking is reaching a fever pitch as the political parties and their various candidates criss-cross the length and breadth of the country campaigning for votes. Everywhere you go, the dominant issues remain the 2015 General Elections.
The stakes are very high given the primacy of political power in any organized State, particularly in a developing society like Nigeria. This fact was clearly acknowledged by the former Ghanaian leader and foremost Pan-Africanist, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who said: “Seek ye first the political kingdom, every other thing shall be added onto you”.
Inherent in Nkrumah`s postulation is the assumption that political power is the most potent instrument for the social and economic reconstruction of any given society. Students of power and politics believe so.
It is basically for this reason that the contestation for power in emerging democracies in Africa and other Third World countries is characterized by a very high level of viciousness and violence.
It is therefore not surprising that Okwudiba Nnoli, the eminent Professor emeritus of Political Science and the author of the classical book, “Ethnic Politics in Nigeria” defines politics as “those activities directly or indirectly related to the acquisition, consolidation and use of power”.
Acquiring power is one thing and deploying it to serve the good of the society is another thing altogether.
In Imo State today, there is one young man who is seeking power not for the trappings of office or the grandeur that comes with such exalted position; but he is doing so to serve the common good. That man is Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and gubernatorial flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Power (PDP) in Imo State.
Emeka Ihedioha is currently the rave of the moment in the State. He is the man whose time has come. His acceptance is unprecedented as he enjoys popular support across all the nooks and crannies of the State.
He remains the greatest threat to the incumbent APC administration led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the best gubernatorial choice of the PDP to take over the Douglas House, Owerri.
It is perhaps in realization of this obvious reality that the Okorocha-controlled State media organs have launched ferocious but futile attacks on the candidature of Ihedioha. The government is highly rattled hence the desperation.
But amidst all this, Ihedioha remains focused, calm and calculated as he takes his campaign message of liberation and restoration to all parts of the State.
Last Saturday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Ihedioha was presented by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu to the people of Imo State as their in-coming Governor. The proclamation was greeted with resounding applause; an indication of the wide acceptance and popularity rating of Ihedioha in the State.
He is the most prepared of all those seeking to govern Imo State today, having surely but steadily occupied critical and sensitive public positions in the last two decades.
He is well educated unlike some of his opponents whose educational qualifications have question marks. He holds a Bachelor`s degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Lagos. In addition, he has undertaken an Executive Certificate Course in Financial Management from the Stanford University, and a Leadership Certificate Course from Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, both world-renowned and prestigious Ivy-league institutions in the United States of America (USA).
Like we noted earlier he has held key positions that have prepared him for the governorship of Imo State. In his current position as the Deputy Speaker, he chairs some critical committees in the National Assembly whose mandate and functions lie at the very heart and soul of the 7th House of Representatives.
They include the House Ad-Hoc Committee on New Legislative Agenda; House Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review and Committee of the Whole.
As the Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on New Legislative Agenda, he worked assiduously alongside some of his colleagues to fashion out a vision document that has defined the direction of the House in the last three and half years.
Under his superintendence, the Committee produced an innovative agenda in which the House seeks to promote internal democracy in its business and deepen the values of probity and accountability in the conduct of public policy.
As the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on the Constitution, he has guided the House in passing critical amendments for the good of our nation. Such amendments include autonomy for Local Government Councils, and the making of primary health and housing as basic rights amongst many other landmark amendments.
As the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, Ihedioha presides over the consideration of all Committee reports. This critical role is assigned to him by the Rules of the House of Representatives.
He is always a delight to watch whenever he is presiding as he brings to bear on the legislative process uncommon brilliance and political sagacity. Through a combination of wits and statesmanship, he has on many occasions steered the House out of controversies and difficult situations.
Ihedioha has also empowered many Imo youth and women through his numerous skills acquisition and training programmes organized in the State within the 12-year period he has been in the National Assembly as the representative of Aboh-Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal constituency.
This is the time to reward him for his good deeds to the people of Imo State all these years of his stewardship to the nation. It is expected that on Saturday, February 28 all eligible voters will come out en masse and vote for Emeka Ihedioha as the next governor of Imo State.
Written by Emeka Nwosu, a public affairs analyst and former Political Editor of the Daily Times.
