By MarkAnthony Nze
Political power is as sweet as it is intoxicating in Africa generally, and Nigeria particularly. It gives politicians who have achieved it, a certain air of arrogance or confidence depending on the individual that wields such power.
For Sir Emeka Ihedioha, the incumbent governor of Imo state, it should be that of confidence, and not arrogance considering the way, the notoriety of his predecessor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, ruined his political image in Imo state.
Ihedioha is not a new comer or novice to the intricate politics of Nigeria, and the bluntness of Imo people that he governs, having been part of the country’s polity as a member of the House of Representatives for twelve years, and four of those years as deputy speaker. It is expected that he must have garnered enough political, and leadership experiences to pilot the affairs of Imo state without making excuses or heaping blames on the previous government that he took over from.
In reality, Ihedioha just like many other Nigerian politicians entrusted with leadership positions did not fare well as regards execution of projects in his Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency. Ihedioha had a good opportunity to have done very well in those years but he failed.
However, everybody deserves a second chance, and the people of Imo unanimously gave him another opportunity to govern them because it was very clear that Ihedioha had learnt from his mistakes, he had come to deeply understand the plight of his people, and that was quite evidenced with the way he genuinely explained his campaign manifesto before and during the election that ushered him in as the governor.
Previously, Ihedioha had contested against Okorocha and lost because the latter was envisaged then by the people of Imo state as the messiah that will take them to an enviable economic, and political status but unfortunately, Okorocha was the most terrible disaster that befell Imo.
A hypocritical politician, and marauder like Okorocha under normal circumstances should not have been seen in the corridors of power let alone allowed to become a governor.
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Okorocha looted Imo almost nearly to bankruptcy, and as if that was not enough, he still had the effrontery to impose his son-in-law, and stooge, Uche Nwosu as the governor ofย the state to continue a perpetual looting of Imo’s treasury with impunity. It is pathetic that Okorocha who became the governor of Imo state on a silver platter could brazenly steal from the coffers of Imo’s state with reckless abandon, and went further to deride the people of Imo by trying to force Nwosu on them who had never really garnered considerable leadership and professional experiences to handle the affairs of Imo that is full of complexities.
Invariably, rather than allow a political rogue like Okorocha create a conduit in the person of Nwosu to further siphon the treasury of Imo, the masses collectively, decided that the governorship position be given to Ihedioha, he won fair and square. Just like Okorocha’s first term, Ihedioha did not have to spend money to clinch victory, the people of Imo came out en masse, and voted for him.
It is quite paramount that Ihedioha does not fail the people of Imo state. He should not abuse the confidence reposed in him by the teeming masses of the state to become another Okorocha who took Imo people for granted, and felt he could use his position as an incumbent governor to impose his stooge on the people.
It is on record now, that Ihedioha has begun on a good note by addressing the anomalies that Okorocha’s thievery of an administration had created thus far, and chief among them is the full payment of workers salaries in the state which Okorocha slashed to almost half for his selfish economic gratification.
Also, infrastructural projects are being carried out by his government. Okorocha’s maladministration was known for constructing sub-standard roads commonly referred to as, “China Roads.”
Many would not be surprised at the enthusiasm at which Ihedioha and his team are working with because it is their first term in office, and such was duly expected from them by the people of Imo state.
In fairness to Okorocha, he did well in the first two years of his tenure but after that, the retrogression in his subsequent years was ruination. This misery Okorocha brought to Imo state has destroyed his political image completely even as he battles to save himself from going to prison based on the allegations of fraud heaped on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), and the evidence they would be presenting in court to nail him with.
Unfortunately, for Okorocha, it is quite obvious that the Northern Caliphate whom he gave his unalloyed loyalty against his own people of Igbo extraction had already made it explicitly clear to him that they would not save him from the claws of their tool, EFCC.
Seeing the quagmire, Okorocha is ensnared in, Ihedioha had better not fail the people of Imo state. It would be in his best interest to perform flawlessly, so that posterity will adjudge him right.
It is imperative that Ihedioha bears in mind often as the governor of Imo state that is better to be on the side of the masses than to surround one’s self with a group ofย purported kingmakers or cabal.
When push comes to shove, the masses will summon courage in your defense but if you have chosen to steal from the public treasury, and share the loot with the so-called kingmakers or cabal, remember Okorocha, and how his name suddenly became a curse that is even forbidden to be pronounced in Imo state.
Okorocha might go on parading himself as a Senator, but history will always remember him as the man who held an electoral officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) at gun point to falsify the poll results in his favour.
Finally, Ihedioha at all costs should not encourage sycophancy. He has to ignore praise singers who are only interested in telling him lies because of what they want to gain from him. A sycophant will never tell you the truth. Sadly, there are many of them in every government, and his is not an exception.
