By Onuchukwu Hamilton.
The race for who should be currently elected as either the Local Government Council Chairman or Councillor in Imo, is now getting tougher following the given date for election being 21th September as scheduled. In Obowo LGA, Newsmen have observed that the election of an Executive Chairman Maybe recorded as the most fairest and peaceful in the history of LGA elections in Nigeria as privileged information from the area, exposes that all the key political stakeholders, youths and Women structures of the various political parties and socio cultural organizations are now in one page to elect Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Onwueyigba as the Executive Chairman of Obowo Local Government Council.
There is no doubt that Obowo LGA, has the potentials to generate surplus commodities through the utilization of the untapped resources that should equally play a significant role in Imo economic development. The question of the best brain with the capacity to evolve a theory that can effectively harness these potentials, in Obowo compelled the emergence of Hon. Onwueyiagba . Seven key attributes define Hon. Ifeanyi’s life story; faith in God, peacefulness, humility, compassion, discipline, vision and forbearance. His peers readily acknowledge this striking humble traits. Hon Ifeanyi is a leader who stresses consensus, widely recognized by all, for his commitment to peace, development and well-being of his people, especially the lowly and less privileged. Having served in Imo State Government and the Private sectors of the economy, received numerous community awards for exemplary service to humanity , sacrificed his resources and time for the victories of Governor Hope Uzodimma in the two elections. It is now time for Onwueyiagba to be elected as the Council Chairman as to equally join hands with the Governor and other policymakers in Obowo to make maximum use of these potentials in combating poverty, unemployment and inequality in the area.
Vox populi, they say, is vox dei. Hon Ifeanyichukwu has been chosen to strike a balance between what is available and what should be desirable. His campaign promises, have reduced the issue of competitive politics, possible pro and post election crisis in Obowo because the people’s choice as Chairman, is that leader who has a solution to the economic challenges or emansculation in the rural Communities.
Hon. Ifeanyichukwu’s antecedent shows that he has been a motivator to the Igbo cultural associations in Obowo LGA. A leader who has been awarding scholarships in a firm belief on the concept of team spirit. Having served as a pioneer zonal Chairman of APC Okigwe, served as ISIEC commissioner, served as a Commissioner for Youths and talent Development, served as a member the Senatorial Screening Committee for the South South under Senator Nnamani, Contested for both Imo House of Assembly Local Government elections in Obowo, he has acquired the necessary exposure and experience that should quarantee a credible Local Government Administration in Obowo if sworn- in by the month of September. His experience in running private and public sectors and negotiating with the various parties cum his connections with the leaders in authorities also furnished the basis for his acceptance. The administrative experience and skills he has acquired from his positions have exposed him to the intricases of group relations in a multi ethnic Nigeria. He is well tutored on the basics of negotiation as against confrontation in dealing with members of his political party, (APC) members of other parties and the nonpartisan. He is an agent of political education and articulation who is well prepared to evolve a new sense of identity among the people by leaveraging on the Governor’s vision for a new Imo.
In the support for Hon Ifeanyichukwu’s election, the tongue and the teeth need to work together for a friction free relationship inside the mouth. According to Governor Uzodimma, the vision for a new Imo, is welding every political stakeholder together as servants of the people. The Governor has admonished that a good leader must be humble, focussed, committed and dedicated in the discharge of his duty. Hon. Ifeanyichukwu has all these qualities especially one of the twenty one qualities of a good leader which is to master how to solve problems. As long as he serves as a Chairman, no problem can paralyze Obowo Local Government Council because it is recorded in Gensis 37:5-36, 39:1-14 &16 that a leader like Joseph took an effective action during the time of crises.
Therefore, the present economic crisis in Nigeria will not stop Hon Ifeanyichukwu from giving the rural people of Obowo LGA
the adequate services in terms of water, electricity, health care and social services. Besides, the need for rural electrification has often been expressed by Governor Uzodimma. The Governor had set up the electricity Regulatory Commission to ensure that all the necessary things are done. The exciting news, is that with the Imo House of Assembly motion on Private Public Partnership (PPP) the rural electrification project is at no direct cost to the government except for the provision of the enabling environment and logistics to make power available to the Local Communities.
Let us not forget that history is to a people, what memory, is to the individual. A people with no knowledge of the past, would suffer from collective amnesia, groping blindly into the future without guide post of precedence to shape their future course.Only a careful awareness of their heritage allows them to make public decisions as they make their private ones. Hence, from the collective experience on the socio- economic and political history of achievements and the Challenges , Obowo people will now avoid pitfalls if given Hon. Ifeanyichukwu as the Executive Chairman. Also, the grinding poverty in Nigeria today, can best be examined through the prism of greed, selfishness, corruption, arrogance religious bigotry, intolerance and bad leadership of the past. This is why the area need a man like Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Onwueyiagba
who will render a selfless service, add value to lives. A leader who is motivated by sacrifice, love and true sense of duty. He is driven by passion and eye on the history, not fleeting momentary gains or adulation. But to leave a footprint on the annals of history.
