By ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES
Yesterday, I watched a video of the popular evangelist, Chukwuebuka Obi urging Imolites, especially, members of his “Zion family” to vote wisely in the coming election. He went ahead to list a few things the incumbent governor has done for the State and thanked him for those things. No matter how much you may want to disagree with him, you cannot fault his logic and evidence based appraisal of Uzodimma’s first term in office. The question that you should ask yourself after watching that video is; is anyone of the other candidates better than Uzodimma? Can they perform better than Uzodimma? What evidence is there to show that they will not reverse the little progress Uzodimma has recorded for Imo State in the last three years?
The main essence of democracy is that it should afford the people the opportunity, from time to time, to select from a pool of imperfect aspirants, the most patriotic and the person that presents the best evidence of competence and experience to help steer them to a better rate. Because the aspiration for a perfect leader is utopian, the people must make do with the leader who has convinced them the most of his capacity to govern and to steer them to a prosperous future.
In Imo State, the people would have another opportunity in barely two weeks from today to decide the kind of future they want for themselves and their children by electing one among a pool of candidates, who have presented themselves to govern the State in the next four years.
If we must vote wisely as we were encouraged by Evangelist Ebuka Obi, then we must make an appraisal of those who have come to seek our votes, viz; their character, intellect, patriotism, past records in private and public endeavours, leadership skills, temperament, etc. When you put these things in place, would you be able to truthfully say that any of them is better than the incumbent?
Amidst unprecedented challenges, especially, in the area of security, Governor Uzodimma has proven himself to be the best prepared among the current lineup of candidates. His sagacity in politics has largely translated to the level of administrative competence that none of his opponents can boast of, hence, it is no surprise, that majority of Imolites, are determined to re-elect him come November 11th in what would most likely become a landslide affirmation of his popularity with the people.
One of my favourite playwrights and theatre scholars of all time, Bertolt Brecht did emphasize the danger in a people willingly disconnecting themselves from politics and political decisions when he said; “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, takes no part in political life. He doesn’t seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of rent, of medicines all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself on his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn’t know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and, worst of all, corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations”
Majority of Imolites are not political illiterates and I know that they are raring to cast their votes for their choice candidates in the coming election. Because I believe that this is going to be one of the most credible elections conducted in the State, I want to believe that the final decision by majority of Imo voters will be the best response by the governor to the world about who; between his critics and himself, who is speaking the minds of Imolites.
MAY IMO WIN!
