By Nnabugwu Chizoba
My dearest people, Ndi Nwanneukwu!
As events unfold, and the usual
hide and seek game by politicians continue against the people’s hope for one
form of miracle or the other, a closer look at the community of our birth, ‘Isuikwuato’,
by any serious observer, political analyst, public commentator, discussant or concerned
citizen; speaking either as a community member or guest, surely would have hands
full, as he/she would be gasping for breath, contending with the issues of
misrule, impunity, and political manipulations by the elites.
The political terrain is as always,
murky and muddled. A classic example of disorder.
Easily noticed in our very treasured
community, are enormous signs of exploitation of the masses and the community,
failed government institutions, policies and leadership structures.
There are palpable signs and
glaring indications that the people have been neglected and short changed for
too long. Dilapidated infrastructures, gloomy faces, and absence of citizen
participation in the governance process, are also indicative of prolonged years
of neglect, deprivation, abuse, transgression, and other forms of ignoble
socially intolerable operations.
Any wonder then, that the larger
society is characterized by widespread lawlessness and arbitrariness, hardship,
poverty, loss of dignity, ignorance and disunity among family members,
neighbors and friends in the community?
My people there is even the high
rate of insecurity of life and property in our land!
The above, if truth be told, are
the handiwork of manipulators, high level schemers and betrayers, masquerading
on one hand, as community representatives and leaders, and on the other hand as
politicians.
Working together, in the company of
some pusillanimous contractors, individuals and groups, undercover men and
women, have over the years, held the community (Isuikwuato) and the people captive.
They have created what a writer perfectly describe as a privatized public and what
I would call a twisted, distorted, and perverse value system in which all
manners of social obscenities have been foisted on the public.
By their actions and inactions, over
the years, they have always bequeathed to the people and the political space,
political office holders of their personal choice, interest, whims, caprices
and purposes, forcing the people to depend solely on the theory of divine luck
for survival.
By their own individual ratings
only, they and their political office holders (their stooges), have performed
exceedingly great, achieved tremendous goals, worthy results, lasting imprints
and landmark goals. Surprisingly, the only thing they are remembered for in the
public domain is their resolve, commitment and constant efforts to undermine
the interest of the community, the good people of Isuikwuato, the NWANNEUKWUs;
the electorate.
Their large appetite for deceit, deception,
and unwavering knack to derail any process that have the potency to produce
public good, have left a devastating effect on the Isuikwuato community, her traditions/culture,
citizens, values and governance system. They have maintained a single template,
though ignorantly, that has made it difficult to throw up legends like
NWANNEUKWU: Rear Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu (Rtd), and Lt, Gen. Ihejirika (Rtd),
within the political class.
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| Rear Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu (Rtd) |
Since the advent of democratic
governance in Nigeria in 1999, Isuikwuato Local Government Area has witnessed
different political leaders both elected and appointed. What is on ground presently,
simply tells the story of a neglected people. The various political office
holders have never proven to the people that meaningful things result from
Democratic Governance!
The above is so important that it should
not be taken lightly, especially the circumstances that contributed to the ugly
state of affairs in the community. It is rather necessary that new frameworks are
established in the community, to effectively manage these issues. This would
also mean that committed efforts must be in place and raised in structural form,
such that would help support inclusiveness, active citizenship, Advocacy,
Networks, alliances and coalitions in the community.
The existing structure, which has
permeated the system, and seems accepted by the people, to say the least, is
totally unacceptable, since it lacks real, effective and result oriented
structures, such that promotes peoples’ engagement in a democratic setting. Any
political process that is not designed, built and owned by the people is headed
for failure, doomed and dead on arrival.
The structure that needs to be
designed and erected is the type that should be able to erase the ugly
incidences and events of the past, introduce new, but improved approaches, as
well as, show the direction to a sustainable socio-economic future, where
inclusive governance, human dignity, equity and order, including social justice
are the watchword.
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| Lt. Gen Onyeabor Ihejirika (Rtd) |
The new framework must be capable
of stamping out weak leadership structures in our various villages, and
discourage inactive citizenship, ignorance, destructive tendencies, such as
drug abuse, fighting, stealing, lack of respect for well-meaning individuals, whose
only fault is their financial incapacitation, due largely to poor governance
systems; and all other forms of disrespect, must be done with.
Other mind bugging issues such as unhealthy
rivalries, bickering, backbiting, rumour peddling, bad-mouthing, unnecessary
competitions, including weak relationship patterns that have led to the
collapse of the organic structures erected by our ancestors for the good of the
community, must be erased.
Absence of good governance
structures, weak community cohesion and resilience, strong and active networking
channels, which have left in the vacuum created, ignorance, breakdown of family
ties, egoism and low self-esteem have given rise to inordinate ambitions by the
youths. There is also low productivity among individuals, groups, and institutions,
when considered in terms of political relevance, sagacity, and incisive
contributions towards designing, raising and sustaining good governance architecture,
in the community of NWANNEUKWUs.
These developments are unpalatable,
inimical and debilitating, totally injurious, nauseating, and out rightly
condemnable, repugnant and against good conscience. They have rendered our
community ineffective, causing her to lie prostrate and demobilized.
What is witnessed presently in the
land of NWANNEUKWUs, the land of GENERALs, NDI-HENDO, can best be described, as
theatre of the absurd. There is today; in various villages, few voices of
reason, weak groups, and more often than not, uncoordinated efforts towards uprooting
the forces working against the collective will of the people. The saboteurs, abusers,
treasury looters and workers of iniquity are also celebrated.
The “Oka-nma-lamas” have made it
impossible for the Government organs essential for improved infrastructure,
youth and women empowerment, quality education, and poverty eradication, wealth
generation/job creation, accelerated growth and sustainable socio-economic
development of ISUIKWUATO and the NWANNEUKWUs, to work, hence they have
remained a mere oxymoron.
Bemoaning the above and the system
that brought them and yet do nothing, cannot be a way out, just as apportioning
blame is not good enough. Both approaches would do nobody any good.
On this note therefore, I make bold
to call on all and sundry, irrespective of the particular cluster that you may
be representing: Village, Clan, Umunna, Academic background, Party affiliation,
and religious leaning, to understand that a total new orientation is necessary
for the growth of our community.
A sort of turnaround approach is
required to reposition and refocus the land of the NWANNEUKWUs. We must rise in
unison, and in doing so, embrace the truth that individually and collectively,
we have over the years played to the gallery.
We have all contributed, by our
actions and inactions, one way or the other to the menace that has led to the
under-development of the land of the NWANNEUKWUs.
Suffice to say, “ONYE OBULA KPURU-CHI-OHURÚ”. The saying of our people. Ndewonuooo!
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