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Continued from Part 1
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. (Elie Wiesel)
Emenyere nwaogwugwu, emenyere nwanosike, emenyere kwa daa nnediya nno la ujo -All should be treated equally- (Ngwa Proverb)
Do not be fooled into believing that because a man is rich he is necessarily smart. There is ample proof to the contrary (Julius Rosenwald)
There is nobody being carried high on another person's shoulder that has an intact scrotum at that particular time. (Odighi onye evu l'elu am� ndi nma) (Ngwa Proverb)
arl Marx (1818 - 1883), a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist, wrote that the "Every emancipation is a restoration of the human world and of human relationships to man himself. Human emancipation will only be complete when the real individual man has absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an individual man, in his everyday life, in his work, and in his relationships, he has become a species-being; and when he has recognized and organized his own powers (forces propres) as social powers so that he no longer separated his social power from himself as political power" (Marx/Engels 1956, 1, p, 370, Marx/Engels 1978, p.46).
Abia State has been missing qualitative leadership since its creation. It will look no further anymore; Dr. Ikpeazu is coming with the requisite leadership skill. Okezie Ikpeazu, as a paragon of intelligence, with his enviable academic record, will make Abia a pride and joy state for all. The fortunes of the state will definitely change for the better, right from the time the governor-elect takes over. You can bet on that! Before now, Abia State has been having only rulers, but, in three weeks' time, a leader, Dr. Ikpeazu, will take control, and the positive difference will be clear. God has given us a "king" to lead Abia State - God's Own State. The Kingdom of Satan will no longer prevail there. As there are dread and competing evil forces in Abia State, The Book of Romans 16:20 is telling Okezie Ikpeazu that "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you". Dr. Ikpeazu knows that God has given him leadership ability; he will take the responsibility seriously. No doubt, God has raised up a leader from among us, and the person is Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, we should endeavor to support him. I ask you, Dr. Ikpeazu, not to limit your challenges, rather, you should challenge your limits, and I assure you, in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), that "once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen".
Because of this Okezie Ikpeazu's victory, I'm more than happy, perhaps, even rhapsodic, and I will give all my support to the new government. I hereby aver that the state was astir due to Ikpeazu's victory, and such enthusiasm has never been seen before in Abia State, and it portends good for the state, as Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was right that "nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm". Okezie Ikpeazu's victory was no ordinary one that came by easily; the Ngwa people worked hard for it, and to borrow words from Chaka khan's lyrics, I must acknowledge that in order to make sure Ikpeazu was elected the governor of Abia State, the Ngwa people were ready to go through the fire, even to the limit, and to the wire or wall, even come what may, we weren't ready to kiss this dream goodbye this time around, we were even glad to risk all for that, just to show how important the victory is to us. That Abia people are today happy with the latest development means that nothing is perfect in the state. It means that they've decided to look beyond the imperfections for now, as someone who will make a positive difference is about to take over. One can safely say that "help is on the way", so why shouldn't happiness pervade every nook and cranny of Abia state? As from now, happiness is the way, to be led by Okezie Ikpeazu, in tune with the words of Henry Drummond (1762-1794), who noted that "happiness... consists in giving, and in serving others", and, Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) also said the same thing, but, in a different way, that "One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve".
The day after Dr. Ikpeazu was declared the winner, the Ukwa Ngwa leaders paid a thank you visit to Gov T.A. Orji for supporting Okezie Ikpeazu to emerge as Abia State governor. According to the SA e-Governance & Strategy to the Abia State Governor, they thanked Theodore Orji for his support towards actualizing the emergence of an Ukwa Ngwa man as the governor of the state. Speaking with newsmen after their thank you visit to the governor at the Government House, Umuahia, the leader of the delegation, Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, said that it behooves on them to come to show gratitude to the governor for his support after the declaration of Dr. Ikpeazu as governor-elect of the state. He said that history has been made in the state with the emergence of Dr. Ikpeazu, as the first Ukwa Ngwa man to be elected as governor, pointing out that the Ukwa Ngwa people are very jubilant with the development. Also speaking, the former Senate President, Senator Adolf Wabara, said the best legacies are in policies which often outlive infrastructure like good roads, and thanked the governor for leaving lasting legacies for Ukwa Ngwa people. He thanked Abians for giving the Abia South zone the opportunity to produce the next governor of the state in the person of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. According to him, developing Aba is the task facing the governor-elect, maintaining that there is nothing wrong if he pays more attention to the development of the commercial nerve centre of the state.
I must also thank Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for being a fighter and a worthy son of Ngwa land; in that he persevered despite all the hatred, opposition and efforts made by some powerful and rich people, in the state, to see that he was not elected the governor. Okezie Ikpeazu relived the words of John Quincy (1767-1848), who said that "Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air". Dr. Ikpeazu faced an uphill battle and won, in that his political godfather, the incumbent governor, is highly hated or loathed by many Abians because of his underperformance. So, many transferred this hatred, for the governor, over to Dr. Ikpeazu, seeing him as a stooge in the making, if he wins the election. Thank God that Dr. Ikpeazu quickly extricated himself; by tell anybody who wants to hear that he would be nobody's stooge. The point is that those who opposed Ikpeazu's candidature, did that because of the notion that Governor T.A. Orji projected him for that position. People were of the opinion, albeit erroneously, that he would be like his political godfather, who has a poor record. But, Dr. Ikpeazu, being who he is, is too much, and will not allow someone to play him like a damn fiddle.
Governor Theodore Orji, in welcoming PDP's victory at the poll, denied that Ikpeazu was his stooge. In his words "I can't manipulate a person who has a Ph.D. He has been in government for long, and the era of manipulation is gone. He is intelligent enough to reject what he does not like". The governor then attributed Ikpeazu's victory to people's quest for power rotation. Orji therefore called on those who lost to close ranks with the winner in the overall interest of the state. I have no doubt that Dr. Ikpeazu would perform creditably well and will leave worthy legacies for the people, because, his track record of achievements and his God-fearing disposition will see him through, as the expectations are high. I am happy that the governor-elect knows what to do and how to do them, as he marshaled out his plans and programmes during the campaign. He told the electors of Abia State of the need to create an alternative economic base to sustain development in the state, and to seek a process of bringing development to all corners of the state. I must add that the governor-elect should also ensure high discipline, empowerment of the youths, and the provision of adequate welfare for the students of the state. Most of all, the governor-elect knows that his major assignment is to clean up Aba and bring its old glory back, this is non-negotiable, and failure is not an option here! Dr. Ikpeazu should know that a Hindu Proverb says "It is a cart if it travels well; else it is but timber".
For those who lost and are aggrieved; I call on them to join hands, with Dr. Ikpeazu, in the development of the state. The failed contestants should sheath their sword in the interest of the development of the state. I must also commend Dr. Alex Otti for putting up a good fight; he tried his best, but, his best wasn't good enough this time around. Dr. Otti, as an Nsulu Ngwa man, is from Abia Central senatorial Zone, just like Senator Nkechi Nwaogu from Osisioma Ngwa. According to the power rotation formula, it is not their turn now to rule Abia State, but, whenever it becomes the turn of Abia central Senatorial Zone to rule Abia State, count me as one of those who would support the gubernatorial ambition of Dr. Alex Otti as an Nsulu Nvosi man; afterall, we all started together from Ngwa High School Aba, the same year, before I left there for Akwete Secondary/Technical School. For now, paraphrasing the words of Barrister Ime Bassey Okon, I call on all those who contested the governorship election and lost to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu not to distract him by engaging in unnecessary litigations, but rather to toe the path of honour by joining hands with the winner in order to take Abia State to greater heights. Ikpeazu's victory did not come as a surprise to the well-meaning citizens of the State, considering his antecedents and achievements, most especially in the academic sector, where he excelled. Those who contested against Ikpeazu and lost should be brave enough to concede defeat, because, in life, one doesn't always win. The entire Abia State people had spoken in unmistakable terms about the choice of who they want to lead them.
Just in the words of Lucius Annaeus (c. 4 BC - AD 65), "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor"; there is also a lesson to learn from this election; we should be helping the poor and the downtrodden in our midst always, not only when we are seeking elective post. If you're a miser, if you want to gain and enjoy the whole world alone, listen, when the need for people comes, you would be standing alone too. Remember that Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) wrote that "Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven".
I read that Dr. Alex Otti might have failed partly because he doesn't "give", even to those around and close to him. I read that even his brother, I think the name is Paul, was complaining that his senior brother hardly lends a helping hand despite swimming in wealth. It was only now, as he was contesting, that Alex Otti started extending help to the poor and others. For John Wooden (1910-2010), nothing is more important than seeing that at least one life lived better because of you, as he wrote that "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you". Tell me of what good is your wealth, if those around you are going hungry and wearing tattered clothes, and you did nothing about it, only to spend billions chasing a political position you know would be farfetched? How can one spend billions of Naira chasing political shadow? Rick Warren (1954) was right that "The only way you can serve God is by serving other people", and, Leviticus 19:18 implores all to "Love your neighbor as yourself".
One thing in life is that "you don't get, if you don't give"; and nature has a way of redistributing ill-gotten or too much wealth. Dr. Otti must have spent a fortune during this election, and lost, probably, about two billion Naira or more! See now how a pinchpenny or a stingy person was made to spend his money, if what I read was true. One thing is clear: If you ignore those suffering, going hungry and naked around you, the day of reckoning would come, when you would be judged for not taking care of the needy around you, despite the tons of wherewithal at your disposal to do that comfortably, afterall, just as Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) pointed out, "the purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others", and, Jonathan Lockwood Huie concurred that "Life is unlimited - it expands with the generosity, compassion, inventiveness, and service that you contribute".
The latest is that Dr. Otti's bank, Diamond bank PLC, is poised for massive lay off (workers' retrenchment), because, of his failed bid to be the governor of Abia State. Did he use the bank's money to pursue his political ambition? No wonder that Jonathan Lockwood Huie noted that "A good life isn't measured in material goods. There is no quicker path to misery than coveting your neighbors' stuff", while Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) wrote that "Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want". If because of Dr. Otti's political ambition, many Nigerians would lose their means of livelihood, then, he Otti, also failed George Eliot (1819-1880), who asked "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"
My advice to the candidates, who lost, such as Dr. Alex Otti, is that they "shouldn't force a horse"; Dr. Otti has caused substantial financial damages to himself and others, so, he should give up for now, his own turn might come later, as there are better days ahead for him, only if he believes, and only if he has patience. Spending more money on litigations would amount to nothing, as he would soon find out that "there's no way anybody can turn water into wine for him". Dr. Otti should rather give the money he intends to use to challenge his defeat, in court, to the poor around him, as that will be more worthwhile and better appreciated. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has denied Dr. Alex Otti's allegation, that he (Ikpeazu) rigged the April 11 governorship election in the state. He, Ikpeazu, therefore, described Otti as a bad loser. In his words:"That is the way of bad losers. All of them say the same thing and they do the same thing. I am not afraid of his going to the tribunal because he can't go to the tribunal in my absence. We will all be there to defend the mandate, and I am the custodian of that mandate. But I am bothered that we still have very desperate losers in Nigeria. I think he should have emulated President Goodluck Jonathan by conceding defeat."
Okezie Ikpeazu should bask in the euphoria of this victory, but, not for too long, as there's work to do. To tell that the governor-elect knows what he would be facing, and that he's a different breed of politician; we just read that he has placed temporary ban on courtesy visits by his supporters, so as to enable him to plan adequately for the task ahead. We learnt that Ikpeazu's country home, at Umuobiakwa in Obingwa LGA, has become a Mecca of sorts since after the governorship election, as individuals and groups continue to pay visits to the governor-elect. Also, that various entertainment groups and dancing troupes have also been having a field day, with free feeding a daily routine for all visitors. You know that people like to identify with winners, and without putting a hold on it, the governor-elect would be distracted, and would waste precious time only on frivolities. The Punch tells us that Ikpeazu, in a press statement, personally signed by him, thanked Abia residents for voting him into power, but, pleaded with those jostling to pay him courtesy visits, to give him some breathing space so he could prepare for the job he was elected to do. In his words: "I wish to thank all those who have felicitated with me in one way or the other since I was declared winner but plead for the understanding of all those who are planning courtesy calls that I shall no longer be available to receive any delegation coming with the intention to congratulate me. Because of the enormity of the task ahead, I require all the time I can get to plan to ensure that I justify the enormous confidence you have all reposed in me."
This confirms my conviction that Okezie Ikpeazu is on a mission to rescue Abia State, and he's ready for the job. Tell me how many governors-elect are as serious as Okezie Ikpeazu?
Read more (for Okezie Ikpeazu's biography and more, if you haven't by now):
https://odili.net/news/source/2015/may/1/320.html
TIT BITS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEF8p04auvE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ujvGBVYH4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOaxEa5ONJw
THE THANX IS ALL YOURS!!!
Continued from Part 1
