utside the town hall centre of Umuohiri, the towns' people discussions were in elevated animation. Some in hushed voices; others in anticipation of a big political bang happening within their own constituency. Overheard were heated arguments, some for the political event waiting to happen and yet some others against the perceived event waiting to happen!

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First citizen: "The senator has found his match. He has money, he is educated and he has connections."

Second citizen: "We have seen them come and go or should I say fizzle out after the initial gra gra gra."

Third citizen: "They sey he is in constant talk with Odumegwu Ojukwu and that his in-laws are very, very rich."

First citizen: "All I know is that the senator has found his match. This one is also a journalist."

Second citizen: "If him likes let him be chief judge, the senator is my man any day."

Third citizen: "It looks like you don chop belle full."

Second citizen: "I know say the senator na baaad man but he has managed to vanquish all the good citizens of our land. For that alone, I respect him."

First citizen: "Like who."

Second citizen: "Like Anyadiegwu, like Ohakim, like Ziggy, and Obi and Kpaduwa. You want me to name more?"

First citizen: "Yes, name them."

Second citizen: "Jasper Ndubuaku, Zeek Nwachukwu, Ezinne, Rita and Ok 2000. Onyirimba, Udeagu, Ukachu…. The senator is my man. He is a fox too."

First citizen: "Without people like you, the senator has no power."

Second citizen: "I have said my own. This senator? He has too much power. Truth is bitter."

First citizen: "By the way, who will this brother run against? It's certainly not going to be the senator."

Second citizen: "That's the point I was making. The senator gets to pick who runs on PDP ticket. Some times, too, he decides who runs on the other parties'. He's that powerful. The senator is the party and the parties are the senator in Okigwe. Give it to him; he is the uncrowned godfather of Okigwe politics."

First citizen: "Na waa o. Man pass man o. He could even choose who to defeat, if he likes. That, that's what you're saying? But how does he do it so well?" Second citizen: "He penetrates deep down to the bottom of other parties' structures. With his money he gets whatever he wants. Some times he does it through intimidation. My mom has worked closely with him for some time now. She knows how he operates. He is a damn smooth operator."

Third citizen: Imagine this. Because the senator traveled, that's why the PDP people can't even know who will run to replace Maurice."

First citizen: "That's why I commend our bro from the US who is running. Before he came, have they not said it was a foregone conclusion? That, there will be no election! That because Maurice was a member of the PDP and from Onuimo, therefore, the PDP will simply nominate somebody, a replacement from Onuimo and fiam, the person will be sworn in."

Third citizen: "Since our brother came from the US, the message has changed. No body is saying anymore that "this is a PDP position." That's why I know he has his own little power o."

Second citizen: "Leave all those things. The Senator remains my man. You will see what will happen as soon he returns from his overseas travel. They say he has gone to buy three Hummer Jeeps for the 2007 Election. He is also trying to set up an airline with one powerful governor from the South-South. Have you not heard that he wants to be Governor? He is so sure of himself. That's why I respect him a lot. He talks less and achieves a lot - at least for himself. Mark my word, this election is not more than what he can do."

First citizen: "Respect him? Where did he get all the money to buy three Hummer Jeeps; set up an airline and run for governorship all at a time? Do you know that each Hummer Jeep costs more than 15 million Naira plus tax and registration? I do not want to talk about each air plane. I know there is this thing they call wet lease."

Third citizen: "That's what our brother is saying. Multiply that by 3 and give me the answer. The cost of the three Hummers - top of the line!"

First citizen: "Forty five million naira. For three cars alone! In a good country a senator cannot be seen to be flaunting wealth like that without questions being asked. He will lose election the next day. He will be recalled and or may be end up in prison. By the way on which roads will he drive all those Hummers? Certainly not on roads in Okigwe and not on roads in Igboland."

Third citizen: "It is not so here. That's what our brother from the US is talking about. At least all of us are University graduates. We have no jobs. Have ever read the senator's manifesto? Or does he want to hire us all in his new airline company?" (Laughs).

First citizen: "That reminds me, how many times, have we read the senator's manifesto in this land. Never."

Third citizen: "We live in the same constituency with him - Right now, under our noses he drives some of the most expensive cars in the world. May be that is his own manifesto. His other manifesto is Okija. Where he takes his hand appointed contestants to jump over coffins to swear allegiance. But ordinary to grade this road that passes here, he will not grade it. He fends for himself alone. Is that what you consider as being politically powerful? To me he has failed. It's just that the system, we are in is a sorry one."

Second citizen: "I think you two are making a lot of sense, but what can we do. He is the, be it all, and own it all, of this land. I am not in any way disputing those facts. What baffles me is that in spite of all this, he seems to be vanquishing every opponent that comes his way or is thrust upon his way. One by one. Why? Because he is well connected up there."

Third citizen: "Up where?"

First citizen: "As if you do not know. Up in, Abuja. His brother is the National Chairman of the PDP."

Second citizen: "You mean Audu Baba?"

Third citizen: "No, no, no, the other one from Benin…"

First citizen: "Chief Igbinedion, the former Police Commissioner."

Third citizen: "No, not Chief Igbinedion. Chief Imohimi Anene - that is his godfather."

First citizen: "You mean a godfather can also have a godfather?"

Third citizen: "That's why he cannot provide employment for the teaming unemployed youths of his constituency. Because of Chief Anene, his godfather."

First citizen: "But, lets be fair to him, a senators' duty is not to create jobs in his constituency."

Third citizen: "But Senator Nwawo of Abia North attracted industries to his constituency. He bragged of it the other day on national television. Senator Okorodudu of Ogun made it possible for the multi-million electricity plant to be sited in his constituency. He talked about it in the interview with Sun the other day.+ With your presence as a senator in the senate, you do not only make laws, but you also use your influence in the senate, to make laws that could create jobs, and if possible site industries in your immediate constituency, which could benefit all….. He could also …It is done everywhere in the world."

Second citizen: "I agree with you all. A man, who cannot provide jobs for un-employed university graduates in his constituency, would not attract any good employment-generating industry to his constituency but keeps winning every election, crooked or not, is still my man any day. Pay him a due respect…it means we all are politically speaking, weak, fools, and idiots. We should not complain….and we should bury our heads in shame. All of us have failed our people! Come to think of it, when did it become the job of a senator to create jobs? What should the executive then be doing? You guys are looking for whatever reason to nail my senator. A senator should only make laws."

First citizen: "You're now talking… But how many laws have your dear senator made in recent times? Rephrase that, how many bills and motions has he sponsored? How many ……Respect him?"

Third citizen: "We're pursuing shadow instead of substance. If talk about his inability to speak for his people or on behalf of his people is the problem, then I will say, fire on. Our senator is a redundant senator. He is only seen at the flashpoints of trouble or deal making - the electoral act, the impeachment saga, the plot to sack the senate president. He is always in the news from the negative perspective…at every dubious deal making event in the senate...He even wanted to be senate president the other day. He almost….contract."

It was in the midst of these cacophonous discussions which by now had attracted many people's attention that the town crier's gong sounded again and again, summoning every body "who is here for this event" to please get into the hall and be seated. The gentlemen who were arguing or debating continued until they got into the main hall and (because there were not enough seats left to allow them sit together), were separated by a sitting arrangements, not of their making, took their seats just like every other person who had come to hear the candidate speak. Breaking the silence which had descended on the town hall floor as a result of a previous hush by the town crier, the head of the town union Nze E. D. Ohaji, opened up.

"Listen up every body," he said (speaking in Igbo first, before intermittently converting into English and then back to Igbo) in a quaking but sure voice. "It is getting really late. This was a meeting we asked everybody to be present before sun-set. May I ask each kindred's representatives here to please recognize themselves by standing up so that we can proceed?" (He keeps silent to watch the procedure complete the usual way the kindred had known how to.)

"Okay," he began again peering into the crowd from different but visible angles, like a General assessing the mood of a war hungry Division. "All the kindred are fairly represented here. Okonkwo, you're here. Okafor, you're there. Ibeneme, I have seen you. What of Chief Mgbemere? I think, we have a fair representation here.

Most of you may have inkling for which reason I asked the town criers of the respective kindred to go round last night to do their job. Though we are starting late, I'm impressed by the job they did in a short notice. This turn out, by any measurable standards, is very impressive. Sitting with me here is one of us, your son, and my son. ("Stand up!" He says to the candidate in commanding tone.)

"Nnam, (my father) I will not say much about you. I will leave you to talk more about yourself. Charity they say begins from home. You have to learn to talk to people beginning with your own people. (Turning to the people once more he opened up thus: "Sitting right here opposite you are your people. Two days ago, Nna (I call him Nna - father - because he is our father incarnate) came to my house to tell me something about politics in our land. In our constituency and lo, in all Nigeria!

After listening to him, I said to him and his uncle that they must come back to talk to the larger members of our community. A snake seen by a woman is always a python - the Igbo will say. Lest, I forget, he brought this jugs of palm wine and cartons of beer and bottles of hot drinks and small kola nuts for me to present to you as our cherished tradition require. Because this arrangement was sudden, he has also added a fifteen thousand Naira for us to purchase three goats - one goat each - I guess to every kindred in this land. I guess, he made it five thousand, for each kindred. Nneato Nwe afor Kwenu, he bellowed and a "Yaah" came, the deafening response.

"Without wasting your time, I would call upon him, our candidate for the recently occurred political opportunity in the land to tell you some of those things, he said to me and members of my council the other night. Nnam, ngwa, orule (the time has come) my father, and brother and our son, it's time to address your people!"

Before he could finish, a middle aged woman stood up without being recognized to ask to know what our son has brought for them (the women folk). "Where is our bag of rice? Where is our crate of soft drinks and where is our biscuit….my colleagues - the women folk of Nneato, I greet you…." She opened up in an unrehearsed ululation that provoked laughter, songs and a mini-carnival.

To be continued