A giant is set to roll in – again into the foray of state politics in Anambra. A youth with the sense of a centurian; a dynamite that can blow its way out of hard thick to discover the precious opportunities that abounds. I talk in the person of Dr Ifeanyi Uba. The capital giant some days back emphatically stated that he was interested in the governance of the state. The man made it known to Anambrarians that their wellbeing is still his priority; he still has a lot to offer in that bigger platform. He wants to leave his Lagos abode and march down to Awka to come work for his people, his dear state; a great thought indeed. In a saner clime, such announcement will be welcomed by jubilations as it brings with it, rays of hope.
Ifeanyi is unarguably the most popular politician in the
state right now. Yes, you heard that. A man that hasn’t smelt any political
seat or held any political position at any time in his life, yet his popularity
crosses boundaries. I have taken a great time to study about this young politician
who wishes to bring in western leadership style and social welfarism to his
state. This is not a praise song for ifeanyi, I am not his political promoter,
neither am I on his payroll. As a freelance blogger and writer, something in
him has caught the better part of my attention. Honor is earned, Ifeanyi has
earned his.
As a political observer, I ask myself what Nigerian politicians
really have got to give to the people? Y’all answers are good as mine –
NOTHING!. In a place where resources (both human and material) abound, one
ordinarily expects ‘things’ to work for the people, but reverse is the case. If
ifeanyi as a private individual and in his private capacity can achieve all
that he has achieved without public help/fund, then one can only but wonder (aloud)
what he can do with the state’s resources at his disposal. If you haven’t
heard, Ifeanyi gives scholarship to thousands of indigent youths on yearly
basis yet he doesn’t blow trumpets off the achievement. He has empowered the
youths on different skills and social packages, yet he doesn’t make a noise
about it. Not quite long ago, I went to his sports village to see things for
myself, and indeed it was a marvel I saw, “this is the man” - I said to myself.
To honestly NOT to blow what I met on
ground out of proportion, Ifeanyi’s sports village under construction at Nnewi
can directly employ over 5000 youths; no one is talking of the indirect
employment that arena will generate for Anambrarians and non Anambrarians alike.
I even heard that a governor of one of the northern states
in Nigeria sent a delegation Ifeanyi to learn about his leadership,
entrepreneurial and social skills; such importance is bestowed on our hero by
others. This is a man that proffers economic solutions to national burning
issues. His intelligence and brilliance recently brought back Nigeria to the
path of progress; if he can do it on a national scale, state level shouldn’t be
a deal of task for him. We’ve had lots
of Satan of greed since this state was created; it’s now time for the IFEANYI’s
magical appeal.
So many things are not just working in Anambra. So many
things have gone comatose and therefore needs a genius to revive and to clean
the cogs of backwardness. Where have our industries gone? The agricultural
capabilities the state was once known for is now in the history books. What
Anambra needs at this moment is an enigmatic leader that has the intelligent
adaptation and the knowledge to push the wheels of progress. We verily lack
that at the moment. I am even of the opinion that whosoever that cannot manage
a private business excellently shouldn’t even bother coming to manage a public
institution and a state at that. Most of the leaders the state has produced
(except that of the former governor) cannot even boastfully speak of their
achievements at their private businesses and establishments. I wouldn’t want to
go further on this, as that’s not what I am here for.
2018 is around that corner and I encourage Ye’ Anambrabrians
to gear up to usher in a new leader with vision, a new umpire that knows the
onus of the game, a new player that knows what it takes to score the magical
goal, Ifeanyi Uba is that leader. My people, let us not be deceived by people
that has nothing to offer us, lets us not be fooled by people that can only
give us speeches at campaign rallies and venues. Instead, let us welcome that
person that will give us that brand of leadership we all yearn for, let us
support that person that will work for the good of us all and for the
betterment of our dear state. The star has started shinning and no force can
shut it down. Indeed, Ifeanyi is a star and that star will keep shinning on.
{Chidubem writes from Awka}
