Hilda Ifeoma Ifegwu.
Opposing voices have whispered some discontent instigated by The Sun newspaper of Saturday November 8, 2014. There was a call to action and insurrection to stop Ochendo and his son Engr. Chinedum Orji.
In the THISDAY newspaper of Saturday, November, 15, 2014, a little known columnist called Ochendo a clown over the same issue.
These are not surprising to anyone as we are used to insult machineries who get paid and ready to insult their fathers and cast multiple obscenities on their mothers without a single wince. We forgive such people since they’re acting from quantum ignorance and alluring pecuniary prodding and nudging. Even when they claim to write, they hardly read and so cannot make good arguments or employ incisive deductions with the least historical relevance.
Our democracy is moded towards that of the Americans but we hardly learn due to uninformed bigots and the politically myopic. President George H Bush became the 41st President of United States of America in 1888; it did not stop his son George Walker Bush Jr, from aspiring and emerging the 43rd president in 2001. While he was president, his immediate younger brother Jeb Bush, was popularly elected the Governor of Florida State. Back home in Abia, Chief Orji Uzo Kalu was elected governor in 1999 and he sponsored his immediate younger brother, Nnanna Kalu to a house of Reps seat in another party. Nobody raised a voice; even when he usurped a seat in another constituency. That Ochendo is a democrat and welcomes dissenting voices does not mean that he is a sitting duck for weak and pointless arrows. Leniency and meekness most of the time is mistaken for weakness but experience has thought how wrong an assumption it is.
Chief T. A. Orji has almost completed 8 years of a legitimate tenure as allowed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As it is well known in Abia, Nigeria and the world, he has given a good account of himself judging from the degree of quality governance in policies and projects evident in the length and breadth of Abia State. It is upon this background that the people of the Abia Central Senatorial Zone and many outside are calling stringently on him to run for senate. To testify to the esteem and extent of popularity, his form was purchased and presented to him by the six chairmen of Abia Central Constituency where Ochendo comes from.
Talking of Engr. Chinedum Orji’s quest for the Abia House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji is an Abian, a bona-fide Nigerian Citizen, taxpaying, law abiding and a card carrying member of the behemoth PDP. He is qualified on all fronts and certified, guaranteed by the constitution to seek for votes and cast his freely, according to his aspiration as a free citizen with good conscience and balanced judgment.
The famous Youth Empowerment initiative in Abia that has undertaken unprecedented innovations and actions was Chinedum’s prayers answered by his father who is highly impressed by the young man’s intent and free mind to lift his fellow youths. We don’t need to go investigating if this is a success as it bears outstanding testimonies, evident on all nooks and crannies of the state as one of every 3 vehicles on the road is a yellow cab given out freely to youths to help themselves and help society by offering services for which they earn honest living.
It is self-evident that anybody, who by anyway engages the youths legitimately and reduces restiveness, anxiety and crime, has done a lot for the parents, community and society in general.
On the other grounds, the Umuahia Urban House of Assembly Constituency, constituted by Urban 1,2,3 where Chinedum comes from has experienced a void from the Ugba na Nkata ancestry. Putting history in the right perspective, Chief G. O. Onyemaobi, represented that constituency in then Imo State, followed by his son Enyinnaya who was the pioneer Rep when Abia was created 23 years ago.
Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka from the same Afara Ukwu, a stone throw from Onyemobi’s house was the next. Chief Barrister Nkem Uche followed with a two-year tenure that is just ending. It is only fair and justifiably equitable for the Ugba na Nkatas, who are yet to register their presence in the constituency to go for the house of Assembly.
From the Above analysis, Chinedum is qualified and free to express his political dream irrespective of his father being an exiting governor.
Most importantly, seeking for votes and casting of votes is a decision for the legitimate voters. Voting is a decision for the registered voters of Abia. If he is not the people’s choice, they will express such through the votes cast in the ballot box. As expressed above, he is a card carry member of PDP, ever supportive of the party through many of his creative and innovative activities that have helped maintain the place of PDP on a high pedestal in the state.
Chinedum Orji, Ikuku Oma Abia, is legitimately accepted and qualified to represent his constituency in the 2015 elections. This should not breed insults and political storms in the teacup since the constituents will speak with their votes.