By: Andy Adibemma
Imo east senatorial zone otherwise called Owerri zone, is one senate seat that has over time produced the best for which Imo State is judged in Nigeria. This zone has given the state so large a presence at the National Assembly that many do not remember that the state has other senatorial zones.
With the coming of the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria this particular zone has given birth to senators Evan Enwerem and Ama Iwuagwu, it has also produced senator Ajoku and the Amazon in the person of Senator Chris Anyanwu. These men and woman have given not only a commanding performance at the senate, even a senate president has come from among them.
The above senators and their worthy representation in the Nigerian Senate is mentioned here because, when one is being considered or is putting oneself up for consideration, one binding principle in electing such a person or candidate should be the capacity to perform.
The legislature is unlike the executive, what it needs to be a quality Governor or executive is the ability to recruit capable lieutenants who would carry out the day to day activities of Government. When this is done well, the governor or president takes the glory and vice versa.
The legislature is a different ball game, it needs a versatile and ready to go person. The man or woman to be elected should be one that can outperform those before such a candidate.
I have taken time to give the above background because, there is need to give Owerri East a very strong voice in the senate come 2015. Among those now jostling to take over from Senator Chris Anyanwu, only one I can beat my chest and say cannot only match Senator Chris’ performance but has the capacity to out do it.
Yes, some “if not all the aspirants that have presented themselves for consideration especially in the Peoples Democratic Party platform could boast of having served before, in a legislative capacity. Still, the saying in Animal Farm rings true that all animals are equal but some are more.
I have taken time to give the above background because, there is need to give Owerri East a very strong voice in the senate come 2015. Among those now jostling to take over from Senator Chris Anyanwu, only one I can beat my chest and say cannot only match Senator Chris performance but has the capacity to out do it.
Yes, some “if not all the aspirants that have presented themselves for consideration especially in the Peoples Democratic Party platform could boast of having served before, in a legislative capacity. Still, the saying in Animal Farm rings true that all animals are equal but some are more equal than others.
Dr. Chris Asoluka comes across as one eminently qualified to represent Owerri zone in the senate. He has seen both sides of government as a former House of Reps member and as commissioner in Imo State. But the icing is on the fact that this highly educated and exposed gentleman as we speak is training legislators and administrators all over the world.
He is not only a consultant to the National Assembly but a consultant to world bodies and governments on legislative functions. In fact, he teaches legislators on how to make laws and how to carry out their oversight functions.
A good family man, from Owerri West, Asoluka is a product of three academic worlds, having been educated at the University of Ibadan (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D) Lagos (M.Sc.) and University of London (LLB).
He bestrides the academic and business world as a colossus. This powerful but humble intellectual, who takes pleasure in mentoring youths is when elected going into the red chambers as a very strong and capable voice of the people. He is not only going to hit the ground running in the senate but being conscious of the place of the Owerri zone in the annals of the Nigerian Senate.
Chris Asoluka is a sure candidate for an exalted assignment in the red chambers. Asoluka no doubt is sufficiently prepared and possess proven capacity, contact reach and record of resourcefulness in providing solutions that if not for the fact that you cannot shut people out of their ambitions, it would have been futile lining up against him. But our clime is made up of people who do not own up even when they have been dwarfed by visible reality.
If Owerri zone, especially the leaders care for quality representation and the solidification of the enviable pedigree laid by past senators from the zone, then the time to send Dr Chris Asoluka to the red chambers is now.
-Andy Adibemma, writes in from Owerri, Imo state