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By Kevin Oji, Enugu
The cold-blooded murder of Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, the leading senatorial candidate of Labour Party (LP) for Enugu East Senatorial District, at the behest of possibly a frightened political predator, is a befitting epitaph to the looming end of 24 years of catastrophic rule of Enugu State by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The compelling evidence of this traumatic journey is in plain sight: carcasses of slain innocents, rivers of tears and blood, grinding poverty and the most mindless and comprehensive looting of the resources of a modern state.
In the deluge of the peaked ruins of our battered hopes were power-drunk leaders, substantially intimidated by the hallows of power, who abdicated from the demands of their office. They now saw themselves as the new agents of history and looked down on the people with scorn and disdain.
There is, however, a redemptive quality in every historic epoch which in essence produces visionary and pragmatic leaders without which the society will atrophy. On March 4, 1933, during the bleakest days of the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the President of the United States, launched a New Deal for the American people to “face the dark realities of the moment.” The New Deal put Americans back to work, restored faith in the American economic system and a sense of hope in the American people. Winston Churchill’s wartime leadership of Great Britain was epochal, consequential and led Britain to its ultimate goal, the defeat of Nazi Germany. Dr. M.I. Okpara’s unique vision anchored on agriculture and industrialization were pivotal policies that propelled the economy of Eastern Nigeria to become the fastest developing economies in the world in 1964 ahead of Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.
In the face of the unpardonable misgovernance of Enugu State after receiving nearly N2 trillion from the federation in over two decades, history beckons on Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga, the governorship candidate of Labour Party to rescue Enugu State from the throes of bad leadership. Clearly, the state is in urgent need of a reset in leadership and governance so battered by mindless and selfish leaders who failed to fully appreciate the demands of their high office and therefore performed below the peoples’ expectations.
Although he has enjoyed a long political career, Edeoga, the renaissance leader, cannot be categorized as a career politician because, so far, he has not exhibited the character of self-serving career politicians who are in public service for what they can get and not what they can do for the people. His political trajectory, record, politics and character sharply contrast with the record of his challengers for the state’s highest office and mirror a refreshing departure and prospect for the state to rebuild from the scratch.
The greatest assets that Edeoga will be bringing to the governance of the state is his unblemished track record of service, honesty, integrity and humaneness which underscores his strong philosophy and belief in the centrality of the people to his politics. Edeoga is an enigma driven by strong passion for higher purpose and commitment to accountable leadership. It is instructive that in spite of the many offices that he has held before now: Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, a member of the House of Representatives, Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs and a two-term commissioner, he not only performed with distinction but left these positions with his name and integrity intact, a feat practically impossible by the present crop of politicians to achieve.
High level of dishonesty, deceit, corruption and hallucinatory obsession for the primitive accumulation of wealth by career politicians have eroded public trust in governance. The first aim of Edeoga’s New Deal for Enugu State is to restore public trust, honesty and integrity in governance. His Economic Development Master Plan rests on the shoulders of a buy-in by energized and hopeful citizens enthusiastic about the unfurling of a new era of possibilities and prosperity underpinned by the sanctity of human life and respect for the rule of law. His Economic Master Plan, the most ambitious since the creation of the state will tackle and arrest the trend of stagnation and a state economy in free fall by delivering a bold economic transformation blueprint anchored on agriculture and industrial revolution. The current unemployment rate in the state is unhealthy and among the highest in the South East. To arrest it requires a bold vision and a creative economic recovery plan as put forward by his blueprint, which is predicated on jobs/wealth creation and human capital development, security and lives and property, revolution of the agriculture and industrial sectors. Regional integration of the southeast is top on the agenda for governorship hopeful. His agric template will leverage the agriculture value chain, provide grants, credits and essential inputs for smallholder farmers and encourage the establishment of processing factories to reduce wastage.
Under his plan, the education and health sectors will receive adequate attention; his plan has carried out a thorough and comprehensive audit of these critical sectors and will provide adequate funding for maximum results and impact. The basic aim of his revamp of the health sector is to ensure that citizens of the state receive adequate healthcare irrespective of social status. Enugu State civil service is under-utilized, zero sourced and poorly motivated. The policy thrust of the master plan will ensure that every civil servant is paid his salaries/ allowances promptly and that pensioners who are presently being owed by the state government are paid their legitimate pension. Under his guidance and leadership, the new era will ensure greater transparency and accountability in the management of state resources. His plan will enable projects to be aligned to the strategic objectives and priorities as espoused in the state budget. His blueprint will discard the culture of rent and elite conspiracy which encourages an unhealthy patronage system which in turn weaponizes poverty at the expense of economic development for the common good.
Enugu State occupies a historic position as the capital of Eastern Nigeria but unfortunately, it has not lived up to its potentials and promise. Clearly, a proactive and visionary leadership is lacking to propel it to greater heights. Given the abysmal leadership failure of the last two decades in the state, a new paradigm shift has become inevitable. As espoused by Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” The truth is that, since 1999, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the South East in all ramifications. The present governorship candidate of PDP in the state has one aim in mind: to protect the present decadent entitlement system that has made most of them wealthy beyond even their imagination and not to work for the people.
Enugu State needs a political leader in the mould of Edeoga to lead it in a new direction. His track record of honesty and integrity, his servant-leader disposition and vast experience in the public service have prepared him for this moment. Edeoga is bristling with ideas and has a clear plan about how to create an inclusive and prosperous state where no one will be left behind.
•Oji, a commentator on public affairs, contributed this piece from Enugu State
