Building A New Imo With A Sound Legislature

Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha

The greatest undoing of the current government in Imo state is the legislature. Many Imolites and watchers of democracy have focused on the outgoing Governor but overlooked the fact that 27 elected legislators failed in their responsibilities. In his first tenure, the Imo State House of Assembly dug the aesthetically decorated trench that today served as the cemetery for this government.
They turned out to be stooge in the hands of the Governor. The place of checks and balance failed. Oversight functions were neglected and all known principles of democracy and good governance were raped and rubbished. Majority of them could not hold long discussions on burning global and national issues. They saw themselves as mini gods after their principal who 'emperorically' led the Executive Arm of Government.

In my thinking, these set of 'artists' that occupied the Imo Assembly were the real reason Owelle lost his pride of place in the scheme of local and national politics. They were the arch demons that laid the foundation for the dehumanization of Governor Okorocha. Of course, Owelle, created the personae that these men capitalized on. His desperateness led them on, and his weakness seduced them.

I remember having a chat with one of the State Assembly members from Owerri zone in March 2018. He blamed Owelle for every unprintable thing ever imagined. Then he was in the opposition PDP. Not surprisingly after loosing the PDP return ticket (he obvioulsy failed as member and as Committe Chairman), this man decamped to AA Governor Okorocha's adopted party. Today, he has lost reelection to the power of the people. Such was the kind of political charlatans that reigned supreme in the outgoing legislative assembly in Imo State.

Interestingly, most of them were shown the way out especially those from Owerri zone. Others managed to sneak back into the house shrouded in other party cloaks.

Be that as it may, the next legislature must be that guided by principles of democracy, sound leadership and intellectual thoughts. Never again should our legislative assembly be led by unintelligent, vision stunted individuals with body image deficiencies. Never again should such level of low-thinking individuals be allowed to even win a party ticket, not to talk of coming close to the corridors of law making in Nigeria.

Now that the Imo people have taken back their power it is important for them to set the appropriate agenda for the incoming legislators.
Now that we have a sound mind with deft administrative and legislative acumen as Governor in the person of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, it is time to rebuild the fractured Imo House of Assembly to its pride of place with quality leadership, respect for the rule of law, honour to the separation of powers and total allegiance to the will of the people.

While political considerations are important in the build up to the new assembly, Ndi Imo must be guided -only a visionary legislature that is selfless and has the development of the state at heart should be supported.

The devastation of the past is still fresh and we as a people need to heal fast in order to restore and rebuild the sanity and sanctity of our Land.

@ Chibuikem Diala
#RenewImo