Why Hon. Chuka Ezenwune Is The Better Choice For Idemili North & South

By Nnadi Chukwunuzo

In every generation, there comes a time when the people must look beyond the noise of politics and look into the heart of leadership. For the people of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, that time is now. We are at a crossroads between continuing with the “business as usual” approach of the past or embracing a future defined by a single, powerful principle: Service to the People.

Hon. Chuka Ezenwune is the heartbeat of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency electorates. According to the leaders of thought of the people of Idemili: ‘one does not see where a man is richly celebrating the conferment of the prestigious Ozo title and prefer to go to a lean celebration of ilu agwu ritual’. It is same realization that spurred the people of Idemili North and South to notice that they have been following a politically parked vehicle since the last four years.

Hon. Chuka Ezenwune is not a stranger to our struggles. He is a son of the soil who has walked our streets, listened to our traders in Mgbuka Obosi, Motor Parts Market Nkpor, Building Materials Market of Ogidi and Oba, the Livestock Traders at Nnobi, the subsistence agricultural men and women, petty traders and artisanic workers across Alor, Nnokwa, Akwu-Ukwu, Abatete, Oraukwu, Uke, Ideani, Umuoji, the Gariki Operators and Cattle Dealers in Awka Etiti. Hon. Chuka Ezenwune understands the aspirations of our youth in Obosi down to the last town within the Constituency. His recent strategic move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is not merely a change of party; it is a declaration of independence for the good people of Idemili North and South.

It is important that we talk a little about the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC Philosophy which is ‘Service to the People’ as it concerns the driving force and corporate philosophy of Hon. Chuka Ezenwune (Ifeabata Idemili). By choosing the NDC, Hon. Chuka has aligned himself with a platform that places the constituent at the center of the map. The NDC slogan, ‘Service to the People,’ perfectly encapsulates Chuka’s political DNA. This move was made to escape the shackles of ‘godfatherism’ and party bureaucracies that often prevent representatives from doing what is right for their people. In the NDC, Hon. Chuka has found a vehicle that allows him to drive development directly to the doorsteps of Idemili. This is the choice of a man who values the mandate of the masses over the dictates of political elite.

The cost of silence where the status quo failed is in quantum measures of monumental damages to the people of Idemili North and South. What a great error of judgment we have made our people lamented. Our elders regretted and used the proverb of bone and silence: ‘Omuta amaghi ihe na-ume omumu bu ofu’ (A woman who gave birth to efulu efu son is in same category with a barren woman). To understand why Hon. Chuka Ezenwune is the better choice, we must honestly examine the gaps left by the current representation. For too long, Idemili North and South have been treated as voting blocs rather than a constituency with urgent needs. Some school of thoughts regarded what has happened to the Constituency since the last elections where someone was handpicked and pushed up the ladder to represent the great Idemili people as a true case of : ‘Mkpi nghagobe adighi agba ewu’ (a male goat carried and laid on top of a female goat cannot perform its natural duties). Other said it was a case of making a political neophyte to go and learn how to navigate or swim in an ocean infested with political sharks and crocodiles. So the people says with one accord, the time is now to reclaim all that the locust, the cankerworms, the armyworms and some political leaves guzzling caterpillars have consumed from the farms of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency.

The areas of status quo ante failure include:

The silent Representative of Idemili North and South without tangible dividends of democracy or federal presence attraction. The people of Idemili know that a federal representative is the voice of the people in Abuja. Unfortunately, our current representation has been characterized by legislative silence and dormancy. While other constituencies are making headlines with bills that impact their local economies, Idemili voice has been missing on the floor of the National Assembly.

The federal government project deficit matrix of Idemili North and South Federal Constituency is alarmingly low. When one walks through our communities, the nagging questions have been: ‘where are the landmark constituency projects that reflect the weight of our population? From decaying school infrastructure to the lack of modern healthcare facilities in our rural areas – the gap between the budget and the reality on the ground is frighteningly widening.

Accessibility and the ivory tower syndrome of they and us has never been witnessed in Idemili North and South Federal Constituency since the early days of democracy in Nigeria. Leadership is about presence. A major failure of the incumbent has been the total disconnect from the grassroots. Whereas the Federal Constituency representation across Nigeria stands for second highest avenue for the people to access federal government developmental projects, the incumbent Representative of Idemili North and South turned it into ‘Gen Zee’ affairs of clueless rollicking and rendezvous with selected young people of easy virtues, while the constituents were locked out and denied access to their Representative. Representation shouldn’t be something that only happens every four years during an election. The current closed-door policy has left our community leaders and youth feeling abandoned and unheard.

Inconsistent Empowerment or virtually lack of it became order of the day. Actually, it is said that one must feel what the people feel to be able to understand. This is totally lacking from the status quo Representative. True empowerment is not about occasional token gifts, attending of burial ceremonies or invitations to women debuting traditional dances and inter village football competition events. It is about sustainable programs that create jobs and build skills. The lack of a structured, transparent empowerment scheme has left our vibrant youth in Idemili North and South without the support they need to compete in the 21st-century economy.

The great Idemili North and South Federal Constituency cannot afford another four more years of seat-warming. We need a representative who works as hard as the people he represents. That choice is Hon. Chuka Ezenwune (Ifeabata Idemili) – the better choice and a blueprint for progress and people oriented representation. Hon. Chuka Ezenwune isn’t just asking for your vote; he is asking for a partnership to rebuild the pride of Idemili. He is the Better Choice because he brings a proven track record of rectitude, initiative, and drive. A vote for Hon. Chuka Ezenwune and Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC means:

Active, result-oriented and bold representation: Hon. Chuka will not be a spectator in Abuja. Yes! He was not a spectator in Awka and he will surely repeat that feat in Abuja. Hon. Chuka Ezenwune will be a champion. His goal is to build legislative bridges across the ‘Green Chamber’, sponsor many bills that promote ease of doing business for our local entrepreneurs and secure federal interventions for our infrastructure to Idemili North and South territories.

The open door policy: The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) platform is built on transparency. Hon. Chuka promises to establish functional constituency offices in both North and South, staffed by professionals who will listen to the concerns of the people and ensure your voice reaches the National Assembly.

Sustainable empowerment: Under the ‘Service to the People’ mandate, empowerment has been conceived and designed to be merit-based and sustainable. Nigeria Democratic Congress has promised that the party shall move away from handouts and move toward hand-ups. This means that vocational training, tech hubs for our youth, and micro-credit support for our market women and business incubators shall be established.

Strategic development mapping: Using the same resource-mapping strategies he has championed throughout his career, Hon. Chuka will ensure that every ward in Idemili feels the impact of federal presence and not just the few who are connected as it is presently obtained.

The people of Idemili North and South have pledged their support to stand with the man who stood for them. It is by accident because ‘the people believe that the chicken cannot forget who plummeted it during the rainy season’. Political parties are temporary, but the welfare of Idemili is permanent. Hon. Chuka Ezenwune has chosen a new path with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) because he believes Idemili North and South deserve more. He has the experience, he has the drive, and most importantly, he has the heart for service. As the journey unfolds, the good people of Idemili are urged not to vote for the same failures of the past. We are reminded to vote for the man who has the courage to change for our sake. Vote for Hon. Chuka Ezenwune. Vote for National Democratic Party (NDC): Service to the People!