Opinion Article: As Chidoka Joins UPP

(An24)-At long last, One Time Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and The Immediate Past Corps Marshal of The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Chief Osita Chidoka, Joins United Progressives Party (UPP) And declares intent to run for the governorship position of Anambra State, in grand style.

It’s no longer News, that, the man with the Midas touch, Chief Osita Chidoka, popularly known as and called “Ike-Obosi” has joined the United Progressives Party (UPP) and declaring intent,  as a prelude to actualizing his aspiration and clarion call by his people, to take over the mantle of leadership as the next Chief Executive of the State.

The man – Osita Chidoka, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at heart, had to break his silence by taking the long awaited bold step, which of course, is in consonance with the yearnings of many Anambrarians and Nigerians at large, whose doubts about the possibility of flying his ticket and getting the expected victory on the platform of his former darling Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was becoming a daily topic, laced with fear.

Prior to this bold, proactive and imaginative move, political observers, analyst and pundits, have been very skeptical about his next move, owing to the logjam in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as it seemed so difficult a decision to make. This skepticism according to checks, was premised on the ground that he was a chieftain of the party, whom many viewed and acknowledged as a man who adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to the Party.

Also worthy of note, is that, before this defection: intrigues and deft political moves and calculations had been playing out, all in a bid to ensure that he remains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and subsequently becomes her flag bearer, as he was and still is, unarguably the most qualified candidate they have in the State, based on every available empirical evidence,  records and statistics.

There is no doubting the fact that, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), a Party that brought Ike Obosi to political limelight; the same Party that was adjudged  “the largest Political Party in Africa”, the same Party that was  defeated at the center with falsehood, deceit and propaganda; and the same Party Nigerians are praying to come to their rescue, come 2019, based on the widely acknowledged colossal failure of the present ruling Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria,   would have been the best platform to actualize his aspiration and  desires of his people, more especially   when a catalogue of his mentors, supporters, well wishers and colleagues are still in the Party, battling to secure her soul from some Hawks, whose only intent and purposes are among other devilish ideas to render every move of the  Party to reclaim their mandate in 2019,  ineffective. While it remains an ineffaceable fact, that, Ike Obosi, in concert with many other Party faithful, did work assiduously behind the scene to putting mercenaries in place for a peaceful resolution of the impasse, which has been abortive as the Country’s Appellate Court, had just reserved judgment indefinitely.

But, there was, and there still is, a problem, which is the professional mischief makers. These set of people  are so naturally wired to puncture any move, be it   good or bad, as long as it did not  serve their  selfish interest or purposes. Therefore, their penchant for criticizing such political moves, must be ignored by well meaning Nigerians as they lack any possible rationalization or justification to expect he executes such project on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with all the Court injunctions flying here and there.

It’s also common knowledge that, in every political move as it relates to leadership, anchored on the expected good governance with human face which Osita Chidoka epitomises, the people’s wishes must be the priority and not the wishes of a few self-centered individuals whose judgments and expectations are not centered on good governance but the political capital they make out of system to the detriment of the masses.

Therefore, the obvious clarion call for Ike Obosi to step into the arena that was viewed to cut across all political divide, cannot be a jamboree but a call for service  for the benefit of all, hence, the idea for another viable political platform as represented by the United Progressives Party ( UPP), remains legendary as  not acting swiftly in that regards, would have been  tantamount to a betrayal of trust.

Having scaled through this huddle, comes the real deal. Not a doubt that many have come to the people of Anambra State in the name of “reformers” , but our people have suffered for too long under these self-seeking businessmen, hooded  with the rhetoric of  “reformers” even when they themselves needs reforming.

They lack the track record, and their knowledge of precondition for genuine reform can best be described as scandalous. They are the same politicians,  who operated without an eye to details and lacks the patience, the ingenuity and boldness to create and execute policies, systems and processes that would build confidence on the people as well as assuage the inherent pains associated with the bartered  conditions of the downtrodden;  but Chidoka shows class and the expected difference with an intimidating track record of exemplary leadership, having promised among other things, and I quote: ” we shall generate money for the State, not by taxing the poor.

The kind of government we will run is not that which will fund party activities with State resources “. And he went further to clarify: ” Anambra Money would be spent on Anambra people and not generating money from the poor for the rich to enjoy”. Here is a man talking with absolute confidence, as well as empathizing with the poor on how they are incessantly robbed and punished for the betterment of the few rich.

And for the reasons above and many more,   I still maintain that Osita Chidoka having paid his dues must be afforded the opportunity to make the expected difference.  It’s in him, let’s do the needful by giving him our total support for the rebirth of the State