By KENNEDY EWEAMA
(08035529265)
Let us talk, or rather, discuss.
What is the subject matter for our discussion? The answer is simple. It is the dust being raised again and again in Imo State about the Imo Charter of Equity since it was ratified.
I carefully chose the word “ratified ” for unambiguous reasons, which I will explicate as we discuss. Imo is a State blessed with intellectuals and cerebral critics in particular. Often, issues are deliberately thrown up to test the waters and probably elicit reactions for reasons best known to those stirring up the honest’s nest.
In the instant case, Chief Mike Nwachukwu is the stirrer. Please, don’t get me wrong for using the word “stirrer.” Don’t mind the dictionary or denotative attribution to that word, rather appraise it from the prism of its associated notional meaning or grammatical concord which looks beyond the denotative meaning of an English word .
Chief Mike Nwachukwu, whom I would prefer calling “Dee Mike” because in Igbo cultural worldview, we respect our elders, is an intellectual warehouse. He is very prolific with the biro(pen)and also in the use of words. He is a beautiful writer.
Dee Mike stirred up the political dust hovering over Imo State presently when he touched on the sensitive issue of Imo Charter of Equity from a pessimistic point of view. Yes,Dee Mike doubted the workability of the Charter. To Dee Mike, this notion was Quod Erat Demonstrandum (Q.E.D).
He was hypersuggestive that its realization would be a tall,illusory, and elusive dream. He sounded more like Samuel Beckett in his book, “Waiting For Godot.”
Beckett was a famous atheist Irish author from Foxrock County, Dublin. In his classic absurdist book, “Waiting For Godot” written in 1953,Beckett satirized the Christian faith by mocking their belief that Jesus Christ is coming again for a second time.
In the book, he mocked the anticipated second coming of Jesus Christ as recorded in the four gospels namely,Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. According to Beckett, since the four gospels were written, the Christians have been waiting for Jesus Christ endlessly, but he has never showed up and “will never come.”
With due respect, Beckett’s philosophy in “Waiting For Godot,” can aptly be likened to Dee Mike’s pessimism on the workability of Imo Charter of Equity. Don’t get me wrong ooooh! I am particularizing on Dee Mike because he is the protagonist in the pessimistic ideology being discussed herein. Dee Mike could as well have been speaking the minds of some people who are still behind the facade. He could also have spoken up out of genuine concerns based on personal perceptions as clearly expressed in his article.
Whichever was the motive,and without discarding the sentiments and issues raised in Dee Mike’s look-alike of the Senegalese feminist author,Mariama Ba’s novel, “So Long A Letter,” the fact remains that the Charter has come to be. Imo must be placed on the path of socioeconomic and lasting political road map, which Governor Hope Uzodinma has assured Imo people. So far,the governor has not shown any inkling of reneging on his words and promises he made before God and Imo people that he will do anything within his powers,and ensure that letters and spirit of the Imo Charter of Equity are implememted maximally.
Pessimism is bad. It kills initiatives, retards progress, breeds despondency and melancholy. My late father had always told me that “failure is not a crime, but low aim is.” In other words, “if you don’t plan to succeed, you have already planned to fail.”
I am only trying to advise those, who may erroneously be harbouring the feeling or fear that the Charter will be truncated as was the case in the past, to jettison such delibitating and unprogressive thoughts because “where there is a will,there is always a way.” And,as Americans usually say, ” yes, we can.”
Yours truly witnessed all the processes that gave birth to the Imo Charter of Equity, whilst I was the Chief Press Secretary of the Imo State Council of Elders. From the Charter’s unanimous adoption by the Council members to its presentation to Governor Hope Uzodinma and finally, to God Almighty for its sustainability in an interdenominational church service at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square .The governor and Imo people were there, and the message in unison was that the Charter must stand as it is the only sure path to equity,fairness and justice in Imo State. That was why I used the word “ratified ” earlier in my introductory paragraph.
Can man mock or fight God? We must be careful when dealing with things that have the seal or imprimatur of Almighty God. God is not man to be deceived or play politics with.
As Dee Mike alluded in his beautiful piece, desperate politicians and power mongers, who feel or know that the Charter may in the interim,not favour them,are already struggling to renavigate the laudable intent and direction of the Charter. But fear not, it will end as mere wishful thinking for such persons Late literary icon and the epicentre of African prose literature, Prof Chinua Achebe did say in his book “Arrow of God”, that “no matter how many flies that may hover over a mould of cassava, they cannot move it.” Those are words of wisdom. Nobody can truncate Imo Charter of Equity.
Besides,Governor Hope Uzodinma is a man of his words. Apart from Almighty God, he substantially holds the four aces in the diligent implementation of Imo Charter of Equity. Doubt him at your own peril. Evidences abound to buttress my assertions here. I hope I am lucidly communicating?
The tested and proven communication,and political feedbacks from the governor in his approach to governance and political issues are top-notch. Usually reticent and never loquacious, but very piercing and swift like the Chettah, the fastest animal in the world, Governor Uzodinma is known for getting excellent results and things done,and done rightly, too. I say no more on that for now.
Finally, I advise that the hullabaloo about Imo Charter of Equity is unnecessary at this time and should cease forthwith. It may inadvertently be constituting an unwanted distraction to the incumbent administration.
The Charter has come to. The earlier the doubting Thomases realize this and cue into its vision and mission, the better it will be for Imo State.
May God bless all of us.