By Charles Okogene
Chikezie, picture taken in September 2016 in his office as agric commissioner
PHOTO: Goddy Umukoro
As the euphoria of the celebration of the 90 days in office of the present democratic regime iapproaches, this is to congratulate Nigeria electorate, politicians and state actors that in one or the other, helped in nurturing the present democratic regime thus far.
The kudos most sincerely also go to the people of Delta State for finding Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, the first Anioma son, worthy of governing the state and also to the people of Aniocha South State Constituency, for electing Honourable Austin Chikezie as their representative at the state house of assembly.
All that said, this writer wants to also use this medium to remind Chikezie of where he is coming from and the huge task before him as the second son of Nsukwa area in recent history to be so blessed.
Second son of Nsukwa area in the sense that the last time such opportunity came the way of the area was in the second republic when the late Chief Van Nwoko, who incidentally was an Nsukwa man, was given such privilege on the platform of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo led Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Since then such opportunity to represent the constituency by an Nsukwa area man or woman has, all through the years eluded us.
So it was with great pleasure that all sons and daughters of the area welcomed the election of Chikezie, which was made possible partly by the ‘EQUITY’ policy of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. A policy that was introduced into the state’s political lexicon by the former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, and, which has been sustained thereafter for a peaceful governance of the multi ethnic state like Delta by political stakeholders from PDP in the state .
However, Chikezie’s victory cannot be said to have been come on a platter of gold. No; no political power is gotten free of charge. Power, some say, is not given freely, lt is forcefully taken and that of Chikezie cannot be said to be an exception. He risked everything including his ‘juicy’ political appointment as the state agriculture commissioner and threw his cap in the elective political ring to challenge the then incumbent representative, Hon. Angela Nwaka whose intimating war chest in all ramifications, including the fact that she hails from Ogwashi Uku, the headquartres of the constituency and perhaps one of the most populous towns, was second to non.
Chikezie damned all it and emerged victorious first at the PDP primary and at the general elections. Once again congratulations honourable!
And now that he has power and like a popular hit song by Macfaden and Whitehead said, “now that we have love, what are we gonna do with it?” The question is, what is Chikezies gonna do with it now that he has power?
This question becomes pertinent because, the area he represents is perhaps one of the least developed area of the state. Some of the towns there has not seen any government presence, until now that Okowa has come to the scene; towns like Ogwashi Uku, last saw a resemblance of government presence in form of good roads, rural electrification board et al when one of its sons, the late Dr. Issac Okonjo, was the secretary to the now balkanised Midwest State with the late Samuel Ogbemudia as military governor. Since then, development in the area has been arrested.
So it is hoped that Chikezie whom many of his lousy opponents have described as an ‘establishment’ man and who will not rock the boat, because he is one of them, will prove his critics wrong by shaking the tables in the house so its echo can be heard at the executive arm of government to attracted the much needed development for the area.
It will amount to understatement if this writer says that the area lacks social amenities that the state ought to provide. While he is not holding the present Okowa’s government accountable for the rot, it is equally not out of place if the government of Okowa, begins to provide things like good roads, well equipped and staffed hospitals, primary, secondary schools, rural electricity, pipe borne water. That is where Chikezie, who has been branded an ‘establishment’ man ought to use that privilege of coming from the executive to get things done for his area.
