by Chiadikobi Obiora
“I will support all the bills that will encourage youth development, attract projects that will help develop my zone, encourage human development, as well as fight injustice and corruption at all levels.” – Victor Umeh
The above humble and sincere quote attributed to Chief Victor Umeh (Ohamadike), represents one man?s desire to answer the call of his people in giving them a voice-a voice that is much needed to contribute to the debate and upliftment of the lot of the people of Anambra Central senatorial zone and Ndi Igbo in general. Nothing gladdens the heart more than to see Chief Umeh stepping forward to answer the clarion call to go to the Senate and be the voice of the voiceless and the down-trodden.
Democracy is a participatory style of governance, and being mindful of the fact that not every human person could be directly involved in the affairs of the State, allows for time-tested and noble individuals to be elected to represent their people in parliament. In Nigeria, this participatory style of government is at the core of our national life; we, the people are allowed to choose and elect our representatives who are mandated to help bring development to the grassroots.
Unfortunately, Anambra state and the entire Igbo nation has continued to witness a rather depressing situation where the people are often times not allowed to elect individuals of their choice. Capricious and callous ?king-makers? have been known to impose minions and humans of questionable characters on the people: men and women whose major interest in politics is helplessly to line their pockets at the detriment of the general welfare of the people. It is a very shameful and nauseating situation.
The call by the larger society and by extension the principle of equity to allow the people to choose representatives of their choice seems to be yielding fruits with the emergence of Chief Victor Umeh in the political arena of Anambra state. A man who ordinarily would have taken the comfortable route of sailing the ship of his private enterprise has humbly agreed to the call of his people to embark on a rescue mission.
Chief Umeh needs no introduction. This is a man that could be said without fear of contradiction continues to be very passionate and vocal on the need to develop the Igbo nation. With the massive support of the late icon, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Chief Victor Umeh was able to transform the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA into the darling party of Ndi Igbo. The numerous successes being claimed by the immediate past governor of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi would not have been made possible without the diligent guidance and support of Ohamadike.
Chief Umeh at a very huge risk to his person rose to the occasion when APGA was being systematically turned into a pawn in the political jungle of Nigeria. Commendably, and true to his calling as a very sincere Igbo person, Victor Umeh was able to wrestle APGA from the hands of political jobbers and buccaneers-people of shady and dodgy mind-set whose major attraction was to sell the only viable Igbo party that represented the identity of Ndi Igbo to those that believe in suppressing the ingenuity of Ndi Igbo!
In time past, the entire South East and Anambra central senatorial zone witnessed a very lacklustre representation from those sent to Abuja on their behalf. Not a single project that could put a smile on the numerous sad faces of the people was attracted to the zone. All we saw was a situation whereby the peoples? representatives only remembered them during election time. It was at such time that a Senator boasted that he built ?VIP toilets? in a particular secondary school-much to the chagrin of the people! How laughable!
The emergence of Chief Victor Umeh into the political scenario is already causing some people sleepless nights: people who have been benefiting immensely from the rot. The thinking in the camps of these political scoundrels is that Chief Umeh being in the senate will expose their ineptitude, and send them into a much deserved political wilderness.
It is very pertinent to note that Chief Umeh?s popularity stems from the fact that he is passionately committed to the betterment of the Igbo nation. His antecedents portrays him as a man whose presence in the hallowed chambers of the senate would be a brilliant plus for the entire Igbo land, and Anambra central senatorial zone in particular.
As earlier pointed out, those who are jittery over Chief Umeh?s emergence as a senatorial candidate are those who are very notorious for remembering voters only during election period-with rice and a few Naira notes.
We want quality representation, we want only people who are passionate about bringing the benefits of democracy to their people, and we want articulate individuals who will see brining the dividends of democracy to Ndi Igbo as a divine call to duty. A vote for Chief Victor Umeh will be a vote for change-change for the better, change for bringing government closer to the people.
This is the time to go to work. This is a golden opportunity to rescue Igbo land from the hands of men and women of dodgy disposition! We cannot afford to continue with the old ways, we need a voice to speak for us and bring development to our land. We need Ohamadike, Chief Victor Umeh!
