By Chinedum Treasure
A leading candidate for the election of traditional ruler of Ndiowu community in Orumba North local government area of Anambra state, Sir Chief Chibuzo Okeke (Omere ora na Orumba North) has explained reasons behind his decision to contest for the position.
Okeke, a successful businessman of over 40 years experience said his passion for the growth and development of the community was another major driving force to his decision to run.
He said he would also bring his character, pedigree and experience which could be attested by majority in the community to bear if given the opportunity to lead the community.
Okeke listed numerous developmental projects he had carried out in the community to include provision of solar system, scholarships for about 47 students, sponsorship of different skills acquisition for the youths and reviving of health centers, among others.
He said: “I’m based in US till last year. My wife and I are retired and have relocated home to contribute our own quota for the development of our town. I grew up in this community during the war. I experienced Ndiowu when she was at peace, no issues at all.
“The last Eze, Chief Okeke before the most recent one was my grandfather in the 1900s. There was no Chief in this community till 1976 when Chief Onwubiko was selected. Unfortunately we lost about 11years ago.
“Since then, there had been no Chief in the community. It’s been a challenge for the community getting a Chief. I never thought of this, but I was invited by a number of people, including those in the US and Nigeria who requested I should run.
“Reason is simple. They know me and can attest to my character and pedigree. We’re the founding members of Ndiowu in North America which had grown today to be a formidable force recognized by US government.
“I was the President for over 15 years. Although I lived in US, I hardly fail to visit home every two years to get involved in my community development in different forms. I participate in whatever my people are doing. I’ve never been involved in any form of politics in my life. This is the very first time I’m getting involved.
“Things have gone wrong in this community for too long. Lots of good people have gotten so tired and seem to wash their hands. But I’ve taken time to talk to a good number of them. If you wash your hands, who else will fix it? It’s our duty to make the community to be a better place for everyone, not a select few.
“I’m a retired businessman in the US, but my business continues to run. I want to use my talents and skills to see what I can do to push Ndiowu forward.
“But there’s this group of cartel or cabal in the community that believes they own the structure that should own the community. This group sees my candidacy as a challenge to that structure.
“This group controls a good number of women groups. The so-called protest that trended on social media was stage-managed. The video was just a section. There was also a section showing those insisting the election must hold which was not captured in the video.
“These cabals just want things remain the same way. They’ve done everything possible to forestall and thwart my candidacy and the election itself. They also tried to disenfranchise me, doing everything to ensure I didn’t participate in the election bearing mind that the incumbent PG was instrumental to my joining the contest.
“They’ve informed the screening committee to screen all five candidates. Surprisingly to them, I came top and they didn’t know what to do. Hence they came up with schemes targeted at disqualify me.
“I thank the Soludo-led administration, Commissioner for chieftaincy matters and others who have taken time to see what is going on in the community.
“They appealed to stakeholders, including the contestants to give peace a chance. There has been court cases. They’ve also appealed for the controversial constitution to be set aside and allow the State get involved in the election for a lasting constitution to be produced. These agreements were reached at the Commissioner’s office.
“The PG was advised to go home and announce this decision. But since then, he didn’t call the community to notify them about the election until last Saturday.
“Instead, he organized a mob action where they controlled who spoke. They did a mess of the whole process and send the video to certain government officials showing the people didn’t want the election to hold, which is not true.
“We want to change the narrative. We want to tear down those structures tying to hold our people down and enslave them in modern day world. That’s what my candidacy stands for.
“It’s time Ndiowu gets an Eze that will take care of their interests which I’m prepared to do. We’ve done quite a number of things in the community. We’ve provided solar system, we’ve provided scholarships for about 47 students in the area.
“We’ve sponsored different skills acquisition for the youths, we’ve restored the effectiveness of our health centers under the umbrella of Ndiowu North America.
“By this year, we’ll have all the 3 health centers functioning. There’s hardly any community with security apparatus that’s better shaped than the one in our community. They have over 20 communication gadgets, with video cameras at virtually all entrances. They’ve also been provided with guns.”
Okeke appealed to aggrieved persons to sheath their swords and join hands with him to move the community forward, pledging to run an open door policy if, elected.
“No clique should think they own the community; the community is for everyone. There’s no slave, no owner. I’ve pledged to be the Eze for everyone, not a few, if elected or selected. Whatever support we get from the state, I can guarantee you that it will be used for the general interest of our people. God has blessed me and my wife. My kids are doing well. We just want to return home and see what we can do to fix the community.
“Yes, nothing good comes easy. Difficult things are meant to be tackled by people. Even though I’ve lived in the US for over 40years, yet I never lost my hold in the community. I’ve been coming home for the past 30years, contributing to the welfare of average person in the community. People know me, though not noisy with flamboyant character. But my work is visible in my village, community and church.
“If you may recall, Barack Obama was not given a chance, he had very limited experience in politics. But he ran twice and won twice and still considered one of the best president America has ever produced.
“I’m a successful businessman, with more than 90 staff working under me. I’m prepared to navigate, with lot of good people willing to return and get involved in fixing the community, a community everyone will be happy about.
“I have an open door policy. No one should discriminate against another. Everyone has same opportunity and should be given free hand to operate. I want them to know that I’m not a threat to the structures that be. We are brothers and sisters and should remain as such. This is not a large community, each person is related to each other in one way or another.
“I’m not in support of anyone disenfranchising anyone. My goal as a stakeholder is to have opportunity to put this community together. This divisional structure put in place is just to keep the cabals in power, who, unfortunately see my candidacy as a threat.
“I appeal to all to join hands with me to move Ndiowu forward. We’ll be launching a foundation in the coming week with the aim of assisting our people. We intend doubling the current 47 persons in our scholarships under the foundation. We’re targeting at least 100 students. No child desirous of attaining tertiary education should be denied such opportunity because of lack of resources,” he added.
