An encounter with President of Nzuko Imeobi, the apex political, socio-cultural organisation of Idemili North and South councils of Anambra State, Edwin Ofili Ekwuno, paints a picture of a leader that is unhappy with politicians who merely pay lip service to the development and entrenchment of democratic ethos at the grassroots. He also tells Editor, Politics/Features, Emeka Alex Duru, how his organisation has worked to ensure equity, balance and justice in the politics of Anambra Central.
Willie Obiano
According to him, in the run up to the 2014 governorship election in the state, his group ensured that there was a level-playing field in its constituency. Part of the strategies by the group, was meeting with the serious contenders and extracting promises from them, based on the needs of the people. The group, he went on, ensured fairness, equity and fair play in the exercise by sticking to established principles by way of monitoring the exercise, adding that it was in keeping faith with the agenda that Idemili North and South recorded the highest number of cancelled votes during the election.
Would that engagement not give out Nzuko Imeobi as being partisan? TheNiche asked. Ekwuno went philosophical: “If having an interest in the political affairs of the community, working out modalities that will ensure that the people get quality leadership that will lead to the improvement of their welfare means being partisan, then we are partisan.”
Nzuko Imeobi, he however said, is an umbrella organisation where stakeholders and traditional rulers with a shared vision assemble.
“The vision is to be a proactive association speaking with one voice for the development of Idemili North and South councils and beyond. The aim of the organisation is to strengthen communal unity and equity through mobilisation of the grassroots. One of the political objectives is to ensure that quality and credible persons are presented to the electorate in any electoral contest in accordance with stated criteria for contesting elective offices,” he said.
The association, he added, had in the past welcomed political parties and individuals from across the state, especially in Anambra Central, seeking elective political offices, and had in the process supported those it found worthy. However, in the build-up to the 2015 election, the strategy by Nzuko Imeobi is to recognise and persuade some identified people who have excelled in different areas of endeavour by asking them to come forward and run for political office. “We would rather support someone identified and chosen by the stakeholders rather than waiting for people to come to us.”
The idea is not for the association to sponsor candidates, but an attempt at looking forward to a new kind of people to emerge in the National Assembly polls in Anambra Central. The underlying philosophy is to go back to the old days where the people picked their own person and not just people jumping into the fray and getting the people behind them.
In that regard, Nzuko Imeobi, TheNiche learnt, is currently scrutinising identified aspirants across political parties, and will, at appropriate time, make its findings public.
The new approach, Ekwuno said, is informed by incidences of neglect that the electorate at the grassroots had suffered from elected officials.
“We think the grassroots are rural people who are remembered only during elections,” he lamented.
For him, time has come for people at the grassroots to hold elected politicians accountable, adding that every unit of the society should be recognised as part of the political structure.
Is there any arrangement in place in Anambra Central regarding zoning, and how would the association ensure the emergence of leaders in 2015? Ekwuno acknowledged that zoning has its advantages and drawbacks, but for the sake of fairness and giving people a sense of belonging, his organisation supports it.
Said he: “Fairness and equity are parts of the objectives of the Imeobi. In our meetings, we agreed that fairness can be further advanced in the manner we approach the issue of zoning or rotation of power. But we also agreed that zoning obviously is better realised when all parties involved come together to talk about it and work out the modalities. An effective zoning formula is where the power-sharing charter is agreed upon and respected.”
He stressed that if people had respected the political interests of others or if a proper zoning formula had been in place, there would not be campaign for power rotation, adding that agitation for zoning comes from the fact that leaders have not been fair in their dealings with the grassroots or with some level of people who have desired to lead the people.
Aside the factor of zoning, the concern of the group is to use the same standards it had always used in the belief that the Anambra people, especially those in the Central, would recognise what is good for them.
His words: “The criterion for public officers is outlined in our charter. It is quite elaborate. But, essentially, we expect people with competence, people who will bring inclusive leadership and give everyone a sense of belonging. We want people who recognise the people at the grassroots as the bedrock of our democracy and, most importantly, we want people the people can trust. We have suffered enough from the betrayal of past leaders.”
Ekwuno insisted that activities of Imeobi are not self-serving and not aimed at seeking political relevance, but towards sensitising the Idemili electorate not to misuse their vote but to ensure that whoever gets their votes will eventually recognise and serve them.
According to the graduate of Accountancy and former staff of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, no candidate can win a senatorial seat in Anambra Central without the votes of Idemili North and South electorate.
Imeobi, he said, does not intend to intimidate or blackmail other councils in the state, given that each senatorial district in Anambra has seven councils. It does also not intend to play the role of a political party, but seeks to exert positive influence on the way political activities are carried out. “Incidentally, our members are in various political parties, but our desire to improve our collective backyard is far more pressing than our individual pursuits,” he stated.