By Emeka Alex Duru
Days to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives primary, aspirants in the various constituencies all over the country, are literally on heat.
While current members of the House seeking re-election have been rendering account of their stewardship and asking for another term, those seeking to take over from them, are also not relenting.
Some of the fresh aspirants are anchoring their case on the need to inject new ideas on the system and to ensure equity and fairness in carrying along the constituting units of the constituencies.
In Orlu, Orsu, Oru East Federal Constituency, Imo State, these are the dominant issues as the aspirants file out for the exercise.
In the last eight years, Jerry Alagbaoso, a retired Customs Officer, who is of the Orsu/Oru East (Orsu) flank, has been representing the Constituency. Seen by many as having had his time in the chamber with measured attainments, there have been demands for a fresh hand and the need to carry along the Isu (Orlu) axis of the constituency, in the spirit of the prevailing equity and understanding.
This is where the Chidi Henry Nwuke factor comes in. Nwuke, a lawyer of 31 years and President General of his native Umuowa Progressive Union for12 consecutive years, had been under pressure from various quarters to enter the race.
It therefore did not come as a surprise to many that his eventual public declaration which took place at Technical Secondary School, Umuowa in Orlu, attracted prominent sons and daughters of the constituency.
Among those in attendance were Honourable Mrs. Oyibo Nwaneri – a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly and co-aspirant for the Federal House position.
Others were Dr. Vincent Udokwu – former Chief of Staff to former Imo governor, Achike Udenwa, Athan Ogoh, Aloy Igwe and other chieftains of the party in the state.
For Nwuke, the essence of the occasion went beyond the carnival outlook that trailed it. It was rather, for him, a call to duty and a covenant of sort, with the people.
This, he underlined in his speech when he stressed that he is motivated to contest because he is touched by the suffering of the people in the midst of plenty and wants to make a difference.
For a constituency that cannot be said to have enjoyed quality representation at state and federal levels since the onset of the current dispensation, the remarks by Nwuke, call for reflection.
Orlu, for the records, has a reputation that predates Nigeria’s independence. But the dwindling profile of federal presence in the Constituency, with succeeding administration, calls for deeper introspection on the quality of representatives the people had had in the past and those they need in the run-up to 2019.
This is particularly a major consideration for PDP if it intends to put up a good showing against the rejuvenated All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Constituency and the State at large.
There is also the aspect of equity and fairness in the aspiration by Nwuke. His side of Orlu, generally referred to as Isu by their Orsu (Orsu/Oru East) brothers, insist that it is their turn, based on existing gentleman’s agreement, to go for the seat this time around.
He had once remarked, “Jerry Alagboso has done his best; I want to start from where he stopped and consolidate. Besides, it is now the turn of the Isu Clan of Orlu where I come from and we need somebody, who, aside being passionate about the welfare and well-being of the people, is also mentally alert, intellectually equipped and consummately in tune with the present political and social dynamics. I believe, I am amply qualified for the job”.
Even with these established facts, Nwuke does not see himself as a candidate merely for the Isu sub clan but one seeking to provide quality representation for the entire Constituency.
“I know that I cannot be there with the votes of Orlu people alone. We need the votes of Orsu and Oru East. With unity of purpose, courage and dedication, we will make it in the overall interest of our people”, he said. Not even his opponents have faulted him on this.
If anything rather, he is known to possess, in addition, a pedigree that is anchored on transparency and community service. This summed the remarks by the leader of the PDP in Oru East LGA, and former leader of Oru East legislative council, Dr. Ukachukwu Erisim, when Nwuke visited the area in course of his consultation with the party’s stakeholders in the constituency.
Erisim pointedly described Nwuke as a good and credible person who will no doubt, make the desired difference the Constituency needs now. “He is articulate, honest, plain and straight forward. I will use my contacts to reach out to the delegates and ensure he wins the primary and the real election, come 2019”, he stated.
Professional colleagues and old schoolmates, equally attest to the high level of trust and reliability which the aspirant commands. Pius Udeze, who has known him since their secondary school days in Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu in the 1980s, spoke glowingly on his aspiration, emphasising that with “Nwuke in the House of Representatives, Orlu will surely be in the process of recovering from its losses in the past. He is a good and reliable fellow”.
In his Umuowa Community, the performance profile of the aspirant, equally speaks volume. This newspaper, for example, gathered that as President-General of the Town, Nwuke facilitated the construction of a hospital of international standard, engaged in rural electricity, facilitated job creation and helped the people in financing their small and medium scale businesses. His administration is also said to have rebuilt and transformed the local Eke Umuowa and Afor Ujah markets into well-equipped modern markets, among other developmental projects.
Apparently looking for an opportunity to do more, he told our reporter, “I assure you that if elected as your representative, I will replicate same for the good of all people”, adding, “Top on my agenda is to effectively attract federal presence in the constituency”.
Though seen by a wide section of the constituency as having the carriage and character for the office, Nwuke is aware of possible distractions on the decision making processes by the delegates, if not adequately managed. He has, thus, taken it upon himself to lecture the people on the need for them to listen to their conscience, knowing that their actions at the primary, may have significant effects on the life of the people in the years after.
He has particularly asked them to look beyond the money factor in making their choice at the primary, stressing that what counts is the quality of representation the constituency gets after the exercise.
In a candid advisory note, Nwuke charged the delegates to “be conscious of the future of our children and youths, the suffering, hardship, sorrow and agony presently pervading the land as a result of bad governance. Temptations will come and there will be offers but please find out the background of all aspirants before choosing, to avoid mortgaging the next four years because of peanuts”.
He also assures the people that if elected, he will not be swallowed in the crowd because he has what it takes to stand out.
For a people that have borne the brunt of low quality representation all the while, nothing could be more apt, concerned analysts note.
Barrister Chidi Henry Nwuke, attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka, among other institutions. He is married and blessed with children.
