THE SYNERGY AND STRATEGY THAT IS NEEDED FOR US TO ENTHRONE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN ANAMBRA STATE AS THE FORTHCOMING GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION NEARS.

THE SYNERGY AND STRATEGY THAT IS NEEDED FOR US TO ENTHRONE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN ANAMBRA STATE AS THE FORTHCOMING GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION NEARS.

In today's world, the concept of leadership confronts enormous challenges, opportunity and possibilities. It's appropriate to understand that leadership as a concept is vital to organizations, and societies. It harnesses, combines and manages men and resources to achieve specified goals  

Ever since Senator Uche Ekwunife made known her intention to contest for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state,  there have been torrents of positive reactions trailing her declaration from within and outside the state. In fact, all the media outlets viz, the electronic, print and social media have become awash with messages of solidarity as well as a glowing testimonies to an astute leadership guru and honourable politician whose services to humanity through the political offices she had occupied in the past and currently occupies, speaks eloquently of her rare personality. The rapturous ovation which her declaration had generated is well in tune with an Igbo adage which says that "when a big masquerade steps into the arena, the ambience goes agog". 

It's as clear as the day that Senator Uche Ekwunife has long assumed the status of a political gladiator who need no introduction in Anambra politics. This is so because an average Anambrarians have grown to possess an idea of what good governance entails which they can always loosely encapsulate within the concept of provision of good road networks, safe water supply, good security architecture, and creation of job opportunities. 

The treacherous attitude of some of our political elites and their failure to serve the interests of the masses with their political offices have helped in no small measure in increasing our appreciation of good governance. This explains the reason our people never hesitate to identify  with whoever that totally offers him/herself to the service of the people just like we are currently witnessing in the case of Senator Uche Ekwunife.

It's quite unfortunate that over the years the Nigerian political landscape has been populated with some bad elements whose rascality in the corridors of power seem to promote the erroneous impression that politics is a dirty game while it is not the politics that is bad rather it's some of the people who are elected to political offices. We live in a society where persons who are elected to political offices believe and behave as if the citizens are their servants and they are the master. 

Compounding this is that these politicians are not psychologically prepared to accept that ours is a country governed by the principle of representative democracy which in itself requires a level of accountability. Ignoring this fundamental principle is to ignore that the people of Anambra state have evaluated and appraised the performance of the present Government in the state and found it to be extremely wanting in many aspects.

From Awka to Onitsha, and from Nnewi to Ekwulobia, what the good people of Anambra state is clamouring for is a political leadership that is prepared to respect the people, respond to their needs and desires and deliver within the constitution and laws of the land, buttressed by civil conducts. That is why Iyom's declaration had come at the right time because Anambra state is in dire need of redemption from the crass inefficiency and the maladministration of the present government in the state which have run the state aground, leaving it stuck in the mire of retardation and retrogression in the past six years. What a pity! 

However, for us to be able to actualize our desire to have the right leadership in Anambra state we need to get our acts together as a people. One half of knowing What you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.

First and foremost, leadership of PDP both at the federal and in the state should arise above any sentiment that is overtly or covertly biased against female gender especially during their primary election. A level playing ground should be extended to all the eligible contestants while ensuring there is eternal democracy within every strata of the party.

Then we the good people of Anambra state are expected to shun the tendencies of allowing ourselves to be bought over by  corrupt politicians who have no intention to better our lots. We should maintain the robust support which we have been giving to our amiable and indefatigable queen mother, daughter and inimitable archiver Senator, Uche Ekwunife both now and on the dey of election of election. 

Like Eleanor Roosevelt had once stated: "One thing I believe profoundly, we make our history. The course of history is directed by choices we make and our choices grow out of the ideas, the beliefs, the values, and the dreams of the people.

Chris Umeokafor (Nnanyelugo) writes from Aguata