Some months back, I was invited to a dinner by an Imo professional body in Lagos, and to interact with the Honourable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha. The programme was meant to start at about 6pm, but he was delayed. Apparently, President Goodluck Jonathan was visiting Imo State that same day, and the Honourable himself as expected was part of those hosting him. He eventually came in at about 8pm. When he entered the gathering his interpersonal skills were on display, as he acquainted freely and easily with almost everyone in the gathering. He apologised for the delay and explained why. Then, he asked if we even knew that the President was visiting Imo and if we watched it live on television. The audience was speechless. One or two people mumbled something about watching their favourite English football club play as it was a Saturday. But he quipped that he too had his own favourite football club. That even when he travelled abroad, he would always find a pub to view his team play. But, that nothing comes between himself and the affairs of his state. He harped on the need for us to stop showing apathy towards governance. That it is when we show interest, and are part of the conversation on governance, can we have the moral rights to question our leaders.
According to Ihedioha, he does not have any other profession, but politics. He does not chase contracts. His is about consensus and bridge building. He showed devotion to his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and truly understands its dynamics. In this season of cross-carpeting, it is hard to picture him in another party. Well, I guess unless PDP loses its ideals.
Questions were asked, and he took his time to answer them. The meeting did not end until the early hours of the following day. Still, he was ready to go on and on. He showed no fatigue. But one thing he said that very day that struck a cord was his message and mission to "spread the wealth."
Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa, yet there is widespread poverty and inequality. Its wealth does not trickle down to the people who desperately need it. It is like a country the Nobel economics laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz described as “of the 1 percent, by the 1 percent, and for the 1 percent.”
Poverty and inequality lead to health and social problems. They are at the root of the insurgency and insecurity in the land. It is only when politicians make poverty reduction their top priority, among their many competing priorities, that it can be dealt with. The nation's wealth should not be for a select few. It is refreshing to see a politician espouse this. It is fitting that he chaired the Constitution Review Committee where it made a significant proposal to make certain socio-economic rights fundamental and enforceable and incorporating them into Chapter IV, the justiciable part of the Constitution, "the rights to education, right to favourable environment, right to free primary and maternal health care services, and the right to basic housing." But only good governance can ensure all this.
Noel Keough calls good governance "the gift that keeps on giving." The Economist called it "the secret weapon of Nordic success in the global economy." But the greatest threats to good governance according to the United Nations come from "corruption, violence and poverty, all of which undermine transparency, security, participation and fundamental freedoms." Electoral promises are broken and secret pacts are made. The people become cynical about their leaders.
Imo people and the Nigerian people in general yearn for good governance. They want equity, participation, transparency, and accountability. They want a land where no one shall be too poor, where no one shall have no work to do. A land filled with opportunities, not for the favoured few, a land where all may live in sufficiency and convenience.
Dr Cosmas Odoemena
Also in Daily Times December 16, 2014
Some months back, I was invited to a dinner by an Imo professional body in Lagos, and to interact with the Honourable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha. The programme was meant to start at about 6pm, but he was delayed. Apparently, President Goodluck Jonathan was visiting Imo State that same day, and the Honourable himself as expected was part of those hosting him. He eventually came in at about 8pm. When he entered the gathering his interpersonal skills were on display, as he acquainted freely and easily with almost everyone in the gathering. He apologised for the delay and explained why. Then, he asked if we even knew that the President was visiting Imo and if we watched it live on television. The audience was speechless. One or two people mumbled something about watching their favourite English football club play as it was a Saturday. But he quipped that he too had his own favourite football club. That even when he travelled abroad, he would always find a pub to view his team play. But, that nothing comes between himself and the affairs of his state. He harped on the need for us to stop showing apathy towards governance. That it is when we show interest, and are part of the conversation on governance, can we have the moral rights to question our leaders.
According to Ihedioha, he does not have any other profession, but politics. He does not chase contracts. His is about consensus and bridge building. He showed devotion to his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and truly understands its dynamics. In this season of cross-carpeting, it is hard to picture him in another party. Well, I guess unless PDP loses its ideals.
Questions were asked, and he took his time to answer them. The meeting did not end until the early hours of the following day. Still, he was ready to go on and on. He showed no fatigue. But one thing he said that very day that struck a cord was his message and mission to "spread the wealth."
Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa, yet there is widespread poverty and inequality. Its wealth does not trickle down to the people who desperately need it. It is like a country the Nobel economics laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz described as “of the 1 percent, by the 1 percent, and for the 1 percent.”
Poverty and inequality lead to health and social problems. They are at the root of the insurgency and insecurity in the land. It is only when politicians make poverty reduction their top priority, among their many competing priorities, that it can be dealt with. The nation's wealth should not be for a select few. It is refreshing to see a politician espouse this. It is fitting that he chaired the Constitution Review Committee where it made a significant proposal to make certain socio-economic rights fundamental and enforceable and incorporating them into Chapter IV, the justiciable part of the Constitution, "the rights to education, right to favourable environment, right to free primary and maternal health care services, and the right to basic housing." But only good governance can ensure all this.
Noel Keough calls good governance "the gift that keeps on giving." The Economist called it "the secret weapon of Nordic success in the global economy." But the greatest threats to good governance according to the United Nations come from "corruption, violence and poverty, all of which undermine transparency, security, participation and fundamental freedoms." Electoral promises are broken and secret pacts are made. The people become cynical about their leaders.
Imo people and the Nigerian people in general yearn for good governance. They want equity, participation, transparency, and accountability. They want a land where no one shall be too poor, where no one shall have no work to do. A land filled with opportunities, not for the favoured few, a land where all may live in sufficiency and convenience.
Dr Cosmas Odoemena
Also in Daily Times December 16, 2014
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