2023 Owerri Senate: Onyeagucha And The Reality Of “Ekugowa Ulo, Achowa Ndi Ogologo”

PRINCE MACDONALD ENWERE

Since after the release of the one-minute video of the magniloquent declaration of Hon Uche Onyeagucha to run for Owerri Senate seat, the state’s political firmament is now wearing the proscenium of approximated propinquity. The blue atmosphere has been electrified  while the political upper region is witnessing an implicit percussion. The heat generated has become ubiquitous while some people are already catching cold under intense heat.

Onyeagucha’s declaration is akin to the proverbial saying that “when a Tiger enters a jungle the Antelope takes to its heel (Agu Bata Ohia, Mgbada awara Oso). 

Indeed, with Onyeagucha’s declaration, Ndigbo ‘own don beta’

‘Imo own don beta’, ‘Owerri zone own don beta’, infact ‘our own don beta’. 

Politics aside, Onyeagucha’s ambition is spiritually symbolic which has a pact with divinity. This is not politics as usual, neither is it a rhetoric. 

His ambition is predicted on the need to entrench a new political order and to build a Nigerian society where politics will no more diminish harmony for humanity or promote whims of hatred and fancies of anguish.

When I said that the ambition of Hon Uche Onyeagucha is spiritually symbolic, it is not sarcasm. History cannot forget when Nigeria was in a cross road, being strangulated by the jackboot of Babangida and Abacha’s military junta. Nature brought out Uche Onyeagucha and other Nigerians who sacrificed their lives campaigning against military regime for the enthronement of Democratic governance.  Onyeagucha led the campaign against military junta in Nigeria, staging several “we no go gree” protest and demonstrations in major streets of the country, UK, USA, South Africa and Ghana. He fought the military junta to standstill.  He was manhandled, tear-gassed and detained severally by the military. His sacrifice is why we are enjoying democracy today.  His rare courage and sublime audacity in the face of danger and death stood him out in the halls of human achievements as a hero of democracy. ” Ekugowa ulo, achowa Ndi ogologo”. The truth is that whenever nature steps Onyeagucha out for a fight, he fears no evil.   

It didn’t end there. In 2008, Niger Delta region was like a war zone. Niger Delta militants were bombing oil installations and kidnapping oil expatriates. There was uncontrollable tension all over the country; Nigeria was heading into a precipice and full blown anarchy as a result of the activities of the Niger Delta militants. According to statistics, in 2008, the country lost one million barrels of crude oil per day estimated to be about N8.7B. This followed a drastic reduction of daily crude oil production figure from 2.2 million barrel per day to an abysmal 700,000 barrel per day. This led to a revenue loss of about $40M per day in the country. Nigeria’s economy was in a total shamble. All production and construction companies in the  area like ; Julius Berger, Wilbros, Michelin pulled their workers out of the region while other multinational companies also left the country making Nigeria to lose billions of dollars.   The excruciating effect of this on the nation’s economy was so devastating and fatal.  At that critical point, Nigeria was seriously looking for someone to salvage the country. Nature finally brought out the same Uche Onyeagucha. President Musa Yaradua sent a presidential jet to pick him from his rustic community Obinze and brought him to Aso rock. “Ekugowa ulo, achowa Ndi ogologo” !  His intervention brought to an end the insurgency and militancy in the Niger Delta, leading to the Amnesty deal. This is the reason why Nigeria still remains intact today because “ekugowa ulo achowa Ndi ogologo”!

 Today, Nigeria is in another cross road.

 The country is dangling and wallowing on the threshold of secessionist agitations, economic constipation and social self adulation.  These challenges require the enormous contributions and practical involvement of lion-hearted leaders with mercurial courage and sublime audacity like Uche Onyeagucha who can face the camera at the floor of the red Chambers to propose and initiate policies that will transform Nigeria into a better society without minding whose ox is gored. The present condition of Nigeria don’t require lily-livered men or political contractors with rabble-rousing predisposition, rather men of integrity, honesty and sincerity of mind  to speak for Ndi Owerri zone, Ndi Imo and Ndigbo at large and take Nigeria out of this present cross road because “Ekugowa ulo, achowa Ndi ogologo”.

In several occasions when Nigeria was in a cross road, Onyeagucha has shown an esteemed commitment by working vigorously to minimize the resultant entropy in our sociopolitical system.  As someone whose life smacks of a man on a dynastic conquistadorial adventure, his goals are clear, his convictions are as sharp as the urgency of his mandate as the mouthpiece of the oppressed. This is the time when Owerri zone, Ndi Imo and Ndigbo need the likes of Uche Onyeagucha to speak for them because” Ekugowa ulo, achowa Ndi ogologo”