Breaking Stereotypes In Politics!

MAZI EJIMOFOR OPARA 

The Business class are not all illiterates, neither are the intelligentsia all poor-minded or poverty-stricken. To objectively assess leaders, we should evaluate individuals based on their track record of performance and strength of character.

As a budding member of the intelligentsia, I recognized early on that a Soludo success as Governor would be in the best interest of my class. Of course i know there are people waiting for a “Professor” to fail, so they can justify their thesis that people from such human estate have no place in circular politics. There is a common misconception that the intelligentsia are usually not good politicians, or that they’re more theoretical than practical. This is where you hear remarks like “Ndi a na su soso oyibo” (those who are only good at speaking good English with no matching will to execute any plan).

However, Soludo’s proven track record and activist background make him an exception. He’s not new to politics, having led the Ekwueme Students Movement in 1983 and campaigned for Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Shehu Shagari in the second republic. Man is an OG!

His “trust but verify” maxim helps him to be ethnomethodical in all he does, staying abreast of issues even when they are unexpected. A Soludo would always focus on the things not done, something most career politicians would take for granted. Whoever thinks Soludo is unfamiliar with the strength of his political foes must indeed have underrated him. November 8 will surely be interesting, and the Soludo I know will fight hard.

As someone who has witnessed Soludo’s journey, I’m confident that his performance and character will speak for themselves. He is not only changing stereotypes, he has set the tone for a renewed hope that “a Professor can profess well” even in politics and public service.

– Mazi Ejimofor Opara PhD writes from Awka, Anambra State.