The saying that leaders are born and not made is becoming so true considering the laxity, highhandedness and abysmal performance of Southeast politicians and their inability to protect the interest of the zone when the need arises.
The above saying, has propelled debates among political observers from the Southeast over the kind of leaders the zone boasts of with majority submitting that the zone lacks credible politicians that are ready to die while defending the zone as obtains in the West or Northern part of the country.
Another group said lack of credible politicians has encouraged mediocrity in the zone as well as produced corrupt politicians who when insulted overlook in order to continue amassing wealth for themselves and that of their generations unborn.
How can one claim to be a leader when he/she neither has the interest of his people at heart nor defend the interest of the zone when issues that affect them is raised? Or when they are talked down on, branded irresponsible, called all sorts of names because of what they believe in, yet a representative ignores. Instead of being their voice, they align themselves with those doing the branding simply because they are corrupt and feel insecure else DSS, EFCC or ICPC be unleashed and let loose on them.
Regrettably, they run to their constituents whom they see as good people when it comes to election, entice them with gifts, money among other kinds of stomach infrastructure in times of electioneering campaigns, but once they are voted in, they turn their backs and deprive them of all incentives.
Due to the gullible nature of our politicians in the Southeast, they are insulted by the man at the center yet they continue to hobnob with him, while also laughing over such insults that should have angered and forced them to get their houses in order.
I recall the position of Uzuegbu Ifeanyi, a Public Affairs Analyst during an interaction as to why Southeast politicians, governors, leaders of thoughts and representatives in the National Assembly cannot speak up for the zone. He simply said “it is because their hands are soiled, they want to continue their looting spree; they are afraid that if they should defend the zone, the man at the centre will send institutions that fight corruption after them and it means game over for them,” he said.
What annoys me and indeed majority of people from the Southeast geo-political zone, is the fact that the talk down on the zone by powers that be is even refuted by people outside the Southeast geo-political zone, example Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose, Former Minister of Aviation during Ex President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Fani Kayode , Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike among others leaving many South Easterners with the question, what is the essence of having representatives from the Southeast in the National Assembly and even Governors?
Until a new wave of politicians whose hands have not been soiled emerge from the Southeast, the zone will continue to be relegated to the background due to the activities of charlatans that sell the zone for a pot of soup and who care about their positions rather than protecting the zone as well as being image makers.
May God raise fearless, astute, brave politicians for the Southeast zone and not bread and butter or gullible politicians while we pray thee also to cancel the notion of “HE WHO IS HOLDING THE PALM LEAF IS WHO THE GOAT FOLLOWS” that has remained in the minds of electorates.
Long Live Southeast zone, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
*IZUCHUKWU is a public affairs analyst and writes in from Abia state.
