OPEN LETTER

Open Letter to Hon. Emeka Nwaofor

By Nwaorgu Faustinus

AUTHOR

Sir, permit me to use your widely read medium to reach Honourable Emeka Nwaofor who represents Ngor/Okpala Local Government Area in the Imo state House of Assembly.

Hon. Sir, about two months ago, I gathered from a reliable source that the governor, you as well as your Special Adviser one Mr.  Chukwuma were dismayed and unfortunately made unpleasant remarks over the attitude of a few of your constituents who accompanied the PDP to the Elections Petition Tribunal on the case filed against the victory of Governor Rochas Okorocha. I also gathered that Mr. Ambrose Obinna Egu is challenging the legality of your current position in the court of law based on your alleged non-payment of tax among other charges brought against you?

Though it is human to be angry, for such behaviour but if I may ask, how many of your constituents who supported, campaigned and voted for you during the last elections which ultimately stood you where you are today did you rally round for support before going to the court. Advice: do not alienate yourself from the grassroots – your constituents. Conversely it is in human nature to display solidarity for an ousted government one once benefited from or intends to benefit from in the event of reversal of fortune. This is the case with those supporting the PDP or your challenger.

If the purported uncomplimentary remarks made by the governor about developing the council area or making sure that dividends of democracy does not get to them according to the source, because of the large number of people from Ngor/Okpala who turned up all the time at the Elections Petition Tribunal in support and solidarity for Peoples Democratic Party, then owelle Rochas must have a rethink given the role this raped, impoverished, development-thirsty and marginalized council area played to usher him into the Douglas House. To deny or overlook Ngor/Okpala development needs within the next four years, is denying yourself of our votes in 2015. That is by the way for now. 

Had you rallied round your faithful constituents and provided logistics support for them, they would have put up an appearance the day you went to court. If I may ask you, who provided the resources which enabled most of the people who came to the court with Obinna Ego or the PDP? To me your infantile reaction on the insignificant number of people who showed solidarity and accompanied you to the court when compared to those that supported Obinna Egu or PDP at the Elections Petition Tribunal is uncalled for given the way your PA talked about it. If the governor can win at the Election Petition Tribunal you can also emerge victorious. Do not be intimidated or cowed by such rented crowed that follow the opposition to court as their actions is only temporary and ephemeral.

I do know that there are a lot of responsibilities that comes with your current position and so many expectations from your constituents who look upon you for collective and individual advantage. But what matters is the wisdom, honesty, sincerity; focus determination etc you and other well meaning Ngor/Okpala politicians employ to reverse the decades of neglects past administrations meted out to the people of the council area in terms of infrastructural development. I want to urge you not to only use your position to articulate and initiate people-friendly bills at the floor of the House of Assembly but to also bring to fore the development aspiration of your constituency to the state government with a view to tackling them head-on.

This is what you should do which your predecessors did not do during their term. Posterity in deed has rewarded them as they have relapsed into political oblivion; not to be reckoned with for not doing anything for their constituency. If you choose to travel on the same path as they did, you are on your own. Remember elective posts are but transient. You can be remembered and commended positively by us for what you are able to achieve for your constituents. I know you are the House Committee Chair on Environment, do use your position to see to it that the erosion ravaging some parts of the council area especially the one close to Umuneke Ngor River are tackled.

May God help you accomplish whatever good intentions if there is any that you have for your constituency - Ngor/Okpala