Understandably, here and elsewhere, selection of a running mate is not an easy thing to do. For a candidate who has a lot of contending interests to be considered, he is often but not always pressured into jeopardy. But, if he is a strong personality with focus and vision, he does not allow such contending interests to influence him in his choice of a running mate.
For example, here in Imo State, for governorship candidate to choose a running mate, he has to factor some important variables into the process of his choice. Such variables must include geographical or zonal balancing, religious configuration, experience, age and the quantum of the person’s prospects of electability values. All these considered, no observer would fail to score the choice of Chuma Nnaji very high as a running mate to Emeka Ihedioha, the PDP governorship candidate.
Painfully, one of the guber candidates, a staunch Catholic impressed and pressured by some hierarchy went ahead to choose another Catholic as his running mate. This is a mistake. In his own case, Ihedioha, as a very smart and intelligent politician, took every factor into consideration in choosing Nnaji as his running mate. Ihedioha, although a staunch Anglican with elastic disposition to all faiths, found it very expedient and politically wise to choose Nnaji, a devout catholic as his running mate. By choosing Nnaji, Ihedioha has displayed excellent political and managerial dexterity, because all factors were considered before that choice was made.
This is the same type of good judgment in his choice of Chris Okewulonu whom he chose as the Director-General of his campaign organisation. Interestingly, both Nnaji and Chris are staunch and devout Catholics who by and large definitely would attract large number of voters to Ihedioha ticket particularly among those Catholics (those sixty and above) who see religion as important element in political configuration. However, today, many people particularly the younger generation do not see religion as playing important roles in choosing one who is very likely to impact positively on the life of the people. But, this does not mean that Christians would allow Muslims to pull wool across their eyes in political matters. Never, absolutely never. Nonetheless, the choice of Nnaji as the running mate and Chris Okewulonu as the DG of the campaign organisation is an indication that Ihedioha once he becomes the governor of Imo State must be sensitive to the opinions and views of the people of Imo state. This is very vital if any governor must succeed in his governance.
Before proceeding to examine the potentials and values, which Nnaji is bound to bring to the ticket, thereby contributing to its eventual success, it will be very pertinent to highlight some core qualities of Nnaji.
Educationally, which is the foundation of any man’s success in life, Nnaji has rounded quality education, which he acquired from quality institutions. His secondary education, which Sir Hills Oxford describes as the seed of every education that a man could possess, was at St. Peters Clavel Seminary Okpala. Many in this country would agree that this highly prestigious secondary school which has produced several men of “Bible”, men of Letters, men of brains, men of substance and indeed men of composite and diverse knowledge in many disciplines of educational complexities could be said to be a place where great men; Philosophers, Sociologists, Anthropologists, Engineers, Humanists, etc, were produced. Indeed, he has a solid foundation of Secondary Education.
For his tertiary education, he never failed below the standard of his secondary education; hence he went to another prestigious University in Nigeria, University of Lagos, where men and women are often stretched to their limits to bring out the best in their intellectual absorption to make them men and women of super university education.
In addition, he went to the Boston College, Massachusetts, in the United States for his post graduate studies in Banking and International marketing plus other numerous academic and intellectual exposure from where he has become a man embedded in both learning and character. According to Oxford Hunt, “it is only when men are properly and effectively trained that such men could bring the worth of their substance to offer to the society, the much needed manpower and other resources which could make a society or community to be transformed from ignorance to knowledge; from poverty to wealth, from wishful thinking to the exercise of their intellects which must be required to make a society modernized and the people liberated to enable them discharge their creative energies into the societal system.” Therefore, Nnaji is bound to bring to fore in Ihedioha’s administration such qualities which will ensure good governance of Ihedioha’s government.
As a banker, trade unionist, journalist, insurance guru, financial consultant, public relations and public affairs man in Nnaji is appropriate for him to fit the characterisation of the above philosopher. Added to this plethora of intellectual and educational balcony, Nnaji has been many things at different occasions of his life. A two-term legislator in the Imo House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker for eight years, a two-time commissioner in the government of Ikedi Ohakim, it is interesting to observe that while he was Commissioner for Information, he transformed the ministry to become an Information Ministry as well as a strategic ministry that was not only informing the people, but initiating several strategic options for effective policy initiation and implementation.
There is no doubt that with these solid experience in several facets of human occupations and activities, he is absolutely qualified and disposed to go on record as one of the most successful Deputy Governors who would be an engine room and a cooling system in Emeka Ihedioha’s vibrant and fast-moving government, anxious to repair incalculable damage in the political and administrative system of government in Imo state. Yes, although many speak of Emeka Ihedioha’s dynamism and temporal outbursts once in a while, he understands this, hence is able to appoint a man with wisdom and cool headedness, who would be to Ihedioha what Joe Byden, the Vice President of U.S. is to Obama. What an efficient and tactic combination. This inevitably would make Ihedioha’s government smooth-sailing, productive, effective and by and large the people’s democratic government, completely different from the current “familiocracy government” of the present administration.
On the issue of religion, Nnaji is a highly known Catholic devout, who enjoys the undiluted goodwill of the Catholic Hierarchy, the Bishops, the Clergy and the Laity in the state with whom they would fill confident, safe and protected when it comes to policies that would advance the cause of the Catholic faithful in the state. Thus nobody but nobody can find fault in the choice of Nnaji as the Deputy Governor to Ihedioha once the manifestation of their destiny is dawned.
Expectedly as an experienced public affairs being, he would to his governor what Walter Bagehot recommends to be the main assignments of men in this type of position: to advise, encourage, support, motivate, guide, supervise and above all, prevent the excesses of his principal, but more than this, to admonish without hindrances if such would be in the best interest of the people of Imo State. He may be able to tell his governor, let’s take another look over this policy before it is implemented, but if it fails, remember my advice, yet I will stand by you to effect any damage it might have caused. Honestly, an intelligent governor needs nothing more from his deputy than this, hence they will make a perfect team. Do the people of Imo state expect anything more from this combination of Ihedioha and Nnaji? Nnaji is likely to enhance the electability of the ticket because of his popularity and acceptability in many parts of Orlu zone, who actually have been shut out of Owelle’s government yet they carry the burden of “those Orlu people enjoying Owelle’s government,” when in actual sense, the enjoyment is a circumscribed one indeed. We can now sing indeed, a true rescue will soon be here with the people.
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