Orlu, Orsu, Oru East Federal Constituency: Orlando’s Emergence and the Need for Equity

By Ike Njoku…

According to the Merriam Webster dicitionary, equity is defined as “justice according to natural law or roght”. It went further to say that it is freedom from bias or favouritism”.
Presently, Igbo’s of South-East extraction are crying of marginalization in terms of leading the country politically since 1967, judging from the fact that Nigeria as a country is standing on a tripod stand and being controlled majorly by three dominant ethnic regionsm; Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo.

While the Hausa-Fulani’s have had their turn in terms of leading the country (Presidency), same applies to the Yoruba nation, while the Igbos are yet to smell the seat, and this issue of marginalizing Igbos have led to the issue of agitation for self determination.
It is widely said that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

Coming down to the issue of equity and fairness as regards to Orlu, Orsu and Oru East Federal Constituency, going down memory lane with the chronicles of Honourable members that have represented the constituency. When the country returned back to Democratic rule in 1999, the Triple O constituency was represented by Hon. Cajetan Dike (Ikemba) Oru East, from 1999-2003. In 2003, the mantle of leadership changed and shifted to Orsu local Government and that saw Hon Jeff Ojinika representing the constituency from 2003-2007.
At the end of Hon Ojinika’s tenure (4 year tenure) then it shifted to Orlu Local Government in the person of Hon. Mayor Eze from 2007-2011. From the above analysis, the three local Governments that make up the constituency have had their turns.
In 2011, the power moved back to Orsu in the person of Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso, 2011 till date. Going by the principle of equity and fairness, the pendulum this time around should go to Oru East local Government, considering the fact that it is now 20 years that a representative came from that local Government. It is widely said that he who must go to equity, must go with clean hands. The Igbos have an adage which says “mmanu akara di uto, onye ratu, ibe ya aratu “, which literally means that the oil from beans cake is sweet, if you lick it and enjoy the taste, you allow others to enjoy it too. Suffice it to say that it is the turn of Oru East local Government to represent Orlu, Orsu, and Oru East Federal Constituency based on equity and fairness.

Presently, Nigerians are clamouring for change in leadership, and moving away from gerontocracy. Against this backdrop, electorates from this Federal Constituency should look inwards on whom to vote to represent the constituency. This brings to mind the likes of Hon. Madu Ikechukwu Vincent (Orlando), the House of Representative candidate of the Social Democratic Party SDP.

Orlando as he is fondly called is the best choice to represent this constituency, looking at his antecedents. He is young, vibrant, versatile, kind and a man with milk of human kindness as testified by some beneficiaries of his Foundation (Orlando Cares). Politics is said to be the art or science concerned with wining and holding control over government. Many people go into politics for different reasons, there are those that want power because they want to be politically relevant, some because of immunity that exist therein, some for their selfish aggrandizement. Ndi Orlu, Orsu and Oru East; shine your eyes. Vote leaders with a proven heart for the people, vote leaders with empathy and concern for the masses. In 1993, Nigeria experienced the freest and fairest election in the annals of Nigeria history, won by MKO Abiola, though later annulled. Many voted for Abiola not because of his party, but because of his person and his sagacity. The time is ripe for the people to take their destiny in their hands, by voting credible candidates like Madu Vincent Orlando. This is the right time for the people of Orlu, Orsu and Oru East Federal Constituency to remedy most of the misfortunes and riddicles of the failure of the past leadership’s have brought us over the years and this can only be achieved when we put round pegs in round holes. We cannot because of petty ethno-religious sentiments or blinded party loyalty and vote visionless candidates/bench warmers and thereafter turn ourselves into prayer warriors asking God to come down to our aid and perform miracles.

Ndi Orlu, Orsu and Oru East; shine your eyes. Any mistake we make now will haunt us till the next four years. If you want your voice to be heared at the Green Chambers, you should go for a man that will give you quality, progressive and effective representation and that man is Hon. Madu Ikechukwu Vincent (Orlando). Lest we forget, on Tribune Newspaper of Thursday January, 15, 2015, Governor Babatunde Fashola wrote “don’t put old people there ooo, if you put old people there, they will sleep ooo and they will not be able to work”. My people, leap before you cross, because a stitch in time saves Nine. Orlando has promised to render to the people focused, competent and selfless representation. The eating of the food is in the taste, let us give him a trial.