The Deceitful Cock, 40 Yrs in the Wilderness & Sir Okey Ezeh’s Triumphant Entry for Imo Rebirth

By Don Agbim, KSM

“Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times”
– Matthew 26 v.34, NKJV

Deceit, fraudulence, and duplicity are vile attributes that are as old as humanity. These are perverse behaviour associated with human beings over the ages. These behavioural patterns brook no boundaries in terms of race, region, colour, religion or creed. Human societies over the ages have had to come to terms with these vices as bad attributes ingrained in the fallen nature of humanity. Nevertheless, organized countries/societies of the world have also set up mechanisms to check, and punish these behaviours in the conduct of their affairs. That is why laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, and conventional practices have been established to guide and superintend human relationships.
Of course, these measures have never cured or totally checkmated infractions. Undeterred, these decent countries/societies of the world have gone a step further in institutionalizing good social behaviour by prescribing appropriate punishments for errant conduct, and have very firmly applied these sanctions in deserving cases/situations through institutions set up specifically for that purpose. The resultant effect is that their citizens, in their various levels of relationships including political organizations and structures, have embraced the imperative of having acceptable conducts with attendant sanctions for misbehaviour!

Has this been the scenario in Nigeria? Tragically, NO. On the contrary, laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, and conventional practices are flouted in Nigeria with such brazen impunity as would make a civilized person shudder in disbelief! This unfortunate scenario calls to mind the shenanigans that attended the Primaries (that is, the candidates’ selection process) of most political parties in Nigeria recently.

In Imo State, the most brazen display of roguery, deceit, fraud, extortion, violation of party guidelines, and sheer brigandage was the forte of APGA! To the consternation, and utter disappointment of Imolites, Sir Okechukwu Theodore Ezeh who solely financed, and kept APGA in operation in Imo State for over 4 years (even when it was convenient for every other politician in Imo State to bolt away in desperation to other political associations after the failure of APGA in the 2015 polls) was cruelly milked, extorted, and eventually DENIED the Gubernatorial Ticket of APGA by a callous conspiracy of the party’s leadership and its morally–challenged stakeholders at both State and National levels.

Sir Okey Ezeh has since moved on from that debased, and much discredited APGA platform comforted by the recorded fact that human duplicity was practised by Judas Iscariot on even our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and also fully appreciating the wisdom of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s admonition that “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it”. This battle is exactly what he is on the verge of winning with the SDP platform in Imo State!

“He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years”
– Acts 7 v.36, NKJV

Imo State has been very unfortunate with its choice of leaders, particularly Executive Governors since the end of late Chief Sam Mbakwe’s era. From 1979 to 2019 marks exactly 40 (forty) years of a most traumatizing ‘wilderness experience’ for Imolites to the extent that Imo State shamefully lags behind in most, if not all, accepted indices of human/societal development compared to its peer States in Nigeria. Nevertheless, there is succour, relief, and rebirth in the horizon for Imolites with the emergence of Sir Okey Ezeh!

Despite his travails, Sir Okey Ezeh personifies tenacity. This is because he exemplifies the creed of the US lawn tennis great Billie Jean King that “Champions keep playing until they get it right”. Sir Okey Ezeh’s tenacity validates the words of the great American entrepreneur Walt Disney that “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them”. With his brilliantly envisioned, lucidly articulated, insightful and comprehensive blueprint of plans/actions to midwife the re-birth of Imo State when elected into office (the Imo Marshal Plan, I-MAP); he comes well prepared for the task of leading Imolites out of the wilderness! Like the legendary Malcolm Forbes stated “The best vision is insight”.

Imolites have suffered for too long. We deserve a better life and visionary leadership. We deserve to be brought out of, and away from our locust years. We deserve happiness. These are what Sir Okey Ezeh offers Imolites because in the consoling words of Jane Fonda “It is never too late – never too late to change your life, never too late to be happy”!

“Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: Hossana! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hossana in the highest”
– Mark 11 v. 9-10, NKJV

Sir Okey Ezeh’s imminence as Governor of Imo State on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has so rejuvenated Imolites that it portends a total revolution in the political and socio-economic dynamics of the State. Except during the exhilarating strides of late Chief Sam Mbakwe; Imolites NOW exhude so much optimism, hope, enthusiasm, and expectation of true, visible rebirth in their economic, social, and political fortunes as a people.

How could the hitherto forlorn, depressed, downcast, frustrated, and seemingly hopeless Imolites be suddenly so charged up, interested, and enthusiastic about political and economic affairs of their State? The answer is simple: Sir Okey Ezeh has raised the barometer of Imo State politics and its expected governance model beyond the mediocre, mercantile, pedestrian, and Godless level at which it had been deliberately and mischievously kept by previous leaders in the State since the return to democracy in 1999. Hitherto, it had been all about shameful praise-singing of dubious individuals with media-ascribed personality profiles. The core, and vitally essential leadership qualities were overlooked!

Sir Okey Ezeh has, by his entry into the contest and ultimate emergence on the SDP platform as the leading gubernatorial candidate, forced a paradigm shift in Imolites’ political thoughts, discourse, and behaviour. NOW, focus is being given, rightfully, to the competence, family pedigree, antecedents, education, career track record, early religious/political affiliations, acceptability across broad spectrum of the society, exposure, contacts base (including international affiliations), zero criminal records, and general suitability of the gubernatorial candidates for Douglas House, Owerri. Most assuredly, Sir Okey Ezeh stands out on all these parameters above all other gubernatorial contenders in Imo State!

The sight of Sir Okey Ezeh astride that elegant horse that conveyed him to his campaign flag-off venue recently was greatly invigorating for Imolites. Come 29th May 2019; Imolites shall behold a gallant, sturdy, white stallion strutting confidently through the gates of Douglas House, Owerri amidst thunderous shouts of joy, relief, and celebration all over this seat of government as Sir Okey Ezeh settles into the fiercely urgent task of IMO REBIRTH as Executive Governor! Chukwu e dee la ya!

Freedom, restoration, re-invention, honesty, visible development, growth, and greatness beckon Imolites AGAIN…………after so long!
#OkeyIsOkay

Please join the IMO SDP- LAGOS & DIASPORA Campaign Organization for Sir Okey Ezeh @ https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOf1tidnPhsK35Fe1LN4VT

Recall High Chief Don Agbim (KSM) is the Coordinator – General (Lagos & the Diaspora) Okey Ezeh Governorship Campaign Organization.