The Epistle Of Orlu Recovery By Charles Ahize

BY: Ike Oforegbu…

A lot has been written about the man, Charles Ugochukwu Ahize, Labour Party’s Senatorial hopeful for Orlu Zone, more formally referred to as Imo West. Three cardinal factors make the zone nationally significant. Besides its humongous size, it parades a behemoth of prominent national figures, dead and alive.

Markedly, there is a consensus that the zone has been grossly misrepresented; talk about a perennial ill-luck in senatorial representation. Thus, the question of a candidate with a pan-Orlu agenda has been at the crux of political conversations around the issue.

Amongst other contenders to the seat, the candidacy of Charles Ahize seems the most refreshing in the consciousness of the people. Ahize is perceived generally as a candidate with a rich and successful private sector experience spanning more than three decades.

Alongside this rich experience is an outstanding history of activism only exhibited by Marxists. Although blessed by Providence, Ahize has never drawn a line with the poor of the society. He has done everything within his limits to bridge the yawning gap between the upper class and lower class.

A little conversation with the Ihioma-born activist easily reveals his disgust with the widening gap in the class structure of the society. Only a man with a Marxist ideology can idealize a society that is free from the excruciating capitalist tendencies of the bourgeoisie.

Charles Ahize thus envisions an egalitarian Orlu, a society with equal opportunities for everyone. His Orlu Recovery Project is a rich manual containing his plan to truly represent Orlu at the Upper Chamber of the nation’s legislature.

Ahize for instance does not see the reason his kinsmen from Imo West in strategic parastatals of government would not get promoted like their peers from other parts of the country. Ahize’s rich antecedents speak volumes of his achievements in giving his people a voice even while in the private sector.

The senatorial candidate had been instrumental in the promotion of his kinsmen to strategic national positions. He played a very critical role in making a former Inspector General of Police of Igbo extraction when the conformation of the latter was threatened by political factors.

What can’t Ahize do as a Senator for his people? He has already hinted on youth and women empowerment and a comprehensive peace plan for his zone. These two agenda I dare say are the most critical for Orlu Zone. Also, they are plausible and timely. These are agenda that would jumpstart the needed recovery for his people.

He has already mapped out the strategies and is imbued with the political will to execute them. Charles Ahize has no bogus unrealistic agenda for his people. He does not want to tread like others who come with promises of Eldorado to excite the people and steal their votes.

He has stuck to his plan of approaching his people with all sincerity of purpose, avoiding the popular path of perfidy towed by other contenders.The candidacy of Charles Ahize excites the electorate a lot. From Oru clan, Ohaji/Egbema, Isu, Ideato to Orlu, the voices of the people resonate with Ahize’s candidacy.

He is at home with his people. One only needs to see the solidarity the youths and women give him to understand the excitement of the people. This is not a purchased or stage-managed brand of excitement. It is joy from the heart at seeing a man of the people who speaks with rare sincerity, compassion, piety and conviction. It is happiness that wells from the inner recesses of the heart.

More remarkable is the spontaneous response of Ahize to the solidarity of his people. He joins them to chant songs. He follows them to dance to their compelling music.

He radiates joy with them because he has vowed to stand by them. The people of Orlu Zone now know better. They know the way and the road leads to Labour Party, the party of the family with the compelling symbols of a man, his wife and child. Absolutely, this is a party that will restore the dignity of the people of Nigeria, and more importantly his people in Orlu Zone.

May Charles Ahize prevail; and may Imo West succeed!