Bizman blames Nigeria’s leadership woes on citizens’ docility
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
As Nigerians continue to lament over the failure of elected public officers to deliver good governance under the current democratic dispensation, the citizens have been blamed for the type of inept and visionless leadership that has bedeviled the country since 1999.
Owerri-based businessman and financial expert, Mr Eziefula Egbuhouzo Opara dropped the bombshell while speaking during an interactive session with members of the Ngor Okpala Media Advisory Council, (NOMAC), who paid him a courtesy visit in Owerri last Friday.
Opara alleged that the citizens’ docility and nonchalance attitude during elections, pave the way for charlatans and strange elements with questionable credentials to ascend to underserved positions and power.
The ace banker who was the House of Assembly candidate of APGA in Ngor Okpala in 2023 polls lamented that the citizenry fail in their duties every election season by supporting diaspora elements who are not in touch with them in the communities rather than those residing and doing business in the localities.
Citing Imo State as a case study, Opara noted that no politician fully based in the state has ruled the state despite their unparalleled credibility and academic qualifications whereas all the governors of the state are resident in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt or overseas.
He noted that even the legislative positions ranging from state to National Assembly are often occupied by the diasporan who he said land like hawk to grab the plum positions at the expense and detriment of the home-based politicians and the electorate.
Opara who queried why the home-grown political class and business class have allowed the ugly trend persist for nearly three decades of the current democracy blamed the people for succumbing to inferiority complex, self-sensorship and pull-him-down syndrome.
His words, “I want to use this opportunity to ask us this pertinent question, why can’t those of us here at home contest and win elections but each time, those based abroad come, we help them to snatch leadership positions.
“I see that our problem is complex. We erroneously believe that they are richer than us based on their false posturing but I tell you, they are not better off. We are better and richer than them but we are suffering from self-inflicted fear because of how they flaunt the little they have on return.
“Check the records since, 1999, Achike Udenwa came from Port Harcourt, Ikedi Ohakim came from Lagos, Rochas Okorocha from Jos, Plateau State, Emeka Ihedioha from Abuja and Hope Uzodimma from Lagos.
“All the renowned Imo sons resident and doing business here in the state have not be given a chance because we prefer to support these external forces.
“It is also the same in the case of legislators at all levels. This is the crux of the poor performance of the successive governments and representatives because those we elected do not live with us and cannot feel the pulse of our society, like one living and working here.
“”As we approach 2027, I want us to have a rethink and redirection and support those living among us who will feel the pains of deplorable infrastructure and fix it because they are equally yoked with the rest of us, unlike those who merely return to grab position and power for personal aggrandizement.
“The media and other professional interest groups should lead this initiative to reawakening the citizenry to this task in the coming elections. I rest my case.”
