The 25th February Presidential and National Assembly election was the most fiercely contested election in the annals of Nigeria’s socio-political history. It was like never seen and Nigerians registered their willingness to change the narrative.
In a body polity where the reward system is envisaged to be at it’s lowest ebb and the Peter Obi tsunami, which practically swept off non performance, it was also evident that in some places, there was this insistence to, for the first time, reward performance in fairness to conscience, devoid of partisan tilt. Clearly, in those few places, the electorates, via the turnout and insistence on due process, could not help but give their nod and stood in defense of their decision.
There are also no pretences that the All Progressives Congress cannot be in all fairness, said to be deeply rooted in the South East, but there was an evident satisfaction via the performance of a few Candidates, hence the decision taken by the electorates in the areas in view, showcasing that political parties are mere vehicles for the ventilation of political nuances.
One of the places where the blanket wave of Peter Obi did not shift the resolve of the electorates, not that the effect was not felt, was Bende Federal Constituency, where partisan affiliation was put aside in favour of the departure from political pancaking.
From the two administrative cum pseudo political divides of Bende: Umunna and Okwu Isii, there was this near unanimous resolve that Representative Benjamin Kalu be returned to the Green Chambers, despite the overtures and rigmarole of other contestants, targeted at swaying the decision of the majority.
Simplicita, within 3 years of Benjamin Kalu’s representation, Bende Federal Constituency had a breathe of fresh air, so much so that Ndi Bende hybernated to self reappraisal as to why they had not seen the obvious illumination Representative Kalu offered all these while.
Without sounding sanctimonious, the fairest election conducted in Bende Federal Constituency was the 25th February Parliamentary election, despite humongous overtures made by persons whose resolve was to grab power anyhow, no matter the cost.
Conceding that the process of litigation is the exclusive right of any individual who wishes to ventilate his political disapproval of the process, it would be seen for what it is; a mere academic or ‘legal’ exercise and an affront to the resolve of a people who are determined to reward performance.
In the history of Bende’s representative politicking, Benjamin Kalu has outperformed every other who passed through that path and must not be distracted. The ingredients of good governance, as orchestrated by Representative Kalu are empirical and verifiable. For the first time, the voice of Ndi Bende reverberates in the National Assembly with astuteness and Intelligence, thus placing Bende in global limelight and reckoning.
In a nutshell, Benjamin Kalu was the collective decision of Ndi Bende and any attempt to make the people look irresponsible, of which is they are not, shall end up as a futile exercise.
Finally, “man is the measure of all things. Of things that are that they are and of things that are not, they are not”. The truth and fact as well, is that Benjamin Kalu convincingly won that election and questioning same, outright infantile.
HENRY ONYEMA MADUBUIKE.
Convener
Center for Excellence and Performance in Governance CEPG
