It is time to shun those who promised power to the people, but use the same power to enslave the people. Umuibe, look at our dear Enugu State: Over the past seven years, Coal City State is now competing with one of its neighbors as the poorest state in the South East.

By Frank Nweke

Let me start by thanking the State Executive and all members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Enugu State Chapter, for hosting me at this meeting today.

In accordance with the constitution of the APGA, I have registered my membership in my parish of Ozalla, Nkanu West Local Government Area and obtained a membership card. I was also later introduced to the local party government executive in Agbani, so I am honored and delighted to be officially recognized as a bona fide member of this great party. Thank you all for this warm welcome.

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One of the many sage lessons I learned from my father is the need to document critical steps for posterity. I have therefore decided to record my reasons for joining APGA, which are anchored in certain fundamental principles and principles, as given below:

I. Why does government exist?

Governments exist for the purpose of establishing order in society, based on laws. These laws are meant to guide human, socio-cultural, political, and economic interactions, among others.

The rule of law is a key index of development. A society degenerates into chaos when there is no public order, or when there are laws but they are more observed in their violation. Lack of accountability and selective enforcement of rules and laws are recipes for the implosion of any society. These reinforce the idea that citizens are unequal, erode public trust, foster corruption and endanger society. Such societies will be no different from a jungle where it is the survival of the fittest – Ike kete Oli’e.

Thomas Hobbes, philosopher and author of the book “Leviathan” in 1651, described life in such circumstances as “lonely, poor, mean, rough and short”.

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Umunne m na Umunna m, bikonu is there a difference between the life in the jungle described by Thomas Hobbes over five hundred (500) years ago and what is happening in our country and our state today?

Just as many of you know the answer, so do I, and not just theoretically. My family has suffered the direct impact of insecurity as attempts have been made in the past to kidnap some of my relatives. Many of my relatives were also kidnapped. I had to work with close friends to secure the release of their siblings who were kidnapped and released only after the ransoms were paid.

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I also suffered a few burglary attempts. I fast and pray whenever I have to go out, for God to bring me back safely. Some of my relatives died simply because they were in the right place to pursue their legitimate activities, but they were hit by stray bullets. I’m sure many of you here have had or heard of similar experiences. All of these often traumatic and sometimes fatal experiences that citizens are subjected to show that government has failed in its most fundamental responsibility – the safety, well-being and well-being of citizens. Without security, all other attempts at development are an exercise in futility.

II. What is political power for?

Political power derives from the system of government in place, which can be democratic, autocratic or monarchical. Whatever political system a society adopts, the power and authority emanating from it should not diminish the responsibility of the designated sovereign authority to provide public services and goods to the people.

In most democracies, political parties are platforms for political organization and mobilization. And in more advanced democracies, electoral contests are conducted on the basis of ideas, plans and strategies documented in a manifesto, which essentially describes the founding values, principles and philosophy of the party, as well as the key orientation of its development program.

The Igbo Worldview – Values, Cosmologies and Principles

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Political parties and the government they form must therefore take full responsibility for their performance while in office. Based on the current realities of our society, government at all levels – the national (center) and sub-national (states), of the federation, including Enugu, must take full responsibility for the dire situation in their respective fields.

It is clear that these parties have failed in their primary responsibility – to protect all lives and property. They have chosen to prioritize personal interests and politics over the rights, supremacy, respect, dignity and value of human life. They have also failed to improve access to basic human needs – water, sanitation, health care, education, health care, infrastructure and jobs, especially for our burgeoning youth.

It is also evident that the bulge and restlessness of the youth are the fallout from the leadership vacuum. As a demographic, our young people are now vulnerable to drug addiction, deployed as political thugs, crime (terrorism, cult, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings), etc., and dangerous migration practices and illegal.

There is a pervasive sense of desperation everywhere. Only a new approach that values ​​all lives and treats every citizen with dignity can radically transform the status quo. That’s part of what I think the APGA offers.

Onye aghana nwanne ya

This speaks to the deepest essence of Igbo social cosmology and worldview, which is grounded in ijiko uncommunity and igwebuike. These concepts recognize a unique solidarity in political economy; it affirms individual rights and achievements. However, it also situates the individual as part of a larger whole – that true well-being and prosperity are only sustainable when shared, inclusive, and recognizing that we are stronger together.

Umune mthose words now ring hollow because we cannot be “stronger together” when the majority of our people cannot even afford a single meal and have no roof over their heads, while those who are in charge of our public affairs live in unacceptable opulence and are disconnected from the misery that ravages all around them.

APGA’s founding philosophy is rooted in the egalitarian principles of equity, fairness, justice, being our brothers and sisters’ keepers and giving everyone a sense of belonging, all of which are elements important to the Igbo worldview.

It is instructive to note that the late Dr. Michael Okpara, Prime Minister of the former Eastern Region, anchored his development program on the fundamental principle of Onye aghana nwanne ya. This anchored and propelled the transformation of the region, with Enugu as its capital. It is time to reinvent and rebuild our Enugu.

Nke’a bu nke anyi

I often wonder how many members of our party and others Ndigbo reflect on the deeper meanings of “nke’a bu nke anyi.” This expression can be used in several valid contexts – in terms of collective ownership, responsibility and accountability. APGA being “our” party, founded on core inclusive values, principles and a unique shared history and experiences.

In other cases, “nke’a bu nke anyihas been used to refer to an individual as “a genuine choice of the people” – someone who is a servant-leader and custodian of collective power, and who embodies our shared leadership values ​​and criteria – empathy, excellence, credibility, ability, skill and courage.

Being antithetical to marginalization, it talks about the collectivist approach to leadership, life and life. Nke’a bu nke anyi therefore refers to a political platform deliberately constructed to promote the ideals of integrity, accountability, responsibility, equity, fairness and justice, among others.

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, succinctly summed up APGA’s ideology in his recent inaugural speech. Here is an excerpt: “Our ideology is a combination of the neo-welfarism of Zik, the scientific socialism of Awolowo and the democratic humanism of Aminu Kano, to form what we consider to be the pan-African progressivism of the market. It is an Africanist ideology that integrates social democratic values ​​with the principles of competitive markets.

Onyeaghana Nwaneya, which is the antidote to growing insecurity and uncertainty in the territory. It’s time for us to identify with the problem solvers and avoid the pretenders who promise change and leave everyone in chains.

It is time to shun those who promised power to the people, but use the same power to enslave the people. Umuibelook at our beloved Enugu State: Over the past seven years, Coal City State is now competing with one of its neighbors as the poorest state in the South East.

While states like Anambra enjoy prosperity through the functioning of the Igbo ideology, Enugu has continued to grow in poverty and misery so our people have turned to begging as a means of survival. Ndubayi, Ndigbo adighi ayo ife. We can no longer afford to be silent. I can no longer afford to be silent. I therefore advanced to be counted among the progressive and prosperous Igbo.

This is why I have boldly decided to declare that APGA will help advance Enugu State as the capital of prosperous eastern Nigeria rather than a propagator of poverty for the people.

Hurry up. It saddens me that every night hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens go to bed hungry. This must not be the case. This situation will be reversed with the good leadership and governance provided by APGA.

In conclusion, to all of my supporters and supporters, my central message to you is this: If you don’t have a voter’s card, please get one as soon as possible. The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is the most powerful tool we need right now. PVC is our weapon to drive out oppressors and selfish rulers. Now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Now is not the time to agonize, but the time to organize online and offline.

Nke drank nke anyi. With APGA, it is time for the people to reclaim their agency, their voice, their vote and their power. Nke drank nke anyi; it is time for us to take ownership and responsibility for the future of Enugu State.

• Speech by Frank Nweke II on joining the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State on Thursday 31st March 2022