The Wisdom of Solomon for Itu … By
Charles AbiahuEsq.
Most of us
are familiar with that great story in the good Book. According to the Bible the
mother who had the dead child told the King … “Split the living Baby in Half”.
But the true mother said to the King, let her have him. She was unwilling to
have her child killed to win the argument. What I witnessed in Itu, our beloved
Community this Christmas holiday made me cry.
It will never be well for anyone who for personal pride or other reason
refuses for progress to come to Itu. I took the opportunity of my travel to
conduct a personal fact-finding mission of why Itu remains on this unending
circle of confusion and lack of leadership. I consulted across a broad faction
of elders, and Community leaders. Yes, I heard so many things about Comrade
Adindu, but not even his fiercest critics could give me a single cultural
factor that disqualifies him from becoming a Crowned King of Itu. Don’t get me
wrong, this piece is not about Adindu nor am I slightly suggesting that we run
out and crown Adindu King tomorrow, but for all the scheming and vehement
opposition mounted by those opposed to his candidacy, you would expect them to
tell me or anyone for that matter that Adindu is a thief, a murderer or other
reasons based on our customs and cultural values that disqualifies the man. I
have been called many things in Mbaise USA administration when I served as
National Secretary by people who could not have their way to impede progress.
The last time I stood my ground and made sure that Itu hosted the Mbaise USA
Medical Mission on merit as the Local Government Headquarters, a few people
branded me as arrogant. So, when I hear that Adindu is arrogant, I ask myself …
“when did good manners become a criterion for leadership” and in my
experiences, people will frame you to be arrogant just because you are bold
enough to stand up for what is right or what you believe in.
But this
piece is not about Adindu, or the Ezeship contest in Itu. It is about this
impasse in our community. Since the death of our beloved Eze Dimgba, we have
all watched in amazement the blindfold on all of us by people we trusted into
power to move our Community forward. How
is it that the electoral Committee failed so woefully, how is it that there has
not been accounting for stewardship and it seems apparent that Committee wants
to serve for life. Itu has highly educated and intelligent people who are
eminently qualified to even lead the Country or other large organization. What
a shame that these talents are being wasted in keeping our hometown down instead
of ideas for progress. This peace is about my challenge to every honest Itu son
and daughter to stand up and say, Enough!. Enough of these seeds of discord,
enough of this lack of progress, enough of the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ that is
not productive for our Community and our Posterity. This New Year it seemed
that progress has come to Itu when Leo Ihedinma and his Executives were elected
to pilot affairs for Itu. A lot of young people were elated and threw in their
support. Leo has served honorably as a staff of the World Bank and used his
offices to attract projects to Itu. Why would some people not want to give such
a man the chance to at least try to move Itu forward? No, they want to crucify
him even before he gets a chance to carry out any initiative. It seems that these
enemies of progress for Itu will stop at nothing because they rallied
themselves next day to inaugurate a “Caretaker Committee” for Itu. This is the
same group that has managed Itu with nothing to show for it all these years.
But my disdain that this few loud minority that has hamstrung Itu for years is
turning to anger. Itu will not condone anyone that sets the agenda that they
will spoil anything and everything for all of us unless they get their wishes.
It is time for Itu youths to know who the real enemies are and stand up to
them. Here is how you know the mother that screams for the baby to be cut in half
… When this so-called caretaker Committee went and told a progressive Itu youth
who was so elated that Itu finally elected a Town Council led by Leo Ihedinma to
cancel his pledge to put a borehole in Itu they have become enemies of our
town. When this click of people who have not brought progress in Itu after
years of exploiting their offices and positions justifies their setting up an
opposition against the elected Officials by claiming the election was not fair
and instead of working to correct that or petition the election Committee they
expose their true agenda. How is handpicking a caretaker Committee, a process,
unknown to our Constitution, a process conducted in secret and imposed on Itu
the answer to any so-called irregularity in an open ballot election. When a
Caretaker Committee, not elected by us has the guts to go and break the Keys to
the Itu Town Hall because Itu People gave Mr. Ihedinma and his Officers the
Keys after a duly announced agenda and election, they have insulted all of us;
When the self acclaimed Caretakers reported to Ezinihitte Development Council
to stop the Officers from conducting the affairs of Itu, but instead, the
Development Council comes to Itu and after a thorough fact finding gave a
Certificate of recognition to Leo Ihedinma and his Executives, it tells us who
wants to throw away the Baby with the bath water. Yet this recognition was not
enough to pacify them. This Caretakers are now poking us all in the eye by
using the police to disrupt a town Council Meeting scheduled to discuss the
path forward for Itu.
I will no
longer stand idly by. This nonsense needs to stop now. I want the best for Itu.
Let us give this elected Council a chance. There is no perfect election
anywhere in the world. But progress comes when people swallow their pride and
let their Community or Country go forward. Itu youths will no longer stand on
the sidelines and watch a few people continue to hold us down. We stand with
Leo Ihedinma and his Officers who are a clear representation of every part of
our Community to hold us together. Our most pressing need now is peace and
Unity. We need progress.. Since I worked with Hon. Ebere Nwogu to bring the
last medical Mission to Itu, it has not come to Itu again because I lost
interest because of the lack of leadership in our town. Other Communities have
continued to take the slot. I can pressure Mbaise USA again and bring the
Doctors and Nurses to Itu this year but I need a government on the ground to
laise and work with them when they come to Itu. This impasse is costing Itu
dearly. Everyone benefits in our town when we bring in development or projects.
There are other notable Itu sons and daughters that are in positions to attract
development to Itu, but we need a consistent leadership at home to coordinate
with. A word is Enough for the wise.
