The interest so far shown in the race to find a worthy successor to Gov. Willie Obiano in Anambra state, is bringing out the worst in some Anambra sons who rather than look at the brighter side of life, and politics, are focusing their energies on wailing over the philanthropy of Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, an indigene of Ogidi in Idemili North local government area of the state.
For a start, I am an indigene of Aguata, from Uga, precisely. That squarely puts me in Anambra South, the zone which has attracted so much mention as the next in line to produce the governor, though I do not know when and where and how the decision was arrived at. For me as an indigene of Anambra state, I strongly hold the view that zoning promotes mediocrity and should be expunged from our political lexicon. I am for the best qualified irrespective of his zone because leadership is too serious a business to be decided by zoning. Credibility and clearer understanding of the dictates of leading a state like Anambra, makes more sense to me than the settlement mentality we have grown with. Development does not understanding the language of zoning.
I digress! I return to the crux of this treatise. I have heard, and also read commentaries shared on social media groups, condemning Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, for awarding scholarships to Anambra youths. Those who are behind this poisonous thinking are vexed that Okonkwo recently announced the award of 100 scholarships to Anambra youths during a church service at the Adoration Ground at Uke also in Anambra state. They are also complaining that he took some Anambra youths to the Rotary Youth Skills Booth camp in Abuja. I heard that about 100 youths from Anambra benefitted from the exercise. I do not have details of his other scholarship awards. So, I will restrict this to these two incidences. Those two make up 200 youths benefitting from his scholarship. And this happened within months.
Personally, I have not come across Dr. Okonkwo. I live and practice in Owerri as a medical doctor and do not know him. I have only seen his pictures in the media and read about him on the internet. From what has been written about him, he has not held any public office. He has remained a private businessman doing his business in Nigeria. That is very significant. It means he is using proceed of his personal enterprise to help uplift our youths and redirect their future. As it is, he has 200 youths benefitting from his philanthropy. That is remarkable. You know why? First, he is not making money, legitimately or illegitimately, as an appointee of government or an elected representative. He is not known to be a beneficiary of oil subsidy. Yet, we have young Anambrarians despising his gesture because of politics. This is where we lose it.
I do not know what interests those discouraging him for awarding those scholarships represent. But whatever interest they do represent, cannot be for the good of Anambra. I have read some say that Okonkwo’s philanthropy was aimed at the governorship of the state. I ask, so what? What exactly is wrong with that? In any case, Nigerians know Anambra to be spectacularly fantastic with elections. According to INEC, we have 91 registered political parties. Now, let us do the arithmetic. Of the 91 political parties, let us assume that only 50 will field candidates in the next governorship election in Anambra state. Of this conservative figure of 50, there will be at least four aspirants per party. That makes for 200 aspirants. If 200 aspirants to the governorship of Anambra, show the same level of philanthropy like Okonkwo has done, and award scholarships to 200 Anambra youths, either for university education or skills acquisition, that will translate to about 40,000 Anambra youths getting opportunities for better tomorrow.
Now, if only you know the implication of this on the unemployment index. 40,000 youths is massive. This is what I expect those wailing over Okonkwo’s philanthropy to think through and campaign for. Let them spend their energies challenging the interests they represent to award 200 scholarships, for a start, to Anambra youths. Imagine the impact on job creation, insecurity, housing and poverty index in the state etc. their minds wont swing that way. We tend not to see the direction that Okonkwo is taking us to. By awarding scholarships, both for tertiary education and skills acquisition, I see Okonkwo speaking directly to the heart of Anambra people telling them that education is the key that will unlock their future. For me, that is apt. However, we live in an environment where our people are made to believe that giving motorcycles and tricycles is empowerment. No, it is impoverishment. A youth who learns carpentry skills today, has the propensity to grow to become a big furniture manufacturer. He could own large furniture companies that would create several other jobs. Education is about wider vision. Okonkwo, I am told, started off as a trader at Onitsha main market before travelling to Russia for his studies. That perhaps is why he understands this better.
But the Okada or Keke rider? Where does he go from there? What is the income matrix of Okada riding that would make the operator live beyond hand-to-mouth? Besides, with Okada and Keke, described by many as the worst form of empowerment, we impoverish our people and condemn them to a life of penury and pain. Come to Owerri today and see the menace that Keke has become –they are even more than the passengers. Analyze the life of a Keke operator and see that with that form of empowerment, we successfully spread poverty. I believe that Okonkwo understands that and that is why he is focusing on educating our youths and creating for them opportunities to envision the larger picture of possibilities before them with acquisition of the right skills set. Now, that is my kind of leader. Not one that impoverishes our youths with Keke and Okada. So, I beg those who are challenged by Okonkwo’s gesture in this regard, to beg God for forgiveness for disparaging a positive vision and seeking to condemn our youths to a life of pain and penury. As far as I am concerned, that is the only aim of the campaign against Okonkwo’s philanthropy.
I only hope that beneficiaries of Okonkwo’s scholarships make the most of them and grow to become job creators so as to employ the children of those who condemn what Okonkwo has done for them. There ought to be limit to sycophancy. Okonkwo has done well for Anambra youths. If that takes him to Government House Awka, so be it.
*Muo-Ilo writes from Owerri, Imo state.
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