Permit me 876 words to explain why I Stand with Osita Chidoka for Governor of Anambra state and why you should too.
I met Osita in 2012 when he invited my firm to document his tenure at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). With unfettered access, we chronicled 44 initiatives under his 5 strategic themes of transformation:
+ Institutional Framework (3)
+ High Performance Organisation (3)
+ Operational Excellence (20)
+ Enabling Technology (11)
+ Stakeholder Partnerships (6)
By 2012, these initiatives had resulted in the significant reduction in deaths per 10,000 vehicles from 156 (in 1988) to 41; and the World Bank had adopted FRSC as a model for establishing similar road safety organisations across Africa. Awed by his remarkable reform of FRSC from a staid government agency to a high performance, merit-driven, and knowledge-based organisation that leveraged technology to drive operational excellence, I saw Anambra’s immense potential being unleashed by Chidoka as governor and I actively lobbied him to take on the role.
In the last 2 years (since he decided to get in the race), Osita has built a formidable ground game with over 20,000 passionate campaign staff across the 4,608 polling units in the state. The campaign has a 50-seat Call Centre from where volunteers make calls to registered voters across the state. I am not aware of any other candidate in the race who has a legion of teams that are organised, passionate or committed to the cause. Ndi Anambra are tired of the politics of old. They desire the values that Chidoka represents. They are committed to his victory at the November 18, 2017 elections.
Here are some of the reasons why I (and many of these volunteers) Stand with Osita Chidoka.
- IT’S ABOUT THE FUTURE:
The 2017 gubernatorial elections in Anambra is a referendum on the future. It is a choice between a great leap forward and the ordinary. Anyi bu Ndi Anambra; anyi na-eme ife sili ike (We are from Anambra and we do big and difficult things). With nothing, we create monuments. Since when did we start celebrating the ordinary? A government that only constructs roads and pays salaries is doing the barest minimum. Period! Ndi Anambra deserve so much more. Osita has proven that he can do more.
- BOLD LEADERSHIP:
We need an intelligent and fearless leader, now, more than ever before. For decades, we have sought a leader who is committed to selflessly project and protect the interest of Ndi Anambra. Chidoka understands this urgency. He understands the need to restore the voice of Ndigbo in Nigeria today and secure our rightful place in building the nation.
- PRAGMATIC IDEAS:
Ndi Anambra need a leader who can redirect our collective energies to productive engagements rather than primordial sentiments that divide us. Chidoka has pragmatic ideas to re-ignite the spirit of Ndi Anambra and build the state into an enterprise, knowledge, and technology hub for West Africa. Chidoka has spent the last 3 years actively debating various ideas on how to transform Anambra into an economically self-sufficient and wealth-creating state that leads in innovation, good governance and infrastructural development. He is committed to a visionary and transparent community-based government driven only by the genuine aspirations of Ndi Anambra. I have been part of these discussions and I am inspired by the possibilities.
- WELL-PREPARED:
The Government House in Awka is not a “training school”. Rather, it should be a platform from where people with proven and verifiable professional and personal successes implement well-considered solutions to improve the lives of Ndi Anambra. Osita comes fully prepared with academic excellence, and stellar careers in the private and public sectors. He has spent time thinking and providing solutions to the similar development challenges in the state. He has built a pan-Nigerian and international network of partners that will partner with his administration to implement his development agenda for Anambra.
- SENSE OF HISTORY:
We need a governor who wants to leave an indelible mark in the hearts of Ndi Anambra. We need a governor who wants to follow in the footsteps of Sam Mbakwe and Michael Okpara. We need a leader who understands that history will judge him and his generation for his actions or inactions. We want a governor “nwelu ifele” who, guided by a strong sense of history, will strive to deliver a legacy that improves the lot of Ndi Anambra.
- NO TO GODFATHERISM:
The future of Anambra should not be mortgaged to political entrepreneurs who hijack the state coffers. Osita Chidoka has refused to sell Anambra to any “godfathers”. Rather, he has put his fate in the hands of God and Ndi Anambra. This is the integrity we need in Anambra. With Chidoka, we will put an end to “godfather-politics” and its implications on ordinary Ndi Anambra. He is beholden to no one but to the will of the collective.
Like you, I believe that Anambra deserves better and can do better.
Like you, I believe that we can end political godfatherism.
Like you, I believe that significant economic growth is feasible in Anambra.
Please consider a DONATION in support of Osita Chidoka. Every kobo counts.
Account Name: Dozie Anambra Development Initiative
Bank Name: Access Bank Plc.
Account Number: 0728489349
Please include your name, phone number and email so Osita Chidoka can send his appreciation.
Most sincere regards,
Patrick O. Okigbo III
(pokigbo@gmail.com)
