By Austin Uganwa, PhD
\nGolden age is one milestone usually celebrated by many with profound
\nfanfare and passion because it marks a critical turning point in one\u2019s
\nlife. To Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives
\n, this long established aphorism is not any different as he attains 50
\ntoday. But then for someone who has accomplished so many enviable feats in
\npolitics and public service within a short life span Hon Ihedioha has a
\nlot to cheer, celebrate and many red carpets to lay consistent with his
\ntowering accomplishments
\nIhedioha\u2019s golden age commemoration is remarkable in various ways. It
\ncoincides with the period he is suitably contesting to rule Imo state.
\nIhedioha is the People\u2019s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship flag bearer
\nin the state in next month\u2019s general election with his chances of
\nclinching the governorship brightening each passing day. His victory,
\npredictably on the heels of this milestone would open yet another
\nuncommon but largely striking chapter in his life
\nBorn into the family of late Pa Green Ihedioha on March 24, 1965 at the
\nidyllic Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise Local Council of Imo state, Ihedioha had a
\nhumble and regimented beginning. This was particularly so because he grew
\nup under the tutelage of disciplined parents who held education and strict
\nreligious obligations in high premium. Thus, they brought young Emeka up
\nto be a devout Christian, to have voracious appetite for education;
\ngrowing thirst for selfless service and service to humanity
\nThese attributes have had a far-reaching effect in shaping Ihehioha,
\naccounting for his astronomical growth and success in public service and
\npolitics. At 50, Ihedioha has amazingly held several strategic political
\npositions through appointments and elections and now coasting home to be
\nelected Imo state Governor.
\nIhedioha began his political apprenticeship when Third Republic Deputy
\nSenate President, Senator Legogie appointed him Press Officer in 1991.
\nFollowing military interregnum that resulted in the demise of that
\nRepublic, Ihedioha returned to private practice, firming up his First
\nPage Public Relations outfit. He later joined People\u2019s Democratic Movement
\nthat merged with other political associations to form the People\u2019s
\nDemocratic Party . This enabled him to be part of the team that designed
\nthe party\u2019s publicity roadmap at inception.
\nHe emerged in 1999 as the Special Adviser on Media Relations to the then
\nPresident of the Senate, Senator Chuba Okadigbo. The tenure of his boss
\nwas short-lived and terminated in 2000 following his unbridled pursuit for
\nthe independence of the legislature which consistently put him in
\ncollision with the Presidency . Ihedioha was shortly after appointed
\nSpecial Assistant Political Affairs by the then Vice President, Alhaji
\nAtiku Abubakar
\nIt was from there his political career began to witness exceptional boost.
\nAt 50, Ihedioha has achieved so many rare feats with several legacies to
\nattest to. He ran and won his first election in 2003 to represent Aboh
\nMbaise\/Ngor Okpala in the House of Representatives. The Selection
\nCommittee of the House headed by Aminu Bello Masari appointed him Marine
\nTransport Committee Chairman. He pursued critical Acts such as NIMASA
\nAct of 2008 towards ensuring the revamp of the Nigeria Ports
\nAuthority.
\nInterestingly, Ihedioha has won three consecutive elections, resulting in
\nhis 12-year stint in the House. Far more amazing is that his positions in
\nthe House have been on a steady progress . During his second tenure in
\n2007, South East House caucus elected him Chief Whip. Four years later,
\nhe was unanimously endorsed without dissension in 2011 as Deputy Speaker
\nby his colleagues
\nIhehioha accordingly chairs the House Ad hoc on Constitution Review;
\nheaded the intellectual-based committee that designed House Roadmap for
\n2011 and 2015 and chairs the House Committee of the Whole that considers
\nand passes all bills into law
\nAs chairman Constitution Review Committee, Jhedioha enthroned a credible,
\nlargely novel constitution review process by painstakingly involving the
\ncivil society groups and broadening the participation base of Nigerians by
\nseeking their inputs in the 360 federal constituencies in the country.
\nThus all the items of his Committee\u2019s report were endorsed wholesale by
\nthe House. Some of the revolutionary recommendations made by his
\ncommittee included; making basic health, free and compulsory education
\nfrom primary to junior high, basic shelter for all Nigerians
\nconstitutional imperative
\nHis stint in the National Assembly has shown him to be development-focused
\nand infrastructure-led. His pursuits for empowerment programmes resulting
\nin wealth creation and employment boost have remained palpable and
\nunassailable. These realities including his regular interface with his
\nconstituents are instructive of his dexterity for effective legislative
\ngovernance.
\nAlthough this piece is not principally fashioned to compute the many
\nprojects Ihedioha has brought to the state and South East zone, the record
\nof his road infrastructure, electricity projects, education facilities,
\nwater projects, hospital facilities is significant and verifiable. For
\ninstance, Ihedioha got NDDC to award contract for OKpala-Igwuruta Road,
\nlinking Imo to Rivers with the first phase costing N4.2b; facilitated
\naward of contract for the dualization of Owerri-Elele (Omayelu)
\n35-kilometre road at N23b. He also attracted contract for the design of
\nthe famous 63-kilometre Mbaise Ring Road cutting across three local
\ncouncils<\/p>\n
Driven by the desire to build human capital to propel socio-economic
\ndevelopment in Imo state, he has at various times organized empowerment
\nprogrammes for Imo journalists, youths, women and even graduate engineers
\nHis guiding principle is respect for the rule of law and frankness with
\nhis \u201cword being his bond\u201d. He has promised Imo people that one of his
\ncardinal objectives when elected as Governor would be the restoration of
\nrule of law in a state Governor Rochas Okorocha has unfortunately
\nenthroned lawlessness, civil dictatorship and disobedient to court
\ndecisions as the order
\nHis 7-point agenda contains well articulated framework fashioned robustly
\nto correct Okorocha\u2019s many anomalies and set the state on the path of
\neducation rebound and socio-economic development and prosperity. Free
\nqualitative education; integrated health care delivery and free primary
\nhealth; urban renewal; industrialization; local council autonomy;
\nmechanized agriculture are some of the cardinal programmes Ihedioha has
\nseverally promised to bequeath to Imo when elected.
\nAt 50, Ihedioha is set to lead Imo. His pedigree, profound public service
\nexperience, legacies, accomplishments, inspirational leadership style,
\nsincerity and well based, results-oriented programmes for Imo place him
\nover and above all other candidates in the race for Imo Government House.
\nThe real gift Imo indigenes would bestow on this man of vision is to
\ncommemorate his golden age celebration by voting him in to preside over
\nthe affairs of the state. It is only incontrovertible that such is a
\nplausible and wise decision which Imo would benefit inestimably.
\nDr Uganwa, wrote from Owerri<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Austin Uganwa, PhD Golden age is one milestone usually celebrated by many with profound fanfare and passion because it marks a critical turning point in one\u2019s life. To Rt…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n