Dr. Chuks Osuji
Although Ahiajoku Lecture Series for the year 2019 has come and gone, a lot has being said about it and many more things will continue to be said. Those who never see anything good in the leadership of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha will see nothing good in this exercise. But those who will always find it difficult to criticize any of his actions whenever there is an obvious flaw will see nothing wrong in the aspect of this Exercise.
But there are quite a number of those including myself who will all the time take an objective look at his every action and will not hesitate to give him credit where he deserves it if only to encourage him to do more in the circumstance. Therefore, I will attempt in this analysis to be as objective as possible. So that when the time comes for the planning of next Ahiajoku lecture session, some of those objective shortcomings will be taken into account so that the next Ahiajoku lecture series would attain a greater success than the immediate past one. Indeed this is not Politics.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there are 3 components of every event: the planning, the execution and the evaluation. Monitoring should be a component of evaluation. Because it gives an insight as to how the planning is going, how the execution was done and gives an insight as to the success and failure of such event.
If an objective observer takes cognizance of these 3 aspects of any event and if such observation is bereft of any microscopic objective, the assessment of such blind observer certainly must be shut down.
Painfully, those who were on the side of nothing good in Ihedioha’s leadership style have come out with a flood of criticism, some which do not have any bases at all. For example, the group has tagged the exercise as a misplaced priority. Saying that the several millions of money spent on the programe could have being used for numerous social and economic problems that are facing Imo State. On the face value, their reasoning could have some merit. But on the other hand, it could be dismissed as an absurd and irresponsible reasoning because these are those who did not know the value of renaissance as a foundation for economic, intellectual, cultural, agricultural, political and educational takeoff.
It was the Italian renaissance of 14th century that removed the entire Europe from Dark Age into modernity. Of course, one cannot blame this people because they see a state as one component with problems of road network, educational system, security, management of touts, transportation etc.
In fact, it has being said, and it could continue to be said that the 8 years of last administration could be described as “Plundering in the Wilderness.” I am not one of those who would continue to lament over the 8th year administration of last Government because the immediate past Government would claim that he has done his best for the people. But whether he his right or wrong, we must have a day with history.
Furthermore, I am not those who believed that he did not accomplish anything. To say that, is to put myself in the list of an unobjective observer. For example, during the time of Governor Achike Udenwa, some people said that he was the best that has happened to Imo State. Others dismissed with the waves of hand all the things he did. I joined the fray by condemning those who said he was the best thing that has happened to Imo State and those who said his 8 years were wasted years. Because today, most of his legacies still counts.
As a political scientist, I will find it difficult to wholesomely write off the achievements of any Governor to do that is a dis-service to such Government. After all, according to Cambridge king, “assessment of a leader’s achievement is basically judgmental. Those who benefit from his government would applaud him. Those who did not would condemn him. But the fact remains that on a measurement level, he is likely to score poor, fair or good. Because, man is basically prone to negativism.”
Equally, Edward Winifred has opined, “To rule a society, is the most complex undertaken. Because, society comprises people with different intellects, needs, quality, perceptions and above all wishes. How can a leader satisfy these myriads of people with myriads of needs?”
Those who think that the money used for the past Ahiajoku lecture should have being used for other purposes are thinking for themselves because if you ask traders in the markets, their needs would be too far different; Including that part of the money should be used to build conveniences for the traders.
Administratively, Government and its administration should budget, according to Aaron B Wildavsky, in his book entitled: The Legitimacy of Budgetary Process, has argued that, “allocation of budget is highly competitive among different groups; which Robort Dahley, proffers to as, “politics is who guess what, how, when and where.”
Equally, this group of people has missed the point of the main thrust of this year’s Ahiajoku lecture which emphasizes on a Transformational Agricultural Drive. If those land critics have read or listened to the Governor’s speech, they would have seen that the essence of this year’s Ahiajoku was anchored on Agricultural Takeoff in Imo State.
If the Governors speech with its recommendation is properly understood and implemented, these Ahiajoku Lecture Series would mark the realistic beginning of agrarian take off in Imo State. Unlike the disjointed and distorted “Ikola Nkwu” agrarian policy of Owelle which became a rules and a laughing stock. For example, if as recommended by the Governor, the people of Imo State could Plant 1 million palm trees every year, in four years, that will mean that 4 million palm trees would have been planted. The resultant effect is that Imo State would once again become a leader in palm produce. This was what Dr. Michael Okpara envisaged when he began agricultural policies of establishing palm plantation and guava plantations etc in many parts of the old Eastern region.
Furthermore, apart from stimulating and creating agricultural consciousness through intellectual exercises in our people, one can conclude that the restating of Ahiajoku Lecture Series is a welcomed idea which in the long could be a reference point by other states in South East and South South. Because before the discovery of Crude oil in 1956 in commercial quantity, it was palm produce that sustained the economy of the Old Eastern Region and that feat given to today’s technology could be repeated and surpassed given the right leadership.
Another high point of the Ahiajoku Lecture Series was the attraction of many Governors from the South East and South South including other eminent sons and daughters who graced the occasion with their presence. This cream of leaders would no doubt go back to their individual states to implement what they must have taken from Ahiajoku Lecture Series. Without doubt when Sam Mbakwe began the Ahiajoku Lecture Series in 1979, he had a mission in view. And that mission is still more relevant today and yesterday and therefore, why must some group of people criticize Ihedioha administration that want to revive it. To me, this is a high point.
Having said that, there are low points in the planning and execution of this year’s Ahiajoku Lecture Series. There is no doubt that the committee did their best as to fit but they missed certain essential ingredients.
Honestly, I do not know the number of the committee members but from a detached point, the committee was not representative enough of some vital persons who would have brought some ideas to fine tune some of the flaws. For example, why would the committee invite Prof. Echeruo who was the pioneer lecturer in 1979 to be the guest Lecturer in 2019 (40 years after)? Perhaps, in their wisdom, they thought it was an attempt to honour him. If they wanted to give him recognition, he should have been invited as the Special Guest of Honour because the Governor of the State was the Chief Host. His presence dignified the gathering but his lecture was very incoherent as it was reported that midway his lecture, many people in the audience, gradually began to leave the hall. Because you can’t blame him that a man who was eloquent and firing at the climax of his young age in 1979 to be so eloquent and audible in 2019. Imagine if Rotimi Williams is alive today and NBA invites him to declare open a conference of NBA. You see what I mean? In fact the committee derailed by inviting Prof Echeruo to deliver 2019 Ahiajoku Lecture. At best a great honour should have been bestowed on him by giving him special award.
Today, we have many brilliant and young Professors in our institutions of Igbo Extraction versatile in Agricultural economy who would have been invited and who could have lit the venue with plasmodic ovations, cheers and applauses.
Another flaw was the publicity of Ahiajoku Lecture Series. Painfully enough, major Newspapers in this country where not seen because they were not invited or if invited they did not come. For example of these major Newspapers: The Nation, the Sun, The Punch, Vanguard, The Independence, This Day, New Telegraph, The Guardian etc only The Sun newspaper was represented. Even the sun that was represented, were alleged not properly taken care of. This raises a vital question. And negativism of not inviting these major Newspapers gave raise to negative headlines on Sunday and Monday editions. One needs to take a look at the headlines of these major National papers. It was all negative. Do you need to ask why?
In conclusion, the restoration of Igbo renaissance through Ahiajoku Lecture Series by Governor Emeka Ihedioha 8 years after it was abandoned must be commended by people of good conscience. It is a plus to his rebuilding Imo Agenda. Whatever flaws or short comings that must have been observed of the last edition would be corrected in the future planning of Ahiajoku Lecture Series provided the next committee should be allowed to work as committee and not as note takers or observers at the next committees meetings. After all, according to Harold Wilson, a Former Prime Minister of England, “in a community of people, nobody is indispensible and nobody’s idea should be thrown away even if it comes from a fool.”
