OPINION: Isialangwa North/South Federal Constituency And Darlington Nwokocha's Audacity Of Betrayal

He who is not Honourable enough to keep to Brotherly agreement entered into with his kinsmen is not fit enough to be entrusted with the responsibility of leadership.

Prior to the 2019 general election, the member representing Isialangwa North and Sourh federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honorable Darlington Nwokocha was expected to relinquish the position he presently occupies at the expiration of his first term of four years in 2019 for another candidate from the area in line with a well-articulated and drafted agreement entered into by respected leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and Stakeholders from Isialangwa South, and witnessed by some critical stakeholders and leaders of the party from outside the area.

The agreement which was established under the umbrella of Isialangwa South Peoples Democratic Party Stakeholders Forum was geared towards ensuring peace, unity and cohesion through a seamless and rancor free sharing of power amongst the people of the area.

Even though a respected son of the area, and former Chief of Staff to the governor, Prof. ACB Agbazuere had indicated interest and indeed mobilized massively to contest for the same office, but he later jettisoned his aspiration as a mark of respect to eminent leaders and stakeholders from within and outside the area who appealed that Honourable Nwokocha should be allowed to enjoy a second term; a rare magnanimity and privilege that violated the previous agreement which expected him to serve only one term.

Those who intervened and appealed on behalf of Hon. Nwaokocha did so with the assumption that he would be moved by such a magnanimous gesture to the point that he would see it as a golden opportunity to change the narrative of non-performance he had written about himself.

Again, they thought that he would be so humbled to the point of voluntarily supporting his successor as a way of deepening brotherly love and unity which the leaders had exhibited in supporting his ambition in the past

The report that Honourable Nwokocha has allegedly purchased House of Representatives and Senatorial Nomination forms respectively for the 2023 election, clearly shows that he considers his selfish political ambition more sacrosanct and important than the peace and development of Isialangwa as a whole.

One had expected that a federal lawmaker who goes by the title "Honourable" would be honourable enough to accord some respect to highly placed leaders of his area by respecting and ensuring the implementation of a validly entered gentleman agreement.

The question is, would Honourable Darlington Nwokeocha's ambition have seen the light of the day in 2019 without Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who graciously allowed and supported him with the permission of leaders of the area to return to House of Representatives amidst opposition from the masses who believed that his performance was appalling and thus should not be allowed to return to the green chamber?

Would Honourable Nwokocha have survived the onslaught if leaders like Prof. Agbazuere and other critical stakeholders had decided to sabotage and betray him the way he has chosen to do to them today?

Honourable Nwokocha knows very well that his third term agenda can't work, especially when he had camoaigned against that in the past, hence his decision to purchase the Senatorial form, after which he addressed the six LGAs that make up the Senatorial district. Unfortunately, for reasons best known to him, he decided to do a U turn and contest against the man that contributed in making his own victory a reality.

How can Honourable Nwokocha convince leaders and youths of the area that he can be trusted with bigger public office with the present attempt to scuttle a peaceful political arrangement that seeks to serve the collective interest of Isialangwa people?

One had expected that the obvious lack of applause, support and solidarity from the people courtesy of his perceived poor representation would compel him to take a break, be a spectator for some time, and have a sober reflection that would assist him return to public service as a better person, rather than struggling to foist himself on a people that are obviously disappointed and disillusioned over his uninspiring and unimpressive representation.

One cannot ask Honourable Nwokocha to leave now that the ovation is high, because there's obviously no ovation for him, but then he should be honourable enough to leave, at least, out of respect for the angry youths and women whom he didn't consider important for human capital development in the last seven years.

Honourable Nwokocha clearly knows that the people of Isialangwa North and South have had enough of him, and thus are not willing to look in his direction again, therefore any attempt to play the role of a spoiler against those who had enabled his victory in the past, would amount to careless political suicide.

Enyinnaya Daniel Nwokocha

Writes from Nvosi in Isialangwa

South LGA.