Imo 2015: Osmond Ukanacho in Cyclic History

Anthony de Mello, the great Catholic sage, in his wise teaching on homecoming, divided human historical journeys to self-actualisation in triadic leaps: “There are three stages in one's spiritual development,” said the Master. “The carnal, the spiritual and the divine.” “What is the carnal stage?” asked the eager disciples. “That's the stage when trees are seen as trees and mountains as mountains.” “And the spiritual?” “That's when one looks more deeply into things- Then trees are no longer trees and mountains no longer mountains.” “And the divine?” “Ah, that's Enlightenment,” said the Master with a chuckle, “when trees become trees again and mountains, mountains.”

This conception of homecoming necessitates constant redress of the self or revisit and awareness return, which is of cyclical framework, and as cyclic, it implies frequent repetition in same manner and order. It is suggestive that, to do this, at every point in time, whether in the carnal, spiritual or divine domain of eventful unfolding, there is need for self-consciousness, which helps one to discern and place himself in the frank and authentic auto-route to the primordial ordering of time, being, becoming and unfolding of events in same and simulated modes as in time past.

Grand historians for centuries past are of varied views of history; one of which is the cyclic theory, which opines that the major forces that motivate human actions return in cycle. These forces include spirituality, politics, philosophy, science, psychology, morality, creativity, curiosity and astronomical conjunctions, etc. The problem with humans is the want of serene consciousness in discerning when the cyclic return has leaped from the carnal to the spiritual and then to the divine or vice versa.

Events, be they religious, political, economic, etc., recur always, but how serenely disposed are we humans to discern what is at stake, is the central problem. The biblical Magi passed these three levels of homecoming and reception of Eventus Christi (the event of Christ), and thus left to behold the newborn King. But when the carnally yours discovered that the long awaited Divine-homecoming by both the carnal and spiritual leaders, was live on the world-stage, vowed to destroy the divinely indestructible.

The triple domains of homecoming are essentially necessary, even for the one possessed and guided by the Holy Spirit; else one would not know when the Spirit leaves him. This was the lot of Judge Sampson in the Bible. Whoever the enlightenment consciousness abandons, drops to the carnal, which implies the departure of the Spirit. This has been the fate of Kings, kingdoms, rulers and governors over centuries and in cyclic history.

In religion and politics, the enlightenment consciousness or the notion of the Divine in history, marks the vitality-seal of authority from the giver of power; as power is given not taken. When this divine seal quits a leader, he ceases to be the Man-after-God's-own-heart. It left Eli and his household, left King Saul, etc., and as a result of this knowledge, David in the Psalm pleaded with God 'to take not the Holy Spirit from him.' In the Bible, when the divine seal dwelled with a Kingdom, new Kings at the death of the previous one were anointed by the High Priest. But when the divine seal departed, which implied change of kingly lineage, it took a Prophet to obstruct the earthly foundation and from the cyclic cosmic domain declare a new order and change of kingship lineage.

It is on this note that Thucydides, the ancient Greek historian, once declared that he had written his record of the Peloponnesian wars to teach men its lessons since identical events were bound to happen again. Similarly, the great Greek idealist, Plato, also taught the doctrine of the Great Year at the end of which the planets would occupy the same positions as before and all sublunary events would be reduplicated. This conception was expressed as a popular axiom in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10: “There is nothing new under the sun.”

One obvious manner for the constant realisation of the cyclic nature of history and the homecoming of the people's wish to them as the great Italian thinker, Croce remarked, is through the natural deployment and employment of the Spirit using geniuses, or the use of the creative minority [a minor, neglected or forgotten personality], as the agency which redeems the masses- The isolated busy servant in the field toiling gracefully.

Our State Imo for years now have been ruled by leaders who passed from the first two domains of homecoming to power, and arrived at the position of authority by divine decree, but have all failed in their continual possession of the power-giving divine Spirit. In recent years, Chief Ikedi Ohakim entered into the apex leadership position of the State by this divine action, but was unaware of the whimsical dwelling of the Spirit. He boldly vouched for self-survival like humans and King Saul in 2011, but was defeated by the powers of enlightenment consciousness- The Divine. This accounted for the emergence of Owelle Rochas Okorocha who swiftly entered the cyclic history of governorship in Imo State by dint of Divine decree, but suddenly has remained unaware of the prompt departure of the Spirit from him like King Saul.

Whenever the Spirit moves in Imo State, it changes the kingship lineage. When it left the Military in 1992, it not only changed the kingship lineage but in doing this, differentiated it from the political party holding the central national power. Thus, Chief Evan Enwerem (NRC) became the Executive Governor of Imo State against the speculation that it would favour the almighty SDP (that later truly won the Presidential election). In 1999, the emergence of little known and less popular Chief Achike Udenwa as the PDP gubernatorial candidate defeating great political warlords was a divine action. He managed to please and guide the divine element, and power rested with him till he left office, and was shifted from the kingship lineage of the PDP to the PPA; thus the emergence of Chief Ikedi Ohakim. When Ohakim lost the divine element, power shifted again to the APGA; thus the emergence of Owelle Rochas Okorocha. And like his predecessor (Chief Ikedi Ohakim) who made himself a play-god by shifting the kingship-lineage and moved from PPA to the PDP, Rochas has made bolder step as another contemporary play-god to reallocate by himself (and in loco Dei- Standing in for God) the kingship lineage to where he mortally believes next power will come from to rule the State.

In all these, only but for a short while has Imo been ruled by the political party holding the Presidency. Same story, same actors on stage have resurfaced as in 2007: Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha (as Engr. Charles Ugwu), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (live and direct, reincarnated like our ancestors in the eternality of life, in sameness and substance) both struggling for thicket and flag, with simulated cases again in court; while election time draws fast closer. Same story, the APGA (with Capt. Iheanacho, representing Chief Martin Agbaso), and an aggrieved APGA leader (Chief Chekwas Okorie quitted and formed the UPP) like the aggrieved Dr Orji Uzor Kalu who in 2007 left the PDP and formed the PPA that took over the mantle of leadership in the Imo State).

Both in the overwhelming truth in cyclic history and the ever readiness of the divine spirit to quit whoever wrongs it and thus declares change of kingship lineage, it is evident that a lesser known gubernatorial candidate, (from a party far-distant from the homes of both the late and mid-adult political parties in the State, and is in the farm and field toiling in the hurdles of using creativity and personal life-sacrifices to guide the Father's flock), will be located by the cyclic cosmic light. And, like unto Prophet Samuel, a new cosmic power has decreed a new kingship and priestly lineage for Imo 2015. Like the little David, forgotten by all that he is in the field toiling alone with his life resources, the oil-pot has in the ethereal domain refused to flow on the heads of the combatant and bickering gubernatorial candidates from all elder-brothers' political parties, for it flows only in solitary stages, just as God did not pass before Prophet Elijah in busy and noisy winds except when the peaceful and silent breeze passed by. Dr Osmond Ukanacho has been sent for like David, last-born of Jesse- Thus, his homecoming, and except his arrival and anointment, the feast shall never begin.

The United Progressive Party (UPP) has thus become not just a party to beat in Imo 2015, but the newly chosen kingship lineage where the oil will gush. Those who have eyes like the Magi must read the signs of time and the emissions from transcendental cosmic vibrations, and thus locate the Newborn King, especially all Imo youths, and be quick to join the new King like Jonathan son of King Saul did to the youthful David. It is doubtful if there are still Magi in Imo today. It is doubtful if the Prophet that bears the oil- Prof Protus Nathan Uzorma, who has in the lonely field of shepherding discovered the King after-God's-own heart, has realised that the cosmic imperative and extraterrestrial charge on the olden biblical Samuel is today on him; that at all times, and despite foiling intimidations that might surge from any angle, even in the household of Jesse where the new King is, he is obliged to deliver him as obedience is better than sacrifice. It is doubtful if Dr Osmond Imoamaonyeukwu Ukanacho knows that except that he guides his ways like Chief Udenwa, the divine Spirit may depart from him (as It did to Ohakim and now to Okorocha) and thus compel a change in kingship lineage.

I went this far to elaborate on the fact that in every epoch, the unseen hand of the Creator returns events and stage-actors in sameness and simulacrum, to lift mankind across the chasm of boredom to infinity in cyclic time-frame. Dr Osmond Imo Ukanacho in the supernatural domain has the Starlight of the Coat of Arm in Imo State beaming to the sight of transcendental viewers, and as a youth like David, he has many tasks ahead. It is doubtful if he will make lasting equal friendship with the Imo youths about him toiling to celebrate glorious destiny, as he himself is a youth, and as the young King David did with Jonathan son of King Saul, and thus join the ancestral paths of his predecessors. It is doubtful if he will be a man of his words like King David to remember the household of Jonathan, even the crippled (infirmed one) that survives the lineage. Docility to the Spirit, faithfulness to pact and good works are the answer.

However, at all times, every apex leader in the State who dreams and desires continuity in leadership position must be conscious of the swift dialectics in homecoming, doing the right thing at the right time, and not to pray when it is time for action. Anthony de Mello on this narrated that: 'The Master never ceased to attack the notions about God that people entertain. “If your God comes to your rescue and gets you out of trouble,” he would say, “it is time you started searching for the true God.” When he asked to elaborate, this is the story he told: 'A man left a brand new bicycle unattended at the marketplace while he went about his shopping. He only remembered the bicycle the following day- and rushed to the marketplace expecting it would have been stolen. The bicycle was exactly where he had left it. Overwhelmed with joy he rushed to a nearby temple to thank God for having kept his bicycle safe- only to find, when he got out of the temple, that the bicycle was gone!” And as it is lost, it has gone to the hands of a newly divinely decreed possessor- The one that it fits and knows it uses most; who too might loss it same way one day to yet another!

Prince Stanley U Okoroji (08064378213)

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Articles by Prince Stanley U Okoroji