A SENATOR'S SECOND TERM BURDEN

By NBF News

When people surrender their collective political mandate will to exercise authority on their behalf, then, the person has incurred moral burden which cannot be squandered or sacrificed on the alter of selfish interest.

However, Okigwe zone in Imo state has always produced credible and trusted individuals to represent them in whatever capacity dating back to 1979 when late Senator Emeka Echeruo represented them, then, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and now Senator Sylvester Anyanwu, a business magnat and former chairman Senate Committee on Communication whose experience in ICT enabled him to make immense contribution in steering the affairs of the communication sector.

I want to commend Senator Anyanwu for the feat he has achieved within three years of being at the Senate as his quality and effective representation have uplifted the entire Imo North going by the advertorial in the Daily Sun of 14th December 2010 pages 14 and 15 entitled: Senator SN Anyanwu on the march for better Okigwe: One good term deserves another and the score card of Senator SN Anyanwu-A great Achiever and Okigwe of our dream.

In that publication, he showcased various projects executed for the benefit of his constituency. Many are completed. Some are ongoing while many are at the verge of taking off. Yes, as expected, the publication has continued to generate reactions. Some faulted it while many commended the senator and promised to vote for him again to finish the good work he started.

However, as it is, Okigwe zone is the centre of Imo politics considering the face-off between Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Gov Ikedi Ohakim: a development that has divided the zone between the two elephants with major stake holders are in Ararume's camp, such as Senator Anyanwu, Hon Omegara representing OkigweNorth in the Federal House Of Representatives, former majority leader Imo House of Assembly, Hon Stanford, Onyirimba and the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa.

However, it becomes difficult for the governor and his loyalist to stop Anyanwu from going back to the Senate, hence, the reason for his opponents capitalizing on minor typographical error in that publication to engage in a campaign of calumny against the senator who has performed wonderfully well. These opponents will stop at nothing to discredit one of the senators in the legislative functions in bettering the lives of their constituents.

I am from Ehime Mbano and as indicated in the advertorial, my local government area benefited in terms of infrastructural development and youth/women empowerment. There is a computer and skill acquisition center at Aba branch where youths go to acquire skills towards brighter future.

Meanwhile, it is uncalled for the opponents of Senator Anyanwu to engage in fault finding instead of appreciating and commending our illustrious son for making us proud as one of our own.

One thing is clear, the people of Okigwe zone have endorsed him for second term and no amount of attack on the senator will change that stand.

• Dickson Okafor
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