Ugwumba Chika Ishionwu 


By Chidinma Omar 


From his sphere of influence in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State, Ugwumba Chika Ishionwu is a politician passionately loved and followed by many across party divides. Despite not holding any elective office or political appointment, he is easily the most popular politician in Ikwuano LG followed earnestly by all, young and old. And as  the unfolding political developments at the national level trickles down to the grassroots, one of his loyalists quickly added him to an ADC  social media platform which he also quickly exited after a scathing comment.


Following him quickly, we threw a question at him: " But The Coalition also have top ranking APC members as it's facilitators, or are you happy with what is presently going on in the country?"


"Sir, like the person who added me to that WhatsApp group, your question is seeking a predetermined answer. But to clear all doubts, am not part of The Coalition. Yes, they are all shouting about leadership and good governance, but I want our people to remember that proverb which says becareful of the naked man who offers you his clothes. It's like a gold rush to the ADC and all, but we need lots of discernment at this point in time".


In the days ahead, Ishionwu's word cautionary word 'discernment' may either come to torment us or cheer us on. In the newly born Coalition, we see strange bed fellows who hitherto hurled insults at each other coming together to apparently salvage what they describe as the ship of state progressing towards inevitable wreck under a rudderless captain.


From both the ruling party and Coalition opposition, each side claim to have the secret formula that will salvage the situation. Ironically, some members of the Coalition had been part and parcel of administrations that had brought Nigeria to its wobbly, uncertain condition. But today the shout from the rooftops is about  salvaging the country. A little probing of this political adventurers would show that theirs is simply a twisted ego nursing larger than life ambition to hold the sceptre of rulership. After an 8-year long rule of late Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians realised that the agenda in  his three gruesome attempts to become  President was to control levers of  power and resources of the Country 


It is such demeaning desperation and insincerity of some  desperate politicians to grab power that paint all political actors negatively, with few exceptions like the young man - Ugwumba Chika Ishionwu - probably unknown at the national level but commanding awesome followership and respect in his immediate community .


Ugwumba Chika in tune with the fashion of contemporary politics had gravitated from the PDP, to APGA, to LP and currently APC. Along the line he had made his fair share of friends and does.


Ishionwu is not just a charismatic, pragmatic leader, but he is principled, dogged and ruthlessly inflexible on matters of good governance, welfare for the masses and accountability in government 


In response to our question how the emerging Coalition would affect his politics, he replied: "I stay with my earlier response that these times call for introspection and discernment. As for me personally, my objectives and direction are already set. I am the facilitator of  For Us  By Us, FUBU, a mass movement platform. Leadership is not about political party hopping. Leadership is about responding positively to the yearnings of the people.


"We at FUBU are not confused about delivering the goodies of life to our people. Therefore in this season of defections and Coalitions, we will even work harder to identify with the people and work to lessen their pains and sufferings. We will show workings by supporting our our farmers, traders, youths to access improved agricultural practices, opportunities, access to markets, jobs and skills acquisition programs for our youths.


"Whether in the Coalition or not, we know leaders who have let Nigeria down time and again. Look at their actions, not their words. Who are those who  truly  care about Ikwuano — leaders who are For Us, By Us! Together, we can build a better Ikwuano, Abia, and Nigeria, and we can do so because we purposed in our hearts to so do. Our projects across the length and breadth of Ikwuano LG was not achieved because we were in government! No, we purposed to be the change we preach"


 

+++ Omar is a journalist and Public Affairs Analyst