{"id":10791,"date":"2026-10-30T15:47:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T15:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/?p=10791"},"modified":"2026-10-30T15:47:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T15:47:39","slug":"onyirimba-and-the-case-for-a-new-political-order-in-okigwe-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/10\/30\/onyirimba-and-the-case-for-a-new-political-order-in-okigwe-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"Onyirimba and the Case for a New Political Order in Okigwe Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Guest columnist:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Onyebuchi Okebaram<\/p>\n

As Okigwe Zone approaches the 2027 senatorial election, the central question is no longer simply who will occupy the Senate seat, but who has the capacity, vision and commitment to change the fortunes of the people.<\/p>\n

For Attorney Charles Chibuike Onyirimba, the contest presents an opportunity to advance a different proposition: people-centric political representation must become a deliberate instrument of development, accountability and economic renewal.<\/p>\n

Across the six local government areas of Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, Ihitte\/Uboma and Obowo, the challenges are familiar. Poor infrastructure constrains economic activity. Unemployment frustrates young people. Farmers struggle to access markets, while traders and artisans contend with rising operating costs and inadequate facilities. Communities also face persistent concerns about security, healthcare, education and the quality of public services.<\/p>\n

These are not problems that can be solved by campaign slogans, political endorsements or occasional financial handouts. They demand purposeful leadership, sustained advocacy, effective legislation and a representative who understands that the Senate seat is a public trust, not a personal trophy.<\/p>\n

This is where Onyirimba’s candidacy must be examined: not merely as another contest for political office, but as a proposition for changing the culture and expectations of representation in Okigwe Zone.<\/p>\n

From political representation to practical development<\/p>\n

For too long, political debates have often revolved around personalities, party affiliations, community loyalties and the distribution of political favours. Yet, after the rallies, promises and celebrations, the ordinary citizen must still confront the realities of daily life.<\/p>\n

The graduate searching for meaningful employment, the farmer struggling to transport produce, the trader battling poor roads, the artisan seeking capital and the family concerned about healthcare all have a legitimate question: what difference does political representation make to their lives?<\/p>\n

Okigwe needs to move beyond the politics of occupation towards the politics of performance. The value of a senator should not be determined by the number of political gatherings attended, the volume of publicity generated or the generosity of campaign-period handouts. It should be assessed by the quality of legislative contributions, the seriousness of oversight, the effectiveness of federal advocacy and the results pursued in the public interest.<\/p>\n

Onyirimba’s supporters present his candidacy as an opportunity to place competence, professional exposure and a development-oriented outlook at the centre of that conversation. The challenge is to translate these attributes into clear priorities and measurable commitments that citizens can scrutinise.<\/p>\n

Jobs, enterprise and economic opportunity<\/p>\n

Youth unemployment deserves particular attention. Many young people possess qualifications, technical skills and entrepreneurial ambitions but struggle to find opportunities commensurate with their abilities. Some turn to commercial motorcycle and tricycle operations, petty trading and other informal activities to survive. These livelihoods deserve respect, but Okigwe must also ask why its economy is not creating more opportunities for productive growth.<\/p>\n

The answer requires more than promises of employment. The zone needs stronger investment advocacy, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, vocational development, agricultural value chains, agro-processing and opportunities in technology and other productive sectors.<\/p>\n

Farmers need better market access, storage facilities and support services. Traders need safer business environments and functional infrastructure. Women entrepreneurs require improved access to finance and enterprise support. Artisans need opportunities to modernise and expand their businesses.<\/p>\n

An effective senator cannot single-handedly create jobs or control every economic programme. However, through legislation, budget scrutiny, oversight and engagement with federal ministries and agencies, a committed representative can advocate policies and interventions that help unlock opportunities.<\/p>\n

Onyirimba should, therefore, be judged by the clarity of his economic agenda, the practicality of his proposals and his ability to build productive partnerships that serve the interests of the six local government areas. So far, these have not been matched by any other candidate.<\/p>\n

Infrastructure and security cannot wait<\/p>\n

Roads are more than physical structures; they connect communities to markets, schools, hospitals and opportunities. Poor roads raise transport costs, damage livelihoods and discourage investment. Unreliable electricity, inadequate water supply and poorly maintained public facilities further undermine economic and social development.<\/p>\n

Okigwe needs a representative who can identify critical infrastructure priorities, pursue federal interventions and maintain constructive engagement with the relevant authorities. Candidates must also be honest about institutional boundaries. Some responsibilities rest with the Federal Government, others with the state or local governments. Credible leadership means understanding those distinctions and working across them rather than claiming powers the Senate does not possess.<\/p>\n

Security is equally fundamental. No community can prosper when residents fear for their safety, farmers cannot work confidently or businesses hesitate to operate. A senator can support effective security policies through legislation, oversight, advocacy and engagement with relevant authorities. Community institutions and security agencies must also cooperate within the law, with due regard for the rights and safety of citizens.<\/p>\n

The objective should be clear: safer communities, protected livelihoods and an environment in which people can invest, work and raise their families with greater confidence.<\/p>\n

The difference between promises and performance<\/p>\n

Every candidate can promise roads, scholarships, jobs, healthcare and economic transformation. The real test is whether those promises are realistic, relevant to the office and supported by a credible plan.<\/p>\n

Okigwe should demand that every candidate answer basic fundamental questions: Are you worthy of the peopls trust? What are your priorities? How will you pursue them within the responsibilities of the Senate? What evidence will demonstrate progress? How will constituents hold you accountable?<\/p>\n

These questions are especially important when assessing a candidate’s previous public record, professional experience and stated development agenda. Claims must be examined against available evidence, not accepted simply because they sound attractive.<\/p>\n

For Onyirimba, the expectation should be no different. His proposed development agenda should identify priority legislation, federal projects requiring advocacy, economic opportunities worth pursuing and practical mechanisms for consulting constituents. Regular town-hall meetings and public progress reports would help ensure that communication continues beyond the election.<\/p>\n

A senator must not disappear from public engagement after securing a mandate as has been the case in Okigwe, only to return when another election approaches. Representation is a continuing obligation.<\/p>\n

Okigwe must reject godfatherism<\/p>\n

Perhaps, the most consequential decision facing the electorate is whether to perpetuate a political culture in which public office serves private interests or demand a system that places citizens first.<\/p>\n

Political mentorship, party organisation and legitimate campaign support are normal parts of democratic politics. The danger arises when political financiers or powerful patrons expect elected representatives to subordinate the electorate’s interests to private obligations.<\/p>\n

The message must be unequivocal: any candidate seeking the 2027 mandate to exploit the people, turn public office into a personal enrichment scheme or advance the selfish interests of political godfathers will face the people’s verdict at the ballot box. Okigwe must reject such political opportunism and choose leadership committed to service, accountability and genuine transformation.<\/p>\n

The Senate seat must never become a platform for repaying political benefactors, rewarding personal loyalty or dispensing public resources to a privileged few. It is a public trust conferred by the electorate and must be exercised solely in the interest of the people.<\/p>\n

Citizens, however, must also recognise their responsibility in breaking the cycle of godfatherism. It thrives when voters abandon independent judgment, sell their mandates for temporary gains and allow elected representatives to operate without scrutiny.<\/p>\n

\u00a0A people who desire accountable leadership must protect their votes, examine candidates critically and refuse to mortgage their collective future.<\/p>\n

One zone, six local governments, one shared future<\/p>\n

Okigwe’s diversity should be a source of strength, not a weapon for political division. Each of the six local government areas has distinct needs, but all share an interest in better infrastructure, economic opportunity, education, healthcare and security.<\/p>\n

The next senator must understand that representation extends beyond one’s community, clan or political supporters. It requires listening to competing concerns, setting priorities fairly and working for the entire zone, including communities that may have voted differently.<\/p>\n

Onyirimba’s proposition must, therefore, be measured against the breadth of his vision for Okigwe, the practicality of his plans and his willingness to submit his performance to public scrutiny. The goal should not simply be to install a different individual in office, but to establish a higher standard for the office itself.<\/p>\n

Young people, women, professionals, traditional institutions, journalists and community organisations all have a role in this process. Their participation should continue after election day through public engagement, independent scrutiny and persistent demands for results.<\/p>\n

2027 must mark a turning point<\/p>\n

Okigwe must not allow 2023 to recur in 2027. Next year’s election must not be hijacked by political merchants, vote-buying and promises that evaporate once the votes are counted. Changing the occupant of an office does not, by itself, dismantle the culture that has undermined effective representation.<\/p>\n

Real transformation demands a new breed of leadership, a higher standard of public accountability and an electorate determined to accept nothing less.<\/p>\n

Attorney Charles Chibuike Onyirimba has an opportunity to make the case that Okigwe deserves representation driven by capacity, purposeful engagement and measurable development. His candidacy should be assessed on the strength of that proposition and the credibility of the commitments he makes to the people.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the choice is bigger than one candidate or one political party. It is a choice between treating representation as a political entitlement and recognising it as a solemn public responsibility; between promises without accountability and a development agenda that can be examined; between patronage and service.<\/p>\n

Okigwe deserves a senator whose ambition is tied to the progress of its people, whose loyalty is to the public interest and whose performance can be judged by more than political rhetoric.<\/p>\n

In 2027, the people must make their votes count, not merely to choose who occupies the Senate seat, but to determine the standard by which that office will be exercised.<\/p>\n

The mandate belongs to the people. The responsibility belongs to the elected. And the ultimate test of representation is what it delivers to Okigwe Zone.<\/p>\n

Onyebuchi Okebaram wrote from Okohia, Imo State<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n