“Look for three things in a person- intelligence, energy and integrity. If they don’t have the last one don’t even bother with the first two.” –
Warren Buffet.
My great people of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise, I deem it an honour and a great privilege to stand in your presence today to declare my candidacy to represent you at the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). One may wonder where the temerity is coming from, but the answer is hidden in the burning and genuine desire to render selfless service to my people.
Right from my childhood in Oboama, the stories of the experiences of Mbaise women protesters of 1929 and the early politicians, whose labours led to the federation of the five court areas in 1941, have inspired my dreams, aspirations and envisioned roles. Today’s declaration is the manifestation of a dream incubated and waiting for the right time and opportunity. I believe the right time is here and now.
Over the past 25 to 30 years, I have acted in many roles—big and small, sad and funny, but in every instance, the characters and events were contrived and imaginary. With this Declaration today, I am auditioning for my biggest and most realistic and non-fictional role of bringing my knowledge, skills and wealth of experience to bear in providing result oriented and fruitful representation of real event to real and un-imaginary people of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise. The challenges therefore are enormous but I am well-prepared to surmount these challenges.
My people, my envisioned role, in the scenario of 2019, is not that of the “tycoon,” “cultist” or “professor” you’ve seen on the screen—but rather, the persona of a simple servant, and a loyal Son, of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise. The political setting, in Abuja, may be unfamiliar to me, but the problems and terrible dilemmas faced by my people and this constituency are burning issues familiar to you and I.
The 80 communities that make up Mbaise District have suffered untold neglect at the Federal Level over the years in terms of dearth of critical infrastructures, high level of illiteracy, economic stagnation, restive youths, ill-trained artisans and unemployment.
However, it is important to remind us, that the problems we have faced all this years can be ascribed to a large extent, the kind of leadership and representation we have had. A time has come when we have to apply the advice of an American Philanthropist, Warren Buffet quoted above. A time has come when we have to change the status quo and give power to people who realize that ultimate power is the ability to produce the result we desire most and create value for others in the process.
Sending me to the legislature, would be the beginning of a much-needed corrective process and change of status quo. I believe that with the support of the people of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency, and the grand political party that has embraced me, we can become game changers, making the desired difference and bringing hope and succor to our people.
I make no claim to miraculous powers or magical solutions. You hardly need to be told, that I alone cannot heal social wounds and right political wrongs that have been left unattended to for untold eons. Nevertheless, with your unalloyed support and through the help of Almighty God, I am going to the National Assembly, to help:
Make good laws—not to look for contracts
Ensure that Federal allocations for social development come to our communities—rather than get siphoned into private accounts.
Provide education for the less privileged
Become an instrument for the uplift and advancement of youths, artisans, and the aged.
Instill a work ethics in our youths
Therefore, if it is your collective will to cast me as a legislator, in the days ahead, I’ll be delivering lines from a political script—vying for the most important, and prestigious, role I have thus far been privileged to play.
I want to play a leading role in the struggle to improve life for my people—the struggle to reduce crime, increase employment, improves education and establishes a Federal Presence in the district.
You, the people of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise are now my directors; and the APGA is my producer. I vow to be an action character in the National Assembly; an irrepressible warrior on your behalf and for the advancement of our great nation.
I thank you all for your patience and audience. God bless you all.
*Being a declaration speech made by Kanayo O Kanayo, MFR, for the House of Representatives under the banner of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), at Ezinihitte Mbaise Headquarters on Monday, June 18, 2018