AFIKPO THE CHOICE IS YOURS! BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

By Prince Charles Ekanem.

As the calendar page turns to September, it's officially the beginning of the end for 2018. Independence Day, Parties Primaries, primaries litigations, campaigns and before you know it's 2019 General Elections and ALL WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED IS JUST THE LOGO AND ACRONYM. THE FULL NAME DOES NOT MATTER BECAUSE WHERE YOU GO THEY GO (Afikpo Chic during declaration). 

For Afikpo Federal Constituency, 2019 is a big year as Ebonyi State and Nigeria faces its general elections. Like the previous elections, we can expect memes, mud-slinging between leaders, and maybe the unearthing of a few scams as well. Overall, prime-time news is going to be way more exciting than any other in the series of Afikpo legislative elections as the PEOPLE CHOOSES BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

The narrative is that Afikpo have a chance to rewrite their history by accepting light into their communities. This can only be achieve if the people energize mobilize, support and pray for the emergence of HON. MARIA UDE NWACHI , Ude Igbo, Nwanyi Afikpo,  Ude Ehugbo and Best Chic Ever Liveth (BCEL)  popularly known as Afikpo Chic as member representing Afikpo South/ North in the National Assembly comes 2019-2023.

She has done her bit to set Afikpo North on a path of glory and wants to extend it to entire Afikpo. However, the path to glory for the constituency is a long and rather arduous one much like the pothole-ridden roads of Aba, a city which never gets treated like others.

Perhaps the key to Afikpo's glory days lies not in the pocket of one leader or one party. Maybe we need a blended ideology led by an effective leader to set the community on the path of success. Socialism no longer means Marxism, capitalism does not always have to translate to profit mongering corrupt businessmen. These narratives are archaic and around the world, we see examples of how countries have redefined such stereotypes. For example, universal healthcare, affordable education and social security are apter present-day adjectives for socialism. Similarly, technology, communication and renewable energy are all born out of capitalist business nations.

As Afikpo gear up to watch more hugs, winks and new slogans, as elections move away from polling booth to WhatsApp groups, perhaps we need to rethink whether contest between two parties (PDP and APC) is the best-suited solution for us. Afikpo is a vast and diverse nation that demands an effective  representation and not otherwise.

Let's ensure that the political narrative for 2019 general elections is not between two personas. It has to be between many parties and many political ideologies. We need more representation from regional parties and marginalized political opinions. The strongest democracies are those where weakest voices are heard.

Let's ensure that upcoming elections are not between two leaders. When you cast your vote make sure your voice and immediate concerns are addressed by the leader who gets your vote. If potholes, water crisis and women's safety are an issue for you, then cast your vote to those who solve them. Give your local issues a voice at a national platform, only then can your day-to-day lives can get better.

It can only get better with Hon Maria Ude Nwachi, the Minority Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly who recently defected to ALLIANCE FOR NEW NIGERIA (ANN).

Afikpo people rise to your greatness by voting enmass for Afikpo Chic and ANN comes February Next year.