By Ugochimereze Chinedu Asuzu
FOCUS: Major Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe (RTD)
¶LOADED ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS!
¶ACCOMPLISHED MILITARY OFFICER!
¶IMPECCABLE TRACK RECORD IN NATIONAL SERVICES!
¶GREENHORN IN GRASSROOTS POLITICS!
¶LACKS GRASSROOTS APPEAL, MOTIVATION AND MOBILIZATION SKILLS!
¶LACKS FINANCIAL WAR CHEST TO PROSECUTE ELECTIONS!
¶LACKS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE!
¶RELATIVELY UNPOPULAR WITHIN HIS IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT AND AMONG HIS PEOPLE!
¶FAILED TO UTILIZE HIS NATIONAL REACH AND POSITIONS TO IMPACT ON HIS PEOPLE! ETC.
Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher and sage, in one of his numerous political quotes opines that “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” This quote is most reassuring when one comes in contact with the rich resume of the candidacy of the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Imo state, one is left in no doubt of his robust academic credentials, also of impeccable track record of public service. Unfortunately, in our clime where professors rig elections for illiterate politicians to rule over them, academic credentials seems nonsensical and grossly unstimulating, hence what should have been of positive advantage for Lincoln is somewhat dead on arrival, because Nigerians seems to have seen through it all, such that the more academically sustained some Nigerians become the more disappointing and patently disjunctive they appear in reality. In reality, most serious and industrious personalities Nigeria boasts of as successful, few there are among them that attains such height by parading academic CVs, that’s not to undermine anyone, but right before our eyes we’ve witnessed first class graduates in classrooms whom in real life situations are subservient to third class graduates even in their given field of study; such that paper qualifications most often doesn’t translate to composite cognitive score.
In assessing the person of Major General Ogunewe, what he has achieved for self and society in his sixty years of earthly existence, his unblemished career in the military which saw him transverse the entire cadres of the military command and hierarchy, having joined the military in his youthful age of about 17yrs, he rose sequentially through ranks and formations to the enviable rank of a major general in the Nigerian Army, up to the second in command at a time, having served as the Chief of policy and plans, among other very challenging and high profile positions held before his retirement.
Gen. Ogunewe (RTD), all through his career as a public servant and military officer no doubt did gave superlative account of his stewardship, hence his track record in service could be adjudged top notch.
Lincoln hails from Umudim-Akpodim, in Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA, born in 1963, May 16th (as his public records holds). Among the four candidates under scrutiny, Lincoln could be adjudged the one with the most transparent public records, most verse in public service, particularly in his given profession (military).
He is unassuming no doubt, but a versatile and amiable personality. If rich CV wins elections in Nigeria, no doubt Major General Lincoln Kaonyechere Jack Ogunewe (RTD) sure wouldn’t have a rival, Ndi-Imo would’ve simply called him and handed over the seat of government of the state on merit, because, not only that he posses very clear and unambiguous academic and public service records, he likewise posses the needed mental acuity and articulated acumen to make a difference in public administration, having performed creditably in his career in the military, which saw him superintending over the affairs of very sensitive and critical national assignments and administrative positions. Unfortunately, it goes without saying that certain things don’t just take shape on its own, rather experience and other associated variables contribute to make it happen.
The candidate of the AA in the forthcoming Imo gubernatorial election in November could be said to be well read, besides his O/levels, which he rounded up in 1980, from 1980-1996, Lincoln Ogunewe attended the following citadels of learning; Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria; Engineers Young Officer’s Course, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi, Benue State; 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander’s Course, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji; Range Management Course (Basic), Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji; Range Management Advance Course, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji; Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) Electrical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Junior Command/Staff College (Captain Level) Passed Junior Staff Course (pjsc), Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna, Nigeria; Engineer Officers Squadron Commanders Course, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi, and Construction Management Course, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Makurdi, Benue State.
Not resting on his oars, Lincoln yet in 1999, went further to enroll and obtained other academic laurels from Ghana, Certificate in Public Administration, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, ran certificate and post graduate causes with ivy leagues institutions such as Harvard Kennedy School USA, a former Defense Advisor with the United Nations; beside other certificate courses in various academic institutions around the globe, in 2008, Ogunewe obtained his Masters of Science (M.Sc) in Defence and Strategic Studies, from the National Defence University, Islamabad (Pakistan).
Lincoln holds the prestigious award of Member of Order of the Federal Republic (MFR.); in his meritorious military career, he likewise garnered the following awards: Research Medal (RM); Forces Service Star (FSS);
Meritorious Service Star (MSS), the Distinguished Service Star (DSS), and
General Staff Medal of Honour (GSMH) among others.
This is only but the abridged version of the rich resume of the man Major General Lincoln Kaonyechere Jack Ogunewe (RTD), and you must agree with me that it’s quite impressive and studded.
Nevertheless, while it is true that Ogunewe possesses very rich academic and public service credentials, he is not really a politician in the perception for which we know and understand politicians in our clime. He can best pass for a technocrat but certainly not a politician, because he lacks the political experience, sagacity and clout needed to convince and galvanize the electorates, who might pretty much see him as almost totally insulated from them, particularly the grassroots who seems not to have felt his impact while in active military and public services, even as a public servant holding such elevated positions in the Nigerian military formation his people didn’t know him that much, he grobbles in obscurity of public endorsement. A trip to his immediate environment in Mbaise threw him up as one who lost touch with his root while occupying the high public positions he has to his credit. Quite a pity that he is damn too unpopular within his immediate environment, such that some of his people when interviewed really didn’t know he occupied such high profile positions as above enumerated. Then one would imagine why Lincoln Ogunewe could not impact positively on his immediate environment and people while operating at such high levels in national assignments. The most painful aspect being that he was even accused of not assisting his people in his line of profession, almost totally inaccessible and noncommittal during his days in service.
As a military officer, no doubt Lincoln distinguished himself, unfortunately he seems not to have fully found his feet as a civilian since his retirement from the military, he smacks the writer more as one who wants to make use of his foray into politics to integrate himself back to the civilian life, most importantly reunite with his people, family and extended family alike who seems to have one or two misgivings to grind with him.
Another like it, Lincoln and his political party (AA) seems not to have the financial muscle and well articulated master plan or structures needed to convincingly prosecute this election, as the Action Alliance (AA) is not really a popular political party in Imo state, almost always serving as a mere fallback political platform for displaced politicians from the more situated political parties, usually a spare tyre of a sort for politicians who lost out of primaries from the more entrenched political parties; hence his campaigns so far has been uninspiring and lacks the needed touch of class and panache to be taken seriously.
Lincoln, though has a lot going for him but certainly not political sagacity, oratorical manipulation, charismatic mien or domineering personality that could trigger mass appeal, most certainly doesn’t possess street credibility and grassroots appeal that would’ve covered the obvious lapses of lack of motivation and drive, sometimes some even question his military prowess due to his somewhat timid appearance.
Though, some of his followers and media handlers attributes his somewhat timid appearance to humility, they could be right anyway, but it sure is not a plus to his political career, because, so far Ndi-Imo seem not too convinced of his ability to effectively challenge the incumbent, hence drag footing on buying into his project, at least not yet, perhaps he is yet keeping his magic wand close to his chest, as nothing tangible is on ground to really convince the people otherwise; more so in the Imo state of today wherein the people are anxiously looking to see a more positively aggressive candidate that would convince them of his or her readiness to take back power, hence the inability of most of the other candidates to live up to this expectation makes the incumbent unperturbed and yet having the aces intact irrespective of the obvious and or imaginary demerits.
Ogunewe, by all standard is a greehorn in participatory political activities, lacks experience and structure; little wonder he was outwitted and mesmerized by Sen. Athan Achonu when they contested the primaries in his erstwhile political party Labour Party (LP). Before that primaries of the LP, Ogunewe was the man to beat, as virtually all the bigwigs in the Labour Party were rooting for him, he had the overwhelming support of his then party men and women, but eventually lost to Athan Achonu via inexperience and inability to convert his hyped social media image to tangible gains during the primary election proper, which saw him licking the wounds of defeat, same scenario is likely going to play out in the main gubernatorial election come November, except the unimaginable or unthinkable happens (which is most unlikely).
Nigeria, from the look of things, judging from past antecedents cannot be said to be ripe to only assess and accept a candidate purely on the strength of his or her rich CV alone, his political structures and personality makes more sense to the electorates than his or her rich curriculum vitae, which like we analysed earlier would’ve given Ogunewe an edge above the others. Ogunewe sure needs to reassure the electorates that he is really in this race to win, otherwise he seems as one who only strives to create awareness of his person than one seriously planning on dethroning a political collosus like the incumbent. Hence, a lot of homework is needed on his part and that of his political party, particularly his media anchors to be able to present him to the electorates as not just a credible alternative but a serious one, that aspect of being a serious candidate seems vague and uninspiring. In essence, judging by what is on ground already, I don’t see the AA and her candidate springing any surprise in the forthcoming elections, because it goes deeper than merely parading loaded CV, for me I am of the opinion he is merely creating awareness for future consolidation, therefore ruled out of the game already before it began.
To be continued……..assessment of the Labour Party (LP) candidate loading.
©Ugochimereze
26/09/2023
