A former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill once stated that “Those who would treat polities and morality apart will never understand the one or the other”. That is the living philosophy of a great mind who refused to be intimidated by the rascality of warfare by the German War lord, Adolf Hitler.
The nexus between polities and morality are inseparable like blood and vein. In the context of this statement made some centuries ago, African leaders seem to neglect these political postulations. The reason is that African leaders pay tribute to lip service rather than actual development, hence, the third world nickname is giving to us.
In most African countries, governance including democracy and polities are characterized with wrong ideas, aberration, greed and great abnormalities, with primitive accumulation of wealth. The underdevelopment syndrome and poverty are now running like an enterprise, especially in Nigeria with weak institutions, even the constitution is not properly written to help the situation rather to impoverish the populace. African politicians must learn to have large heart to accommodate and bridge the gap left by the available law.
Very disheartening is the issue of bad roads, corruption and exclusion of others from political gains.
Practically, we have seen here in Nigeria where a serving Minister will bid for a contract and win it where those senior citizens will collect money to maintain our refineries and will only embezzled the money by helping our local refineries to collapse.
The Nigerian politicians aided business mogul who collect subsidy money and will not import fuel, the purpose of which the money was given, the new lexicon is now the fuel subsidy money and the cabal.
It is on record that no politician can excel in this country if he or she separates himself or herself from the spirit of development. In the old Athens philanthropism and democracy were inseparable, infact John W. Gardner described philanthropy as “Private initiatives for the public good” while others described, “the aim of philanthropy as the improvement of the quality of lives of others.”
It is interesting to note the classical view of philanthropy which is essentially the nature and purpose of humanity, culture and civilization, which help the purpose of life in education through self development in body, mind and spirit.
Hon. Maurice Pronen having known the political disconnect in our environment decided to criss-cross the length and breath of Ogoni to change the political misfortune of the people in his own way.
Apparently, Ogoni needed a rebirth of new political culture and concept that promote peace; Love and entrepreneurship, this will in no small measure dislodge poverty and underdevelopment in a fast lane.
The era where Ogoni man holds high office and position but refuses to help people has gone, with this concept of the young breed of politicians of which Hon. Maurice Pronen has just metamorphosed.
Most importantly, this gesture must be sustained to breed prosperity within the Ogoni ethnic nationality, by so doing the business sector in Ogoni will grow tremendously to eradicate the years of backwardness and economic strangulation.
As a man of integrity, his first political surprise was his thanksgiving service and reception immediately after his election which was held at Bori, the Headquarters of Khana Local Government Area.
This is quite different from the usual way “politicians response after wining an election. This uncommon behaviour have created a higher level of political understanding of the immediate environment”.
Surprisingly, within 365 days in the National Assembly, Hon., Pronen captured the mind of many people, with the visit to the Legislative Assembly of Khana and Gokana Local Government Area, indicating the testimony of his grassroots vision to mix with the people at all levels.
While other legislators find it difficult to visit their constituencies, Hon. Pronen almost operates from his home town, this new platform has raised the bar for political office holders that the people always come first.
The most astonishing one was the establishment of women empowerment programme, which galvanizes his constituency by initiating entrepreneurship at the three wards of Soda city.
Furthermore, he has instituted a project that caters for the unemployed women to undertake a business of their choice, with a grant of N50,000 Naira to each of them, about 50 women have so far been empowered in the first phase of the progamme.
Increasing his political profile, Hon. Maurice Pronen has proposed to support cooperative societies with a sum of N250,000 and above to youths for promoting agricultural sector.
On vocational skills training, the member House of Representatives has also planned very appropriately to train youths who are willing in the areas of welding, fabrication, auto-mechanic works, driving, among others. It will interest you to know that the civil society organization will partner and oversee this process.
Very interestingly, educational uplifement is not left out of this wonderful gesture, of this young politician, as educational materials and support for SSCE/JAMB fees in secondary schools will be supported massively. Hon. Pronen is not a new corner in the business of politics, as a one time Vice Chairman Gokana Local Government Area and also Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Local Government Area respectively.
The Objective of all these grassroots upliftment is strengthen the economic capacity of his people, to improve the employability and increase the economic base of the women, while promoting food security which will lead to conflict resolutions.
The Federal House of Representatives member knows the Ogoni terrain where poverty holds many captive and enslavement. This background has prompted many to dine with social malady and destruction, this is why Hon. Maurice Pronen, is instituting constituency development programmes that will correct some of the political neglect and avariciousness by few Ogoni politicians in the past.
It was on this principle that Adam Smith, a great economist said, ‘No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable”.
Written by Pius Dukor
