Political and economic racism that saturated the American political scene has obscured its traditional notion and belief of a nation as a melting pot. America comprised of people of diverse ethnic, economic, cultural, social and political entities, a sort of a rainbow, which Nigeria as a nation state should try to emulate as it strives to become a nation.

On April 29, 2001, Nigerian residents from around Chicago converged at a Nigerian restaurant and nightclub formerly known as Equator to raise fund for Mr. Felix "Bestman" Ugho. Mr. Ugho, a native of Amaifeke in Orlu local government municipality of Imo State, who is preparing to contest election for the chairmanship of his local government in 2002 election.

It was a rare sight and occasion that afford Nigerians of all works of life, ethnic, social, cultural and economic persuasions to come together as Nigerians, and also as a people, for a common interest. In this case, it was to help Mr. Ugho’s effort at leading a noble pursuit at changing the Nigerian political landscape.

The fundraising was held under the auspices of an organization based in Chicago called the Nigerian American Democratic Development, Inc. The fundraising was well attended. The attendees showed a spat of enthusiasm and sense of need to do whatever it takes to dent the obfuscate and stagnant political impasse that gripped Nigeria and has become a common fixture in the country since its semi independence from the British in 1960. They were signs of hunger and the need to conquer and demolish all the impediments that erode confidence in the Nigerian polity, especially on the wanton and disgraceful behavior of the Nigerian political leadership and their practices of today.

An informal conversation with some of the attendees showed that Nigerians in the Diaspora have finally smelled the roses and are now demonstrating a sense of urgency to build a political grounds work that would challenge the status quo, in the process making a difference. They showed signs of being tired of sitting on the fence. They felt that action should speak louder, than cheap talk especially the endless arguments, which is common among Nigerians particularly during a time like this, should be set aside to help this young man achieve his noble goal. Some of those that I talked to confided that Mr. Ugho would win and that this may be the beginning of a transfer of leadership mantle from the establishment politicians to a new breed of Nigerian reformers.

Mr. Ugho’s fundraising party also afforded an opportunity of a life time to witness such an evolution of a normally placid, reserved and nonchalant Nigerian citizens in the Diaspora towards an attempt to active participation in decision making process back in Nigeria. I was opportune to be called upon by Mike Ukaigwe, the past president of one of the most powerful and visible Nigerian organization in Chicago, also the secretary general of NNDD, who was the backbone of the fundraising party to ask Mr. Ugho some questions.

Since majority of Nigerian politicians lacked vision and general sense of purpose compounded with their lack of principle thereof, I proceeded to ask Mr. Ugho four basic and simple questions:

To define himself so that people would be able to decipher who he is and what he stands for

To state the reason why he wanted to be the chairman of Orlu local government

To tell the audience what distinguished him from the other politicians who were currently serving themselves and not the people that elected them, and finally

To tell the people why he should be supported

Mr. Ugho answered each question with eloquence and cohesiveness. He used the opportunity to outline his vision for Orlu local government people in a simple way that the man on the street would comprehend easily. Among his visions are electrification, hospitals and rural industrialization. He argued that "our people have suffered too much for too long. It is time for a new direction (away from the status quo)…"

The entire event was well choreographed. Dr. Idreez Olawale, one of the sponsors of the event and a political adviser to NADD gave a compendium history of the association. Nigerians paid for the event through voluntary contributions. African Heritage Restaurant, one of the Nigerian elite restaurants in Chicago and owned by Christy Njoku, provided the food at no charge. Conspicuously absent from the event was those maladies that Nigerians usually bring with them when they attend functions of this magnitude and that tells the story of how seriously they viewed Mr. Ugho’s candidacy and their willingness not to "throw sand in the gari." The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Chuma Uduko called it a "political investment."

However, this is not the first time that the Nigerian citizens residing in Chicago area have sponsored a candidate to run for office in Nigeria. In 1999, a group of Nigerian medical doctors taxed themselves in order to sponsor a candidate for senatorial election in Nigeria. That candidate won and took his seat among his peers in the Nigerian senate. As soon as this candidate took office, he turned his back on those who labored to elect him. As time progressed, he was co-opted and became part of the Nigerian political nemesis. However, this time around, it seems that ordinary Nigerian citizens have found a true candidate who would make a difference if elected.

If Mr. Ugho wins, like in Macbeth story in Shakespearean novel where the three witches told Macbeth that he would only be killed by a man not born of a woman and the prophecy went into his head. Macbeth eventually perished despite his arrogance and his belief of being invincible. If the Nigerian politicians continue to behave like Macbeth, they would suffer the same faith like Macbeth; in this case, it would be at the altar of electoral defeat, resulting in erosion of their iron grip on power.

If Mr. Ugho wins, perhaps, the hundreds of Nigerian organizations in the Diaspora would start sponsoring more candidates that would run for office in Nigeria. Or perhaps, all the Nigerian associations in the Diaspora would form an alliance and pull their resources together in order to secure a competitive edge over the candidates of the status quo, the antagonist for a change in Nigeria.

Mr. Ugho has a heavy burden placed upon him. He is the hope and sunshine for a change in the Nigerian politics. If he succeeds, he will be a hero and would have an everlasting Impact in the history of Nigerian politics. The audience at the fundraising event implored Mr. Ugho to always remember why he ran for the office and to ignore the politics of vindictiveness, economic ten percent and general ineptness if he wins. On the other hand, if he fumbles, the impact would exceed a sound of super sonic boom. It would send a mixed warning to the world one of which is that Nigeria and its political operatives are paying lip services to democracy. The forces that enjoy the status quo in the current political dispensation would retort that "I told you so, just leave us alone."

Whatever may be the case, Good luck to Mr. Ugho on his journey to redemption against the forces of obstruction for the forces of good always prevail over the forces of evil.