The blame game by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its woeful
and devastating defeat by Governor Rochas Okorocha under the seemingly
less attractive All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform will
definitely not change the history as regards the politics and
governance of Imo state since 2011.
Chief Ikedi Ohakim, whose second term ambition was disastrously
truncated by the defeat, recently attributed his loss to mere
miscalculation. Some gladiators equally upheld different versions of
the remote and immediate causes of the defeat including suspected
disenchantment and sabotage by the presidency. It was alleged the
former governor arrogantly disrespected the office of Vice President
and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during the days of Late President
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
For Ohakim, President Jonathan was inconsequential. Those he
recognized and accorded respect were the Late Yar’Adua, his wife Turai
and members of the first family. Unknowingly, Ohakim and his followers
were busy staging a solidarity rally for Late Yar’Adua in Owerri
unaware that the latter has been confirmed dead in Abuja. Ohakim’s
subsequent political moves to smartly integrate himself into Mr.
President kitchen cabinet was punitively rebuffed.
During the 2011 general elections, Jonathan reportedly embraced
Okorocha for the governorship of Imo state under APGA that equally
fielded him as its presidential candidate. His relationship with
ex-governor Peter Obi and the massive support accorded his 2011
presidential project by APGA probably informed his decision to deliver
tacit support and protection to Okorocha. In his wildest imagination,
Jonathan never believed that Okorocha would today lead the opposition
against his re-election in the South East. Consequentially, Ohakim and
PDP were routed by Imo electorates. His alleged poor performance,
recklessness, highhandedness and impunity as analysts posited, also
contributed to his loss. For instance, the alleged manhandling of a
catholic priest by his security aides was among his many albatross
which consequently pitched him against the catholic community that
accounts for 60% voting strength in Imo. The military were massively
deployed to keep vigil and further ensure that Okorocha’s mandate
under APGA was not stolen by Ohakim and his men.
Since May 29, 2011, the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has struggled
to deliver on his myriad of promises. The governor on assumption of
office pleaded for waiver to enable him dismantle protocols, rules and
procedure to unconventionally and riotously deliver dividends of
democracy at a very alarming speed within four years before rejoining
the presidential race in 2015. That was granted by Imolites through
the 27- member legislature. The state Assembly approved without
hesitation a ‘FOUR-YEAR ROLLING BUDGET’ and borrowing plans to
guarantee smooth funding of the projects. Whether the governor has
delivered in this regard or not particularly when juxtaposed with
hundreds of billions massively injected into these projects will
ultimately form another subject matter for critical and objective
analysis.
Interestingly, Okorocha’s recent body language suggests a reworked
political plan postponing his presidential pursuit to 2019. He has
decided to seek for a second term as governor of Imo state. The sudden
u-turn is not unconnected to the looming and strange permutation by
his party, APC , to zone to the North and South-West the Presidential
and Vice-presidential tickets, respectively. The permutation as
clandestinely championed is aimed at promoting with utter disregard to
Christian community a Muslim-Muslim ticket with General Mohammadu
Buhari (Rtd) and Senator Bola Tinubu strategically positioned for the
ticket. Against this backdrop, one may ask; What are the strategies
before PDP to win the 2015 governorship election now that Okorocha has
resorted to breaking his vow with God and Imolites to seek re-election
overtly at the detriment of Okigwe zone whose turn he usurped and
Owerri zone who is largely favoured to produce the next governor in
2015? Believing that PDP has reasonably regained its lost strength
following the massive return of the hitherto decamped leaders
including ex-governor Achike Udenwa, Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume, Sen. Chris
Anyanwu, Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, Chief Cosmos Iwu, as well as their
teeming followers and the recently defected APC federal lawmaker, Hon.
Ezenwa Onyewuchi and scores of APC chieftains into PDP, has its
strategists worked out an action plan to harness the gains of the
implosion as well as harmonize individual interests ahead of its
primaries?
Would the party re-introduce the zoning system and Imo charter of
equity earlier upheld before Okorocha suddenly turned down the table?
How would the party manage the crowded governorship aspirants from
Owerri and Okigwe zones that are keenly agitating to succeed Okorocha?
It is an indisputable fact that Okorocha’s administration has
massively impacted positively on the lives of Imolites particularly
the ordinary people and down-trodden. His policies and programmes such
as free education are cleverly designed for the good of the common
people largely forsaken by the previous PDP administrations. The
political points scored by Okorocha include the growing disenchantment
and discontent against the elites by the ordinary people. He empowers
and gives leverage to the ordinary people to checkmate the domineering
influence of the political elites presently regrouping in the PDP.
This accounts to the reason his administration does not favour the
elites in the state. It could be equally traced to his dishonour for
payment particularly when the elites are directly involved. He is
relishing on the strength of the masses for possible re-election. His
camp strongly believes that 2011 scenario will ultimately repeat
itself to his advantage.
Apparently working on that prediction, Okorocha has started mobilizing
artisans, petty traders, keke operators, commercial drivers, teachers,
civil and public servants, mechanics, farmers, rural women, youths,
pensioners and school children ahead 2015 polls to strategically
prepare them for another offensive against the political elites.
But PDP can strategize to fish on the same water with Okorocha if the
party truly commits itself to reclaiming Imo. They could achieve this
task by exploiting viable options that can strongly checkmate
Okorocha’s mobilization prowess. The issue of governorship ticket
should be handled with utmost carefulness and intelligence to avoid
divisions and anti-party ahead of general polls. The party could
exploit two options to nominate its governorship candidate.
The party’s option A is to genuinely work towards fielding a
competent, humble, popular, incorruptible and experienced candidate
from Owerri zone. The zone is predominantly favored if equity,
fairness and justice form part of the determining factors. A political
green-horn and baby aspirants are completely unqualified as regards to
this permutation, but a personality with outstanding track record,
unquestionable credibility and endearing political sagacity. He/she
should command a popularity spread to Okigwe and Orlu zones to
possibly neutralize Okorocha’s popularity.
The second option is to provide a level playing ground for all the
aspirants to contest for the ticket on a well-guided free, fair,
transparent and rancour-free primary election. Whoever emerges winner
should be duly nominated and supported irrespective of his/her zone.
Winning the governorship ticket in a contest involving over 20
aspirants speaks volume of one’s capacity and traits capable of
dislodging Okorocha in general election. The party’s adherence to
internal democracy for the first time in Imo state will checkmate
bitterness, acrimony and anti-party activities as well as further
forestall defection of aggrieved party bigwigs. Leaders from Orlu zone
should conduct themselves as big brothers to Owerri and Okigwe zones
as well as true, loyal and committed party men by mobilizing their
people for the party and its candidate. They should resist the
temptation of contesting for the governorship ticket for sake of good
conscience, equity, fairness and justice. They should remember that
Orlu zone will be spending 12 years in government house at the
detriment of other zones by May 2015. Should Okorocha’s mandate
eventually get renewed for another four years, it would then translate
to a whopping 16 years as against Owerri zone that spent less than 2
years and Okigwe’s 8 years. That would be tantamount to political
oppression and persecution of Okigwe and Orlu zones by Orlu people.
The people of Orlu zone should positively deploy their numerical
advantage and size to promote unity, equity and justice in Imo and
carefully avoid bullying other zones politically.
These two options if strictly and strategically followed will not only
throw-up a strong, credible candidate but would fortify PDP ahead of
the general polls in Imo. They should be focused on issue-based
campaigns to woo the confidence and support of Imo electorates for the
party. The free education programme no matter how poorly implemented
has earned Okorocha and his administration massive support. The PDP
should consider copying as well as modifying the programme in Imo.
There is no gainsaying that the programme has positively impacted on
the lives of Imolites particularly the poor and any political party
that campaigns without making categorical pronunciation on its
sustainability as well as the massive infrastructural and
developmental projects may not successfully wrestle power from
Okorocha in 2015.
–
Uzoukwa, former SSA Media to Gov. Rochas Okorocha, wrote in from
Owerri, Imo state
