-As Emeka Ihedioha beats them all
The 2015 governorship poll in Nigeria is about eight months away. At a time like this, it is usual for pundits and rating agencies to embark on analyses which will be a guide on what to expect in the election proper. The analysis could be seen as a perception index which is based on the data available to the analyst at that particular time. This analysis will continue to be fine-tuned and harmonized until a final list of the candidates of the various political parties are known. In this analysis which is targeted at the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), the essence is to help the party to act from an informed mind when it finally goes to the primary election to choose whoever will fly its flag in the Governorship poll of 2015.For the records, Imo State is composed of three senatorial zones. They include Imo East( or Owerri zone) with nine LGAs, Imo West(or Orlu zone) with 12 LGAs, and Imo North( or Okigwe zone) with six LGAs.
OKIGWE ZONE: Some of the aspirants from this zone include Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, DR. Julius Kpaduwa and Chief Ike C.Ibe. An interesting observation is that the first three names are all from Isiala Mbano LGA. One of them, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, was governor from 2007-2011 while the other one, Senator Araraume, was senator for Okigwe zone(1999-2007). He was governorship candidate of the PDP in 2007 and also governorship candidate of Action Congress (AC) in 2011.On both occasions, he failed to win. The other aspirant from Okigwe zone, Chief Ike C Ibe hails from Obowo, the local Government of the most achieving governor in Imo State, the Late Dee Sam Mbakwe, PH.D. He was Achike Udenwa’s choice in 2007 but the agenda was frustrated. It was Chief Achike Udenwa’s failure to effect a seamless transition of power to his preferred candidate that is behind the political crises in Imo State since 2007 to date. It is absurd those who were behind the crises are strategizing to benefit from it.
The political crises in Imo State started after the April 14,2007 governorship election in Imo State which was won by Chief Martin Agbaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA). Unfortunately, the then National Chairman of Independent National Election Commission(INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu-led INEC arbitrarily annulled the election and scheduled a Kangaroo (s)election exercise on April 28, 2007.It was in that Kangaroo selection of April 28, that INEC shamelessly appointed Professor Iwu’s kinsman, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, governor of Imo State in preference to Chief Martin Agbaso who actually won the election on April, 14, 2007. Before now, I was of the opinion that Okigwe zone could be considered for one more term on the grounds of compassion to enable them make up for the defeat of Ohakim in the 2007 poll. But after listening to Chief Araraume/s twisted logic, I now feel that Okigwe zone should be shut out of the PDP ticket for 2015. In his speech which was widely published in the press, Chief Araraume drew attention to the fact that Chief Ikedi Ohakim did not become governor on the platform of PDP. What Araraume is actually saying is that he will rule for two terms (8years), if he wins the poll in 2015.This is the business face of politics, the height of greed and avarice by business politicians. Instead of asking to complete the tenure of Ikedi Ohakim(i.e. 4 years), he is making a case to serve two terms. This logic is provocative and unacceptable, more so, since he was the major cause of Chief Ohakim’s distraction which led to his poor performance. Does he want Owerri zone to wait for another eight years? Does it mean that an Okigwe governor must be Chief Araraume or never? Should Ikedi Ohakim lose his Okigwe birth right for the reason that he became governor on the ticket of Peoples Progressive Alliance(PPA)? If in the unlikely event PDP decides to give their ticket to Okigwe, the best bet is Ikedi Ohakim. After serving one more term, the constitution bars him from another term ,having served the first term in 2007-2011. But even then, what is the popularity rating of Chief Ohakim? In any case, what matters is not who emerges a party’s flag bearer, but whether the person is acceptable to the voters. In view of Senator Araraumes’s outburst, I do not endorse Okigwe zone for the ticket of PDP 2015 governorship. Even if an Okigwe aspirant promises to serve one term, such promises are rarely kept.
ORLU ZONE: There are two aspirants (i.e from PDP) from this zone now. Although I am from Orlu zone, I wish to state clearly that it is my opinion that in the interest of equity, reasonableness and commonsense, Orlu zone should step aside from the 2015 governorship race. It is in the interest of the Orlu zone in particular and Imo State in general that the very sweet Mmalu Akara(the bean cake) should go round. This is in keeping with the political rhyme which goes thus:”Mmalu akara di uto, onye rara ibe ya ararao, mmalu akara di uto, onye rara ibe ya araratuo…”.So, it is my opinion that my brothers in Orlu zone should stand down from the 2015 race. My appeal has nothing to do with the so-called “Charter of Equity”- a non- existent charter which exists in the warped imagination of some misguided political propagandists in Imo State. I advise Senator Hope Uzodimma to concentrate on getting a second term in the senate instead of joining the governorship race. I have heard a lot about the senator’s heavy empowerment capabilities in providing bags of rice and vehicles to some members of the electorate. But the senator should know that when the time comes, he will be judged on the quality of Bills he presented to the House and the constituency projects ne actualized in his constituency and Imo State.He will not be judged by the trailers of rice and thousands of Keke and cars he bought for his friends and kinsmen. I will advise him to take up the issue of providing a modern library complex /information and Communications Technology(ICT) Complex in Orlu Municipal as his constituency project. That does not stop him from buying trailers of rice and cars for his friends and kinsmen. Finally, I advise him to pull out of the Governorship race now. This is an appeal since no section of the Constitution bars any person from Orlu zone from joining the governorship race.
Evangelist Chris Brown Amadi: This is another governorship aspirant from Orlu zone? The major task facing this aspirant is to convince the Orlu electorate that Ohaji/Egbema Local Government is in Orlu senatorial zone and not in Owerri zone. This is pertinent because Ohaji/Egbema LGA is a member of the DR. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu –led Owerri Peoples Assembly(OPA).The OPA is a group that links the nine LGAs in Owerri Zone. Why is Ohaji/Egbema a member of OPA ? Is the LGA in Orlu or Owerri zone?. He is a man of high respect and achievement but time is not yet ripe for him to go for the governorship. In summary, I do not endorse any of the Orlu aspirants for the flag bearer of PDP. We, from Orlu, should not push our luck too far.Again, this an appeal, not an order.
OWERRI ZONE: There is a need to state that Owerri senatorial zone is made up of four major political blocks. The political blocks include(1) Mbaike Group’(2)Mbaise Group ; (3)Core Owerri Group ; and(4)Ngor-Okpala Group –the so-called “stand alone computer”.
MBAIKE GROUP: Mbaike Group is composed of Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Local Government Areas. Records show that Mbaike Group has produced a governor in the person of Senator Evan Enwerem who also became senator and President of the Senate. The fact that his governorship tenure as well as his presidency of the Senate was truncated in mid- projectile is immaterial. Mbaike clan also produced Senator Amah Iwuagwu whose tenure was cut short by death . I am of the opinion that having produced two senators and a governor, Mbaike clan may opt out of the 2015 governorship race so that the other clans can also take a bite of the AKARA .All the aspirants in that zone are people of class and integrity. However, since democracy is anchored on compromise, sacrifice and harmonization, the Mbaike Group should step aside as a sacrifice for the growth of internal democracy. Owerri zone should learn from what happened to Okigwe zone in 2007 and 2011.If some politicians in Okigwe zone were prepared to make sacrifices, the zone would not have been humiliated in the 2011 governorship election. Some of the PDP Governorship aspirants from Mbaike include Hon Bethel Amadi, Chief Chuka Odom, Chief Humphrey Anumudu and Lady Clara Igolo Njoku. They should bow out now that the ovation is at the highest decibel. It will do Owerri zone some good. In the case of the female aspirant among them, I feel reluctant to say that Imo State is not yet ready for a female Governor. Above all, Imo Douglas House is not a laboratory for apprentice politicians .
NGOR-OKPALA GROUP: I usually refer to Ngor-Okpala Group as a “Stand Alone Computer”. This is because while each of the other blocs is composed of an amalgam of LGAs, Ngor- Okpala is just alone. They have a very good aspirant in the person of Professor Jude Njoku but I doubt if he can make an impact in the primaries .If what he wants is to serve his people, why not pick the slot of the Owerri Senate or House of Representatives for Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpale Federal Constituency .He will pick the ticket on a platter of gold? There are many professors in the National Assembly(NASS) including the GREEN Chamber(House of Reps). . So, it’s not a humiliation for him to start from the House of Representatives. In spite of their good candidate, It will be difficult for Ngor-Okpala to get the PDP governorship ticket for the 2015 race. Well, who knows?
CORE OWERRI GROUP: This group is composed of Owerri North, Owerri West and Owerri Municipal LGAs. The PDP governorship aspirants from the Core Owerri group include High Chief Jerry Chukwueke, Barr Ken Njemanze,Chief Nzimako, and Ken Ojiri. There may be others who are yet to join the race. Although the aspirants are good on their individual merits, there are some reasons that will reduce their score when the marking scheme is analyzed. But a person like Barrister Ken Njemanze, SAN, is a fit and proper person to serve in the Senate. It is my advice that he should consider joining the senate where his service is of utmost need. We shall provide media logistics to facilitate the project. He may not be favoured in the PDP governorship ticket. Ken Ojiri appears to be too ambitious. As a new kid on the block, why is he aspiring for the Governorship now, more so, since some of us do not have any record of his political profile?He should emulate the like of HON Emeka Ihedioha who started from small beginnings to become a great Iroko in the political arena. In summary, without prejudice to their high profiles, I do not endorse any of the aspirants from the Core Owerri Group for the PDP flag bearer.
\MBAISE GROUP: Another powerful bloc in Owerri zone is the Mbaise Group which is made up of the three local Government Areas of Ezinihitte, Aboh Mbaise and Ahiazu . This zone is power-packed and star-studded. Some of the aspirants from there include Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Bright Nwanne, Engineer Emma Ojinere, Senator Comfort Anyanwu. These politicians of Mbaise extraction are people of integrity and influence. In spite of their high profile achievements, there is a limit to how far they can go unless they want to pull Mbaise nation and Owerri zone down in the Governorship race. It is not necessary to focus on them one by one. In the case of Senator Comfort Anyanwu, it is pertinent to say that she betrayed the confidence reposed in her by the APGA and the electorate when they massively voted for her in 2011. PDP should not see her as a dependable politician. During the State Assembly rerun poll in Ezinihitte/Ahiazu State Constituency, the senator did not even campaign for the APGA candidate. That was the first election the APGA lost shortly after its governorship victory in 2011.
The Hon Emeka Ihedioha Factor: Ladies and gentlemen, after an exhaustive and in-depth analysis of the various aspirants and subjecting their individual statistics against the marking scheme for this analysis, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that Hon Emeka Ihedioha(Omenkeahuruanya of Aboh Mbaise na Ngor Okpala), the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the Green Chamber(House of Reps) is the most qualified aspirant to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the 2015 governorship poll. I now move that PDP should declare him the candidate of the Party during its Governorship primaries Some of the factors used in picking the best candidate include academic qualification, top positions held in the political arena, party loyalty and consistency, financial empowerment of party, Integrity and dependability, interpersonal relationship, rule of law /due process, records of carpet crossing, criminal records and others. Above all, the profile of constituency projects and empowerment projects for the constituents, records of Bills and contributions in Legislative deliberations(i.e. for those who are legislators) and others. Of special mention is the issue of carpet crossing – a situation where a politician abandons his party at its hour of distress and wanders away in search of greener pasture in an opposition party. It is unconscionable that such prodigal sons should take precedence over party members who remained loyal and faithful to the party even under insuperable odds. Soon, I will provide a full report on the factors that were considered in declaring Hon Emeka Ihedioha the best choice for PDP Governorship flag bearer in the 2015 Governorship race.
JOHN MGBE
N/B:THE ANALYSIS FOR OTHER PARTIES WILL FOLLOW SOON
