As the Prof. Attahiru Jega- led Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) prepares to blow the whistle to officially announce the commencement
of political activities ahead of 2015 general elections, political
gladiators and elective office seekers have already returned to the drawing
board apparently re-strategizing towards retaining or dislodging those
already in power. Many political parties have equally begun to marshal out
strategies as well as put certain mechanism in place to ensure that equity,
justice and fairness prevail while marching towards nominating credible and
acceptable candidates for elective positions. Party administrators are also
not unmindful of the unhealthy rivalry and internal wrangling that always
tend to weaken political parties that mismanage its internal businesses as
regards to primary elections.
In Imo state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be facing an
unusual challenge associated with the nomination its governorship candidate
whose choice would be largely justified by the tripod of equity, justice
and fairness. This becomes more challenging as the party cannot easily
discard the ‘Charter of Equity’ which has remained a deciding factor in the
governorship of the state since 1999. The journey of Imo Charter of Equity
began on sound note with Chief Achike Udenwa who governed eight years
uninterrupted for Orlu zone. In 2007, this equitable and rotational plan
was threatened owing to internal wrangling and power play that engulfed the
PDP. However, Imo leaders and electorate acted and voted wisely to retain
the Charter of Equity as Chief Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone was voted into
power as Udenwa’s successor.
Unfortunately, Ohakim whose vision for holistic socio- economic
emancipation of Imo state as conceptualized in the New Face of Imo and
tailored to run for eight years under the spirit of Imo Charter of Equity
became a victim of blackmail, destructive politics and pull- him- down
activities overtly sponsored by Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume and his infamous Imo
Alliance for Good Governance. As Ohakim committed enormous resources to
rebuild the demoralized and abandoned PDP, Sen. Ararume was busy recruiting
some agents of darkness like Dr. Alex Obi to pull the party down. They
advanced some hi- tech technologies to blackmail and tarnished Ohakim’s
image for the purpose of scuttling his 2011 re- election project. They also
went as far as deceiving Rev. Fr. Mbaka into believing that Ohakim
assaulted a catholic priest. Unfortunately again, Fr. Mbaka overreacted and
composed a damaging song which raised strong opposition against Ohakim who
hitherto enjoyed a very cordial and blossomed relationship with the
catholic community in the state. But today, the same Ararume after
destroying PDP in 2011 is busy junketing all over the state in his
desperation to contest the 2015 governorship election under the same PDP
platform. Ararume’s ambition is not only nauseating but morally
unjustifiable as such will remain unacceptable to the PDP.
It is obviously not an easy task to manage the diverse interests of about
twenty aspirants who have keenly shown interest to take over governance
from Governor Rochas Okorocha and his wobbling APC. The people of Owerri
and Okigwe have legitimately laid claims anchored on the Charter of Equity
while others advocate for the abrogation of that gentleman agreement. Those
demanding that Imo Charter of Equity otherwise known as zoning be relaxed,
equally argued that an open primary devoid of manipulation will guarantee
the emergence of a strong PDP governorship candidate with enormous capacity
to defeat Okorocha who equally seeks for re- election.
With several options on the political chessboard, the PDP should better
give attention to Ohakim’s claims who presently remains the leader of the
party in Imo. Though not his apologist, the former governor has reasonably
raised critical issues that bother on equity, justice and fairness. The
four years that would have been eaten by the locusts by 2015 should be
completely erased out of the present political calculation to avoid denying
Okigwe zone their remaining four years. This because all of us in one way
or the other are guilty of Okorocha’s election in 2011. My instinct, for
sure, has always alerted me that God deliberately allowed Okorocha to have
his way for Imolites including Ohakim to learn some lessons as well as
change approach to issues relating to governance. Nobody should be punished
or crucified for the 2011 accident as all that happened was ultimately
designed for a purpose. That essentially accounts to the reason why before
power finally returns to Owerri zone, the people of Okigwe should be
graciously allowed to complete their remaining four years with Ohakim as
the only constitutionally qualified aspirant to do only one term of four
years. Any other aspirant from Okigwe zone stands to shift the goalpost at
the detriment of Owerri zone. Besides, this calculation will provide
another opportunity for Ohakim to fully implement his well articulated
programmes expected to return Imo back on the path of glory. There is no
gainsaying that Okorocha who never prepared for governance has ended up
destroying the state and its economy with his clueless and inept
administration. Today, Imo as a state is presently run as an offshoot of
Rochas Foundation with his siblings and in-laws visibly milking the state
dry with impunity. This unfortunate but sad development has made Imolites
to realize the need to re- introduce Ohakim’s vision that obviously led to
massive job creation, youth and women empowerment, industrialization, solid
road construction project, rural development driven by democratically
elected local government system and environmental cleanliness that made
Owerri the cleanest state capital in Nigeria during his time .
Finally, the recent revelation by Fr. Mbaka that exonerated Ohakim from
the widespread allegation that he assaulted a catholic priest and also
having established that he was indeed a victim of malicious blackmail
should be practically acknowledged by the PDP. Hence he still stands as PDP
candidate after the 2011 elections, the party should formally revalidate
the ticket to enable him run again on its platform come 2015. After
listening to Fr. Mbaka’s revelation, I was compelled to completely agree
with the former governor on his earlier submission that he never lost the
2011 election. Though I disagreed with him on the second leg of that
submission which suggested that he lost to miscalculation, Ohakim for me
simply lost to the divine wish of Almighty God who decided to expose
Okorocha having paraded himself for long as a philanthropist and man of the
people. That one term he asked for was what God needed to truly unmask his
real person. Today, Imolites are happy that governance has exposed the man
called Owelle Rochas Okorocha whom many believed was on rescue mission. His
deceit, greed, wickedness and uncontrollable appetite for wealth and landed
property are now well known by Imo people.
Therefore, to ensure a more united and formidable PDP ahead of 2015
general elections, the national leadership and stakeholders of the party
should treat Imo specially considering the peculiarity of its political
terrain to ensure that justice, equity and fairness prevail as Ohakim
emerges its governorship candidate ahead of the general elections.