By: Sam. Onwuemeodo.
The debate on the 2027 gubernatorial contest in lmo, has begun and in earnest. The debate has been on and gaining momentum on daily basis . There’s no crime in that. At least, it has made the political atmosphere in the State to remain “bubbling”. No dull moment.
There is equally an argument in some quarters, that, the debate on the 2027 lmo guber tantamounts to a distraction to Governor Hope Uzodimma and his government. This claim, can not be true. lt does not hold water. Reason being that, there is no politics going on in lmo now, that he had not played or got involved. He had been part of early politicking and late politicking, respectively, in lmo. Even mid-season politicking. Do you understand?
The fact that Uzodimma is in his second term and the issue of who will succeed him obviously remain the major reasons behind the growing debate on lmo 2027 guber. And one could only say that, the Omuma born governor appears to be somewhat under “pressure” over who takes over from him in 2027. And the Pressure is triangular. Coming from the three political zones of the State. Viz: Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri, respectively. The three Os.
Groups and individuals from Orlu zone have continued to argue and vehemently too, that, the zone should retain the governorship in 2027 after Uzodimma who is one of them. Okigwe Zone people, through some groups and individuals are equally unequivocal in their demand that the 2027 guber should be theirs. Some of them had added a proviso to their request by narrowing it down to the former Governor of the State, Dr lkedi Ohakim. Then, Owerri Zone. Their major logic is that, of all the zones, Owerri is the one that hasn’t governed the State upto three years, unlike other zones that had had eight years and above, counting from 1979.
All these are legitimate claims, following the provisions of the law. The dictates of the law of the land. There is no law that says, Orlu zone should not aspire for lmo governorship in 2027 because the zone must have had the governorship for twenty four years by 2027. No law says Okigwe Zone should not also aspire for any reason. For Owerri zone, no law says, because it has not governed the State upto three years, others should go into hiding in 2027. This explanation is important and should be understood. Yet, What the law and sound logics could not do, understanding, patriotism, Conscience and brotherhood can do it. And do it better.
All in all, Governor Uzodimma is at the centre of all these. Not because he has the exclusive right to make anybody governor of lmo State, but because, as a sitting governor, he could play a major role. He could help to a very large extent. The reason all eyes are on him. The strong belief in the power of incumbency or what the power of incumbency can do is vivid. No one is in doubt.
ln democracy too, the right of choice is guaranteed. In every democratic setting, individuals have the right to support the candidates of their respective choices. No degree of stampede can obliterate or invalidate this democratic and Constitutional right.
That’s the reason, for instance, in each of the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections in the State, you saw people from Mbaise, including the writer, voting against Emeka lhedioha, in favour of Rochas Okorocha and Uche Nwosu, respectively. You also saw people from ldeato and Nkwerre voting for lhedioha against Okorocha and Nwosu in 2015 and 2019. There’re also Mbaise people who voted Uzodimma in 2019 against lhedioha and Oru East people voting for lhedioha, against Uzodimma. That’s healthy politics in display. At play. No skin pain politics. l have succeeded in painting a very interesting picture. A very beautiful picture.
Some politicians had spoken and written a lot in a manner that had given the impression that there is no room for morality or Conscience in politics. They had given the impression that in politics, it’s all about who gets what and not who does not.
However, a day can change a story. For once, lmo can play politics of conscience. Politics of Patriotism. And Governor Uzodimma should be the torchbearer. The compass bearer. He can make that history. He can play that politics of conscience and he won’t lose anything to that effect.
The incident or the event of January 14, 2020 opened a new chapter in the politics of lmo State. First of such incident in the history of lmo Politics . INEC had declared lhedioha the winner of the 2019 governorship election, even without the votes of people like yours faithfully. To majority of Mbaise people, excluding guys like the writer, it was a long time dream that had been realised. That had finally come to pass . That had finally come to fruition. To reality.
The reason, approximately, more than ninety percent of Mbaise people, including the traditional rulers were overtly excited or “crazy” about that. And they never found it funny with some of their children who weren’t on same page with them, with regard to lhedioha’s governorship.
Why this impression?. To pro- lhedioha people, Mbaise has been like lkwerre in Rivers State . They felt that, they had, with their large population, contributed immensely to the development and growth of the state. And that, their brothers and sisters from other areas in the state should support them to govern or produce the governor. ln the case of lkwerres, lt took a Peter Odili to break the jinx in Rivers.
Then, when on January 14, 2020, the Supreme Court sacked lhedioha in favour of Uzodimma, the situation in Mbaise was as if, there was eclipse of the sun and that of the moon at the same time. That was the situation in the three local governments of Mbaise, except those like the man here, who never, for any reason, believed in the governorship of lhedioha.
With the development in 2020 and Uzodimma in his second term now, the quest for, or the desire for the governorship of lmo by Mbaise people could be said to have gone or grown beyond any particular individual. And this is where Uzodimma should come in. Should play a role. Politics of Conscience for the first time in lmo. History begins in a day.
Beyond this unprecedented pressure from Orlu zone, Owerri Zone and Okigwe zone, let Uzodimma play his own politics. Knowing that, at the end of the day, after 2027, he will be on his own, just like every other person who had governed the State.
Numerous cases or instances have also shown that, an out-going governor insisting on political godson succeeding him, has never paid off anywhere in Nigeria . lt’s only by the grace of God that it can pay off. Who would believe today that Ganduje was the political son of Kwankwaso. Or, Fubara to Wike. Or, Amaechi to Odili. The list is endless.
For 2027, let Uzodimma go to Mbaise and back someone from there. Not as a matter of political right, but for posterity sake. For the sake of history. That will be the most outstanding, historical and durable legacy he would leave behind. Uzodimma does not owe Mbaise people any political debt. He is not politically indebted to Mbaise people with regard to 2027. He went to Court to make some claims or demands in 2019 over the outcome of the guber poll. The Apex Court saw reasons with him and declared him governor. That’s not his own making. He does not owe anybody explanation.
But lam only keen in his playing very fine politics. And go home victoriously after 2027. Let him go to Aboh Mbaise and take someone. Like I had Said, it goes beyond lhedioha or any other person. But if the governor’s spirit or heart gears towards lhedioha, fine. The Mbutu man must have learnt his lessons and in a hard or bitter way. On a very sad note. What could be more tormenting than his seeing some folks he had seen or treated as his “inner men”, members of his “kitchen Cabinet”, going on television to tell the World that his seven months governorship took lmo backward. And so on. What could be more excruciating. And involved were those who had asked the same lhedioha to see the “essay writer” here and the likes of G. K Dikeocha and so on, as his main “enemies”
Permit me to write this and in a nutshell. Not too far from the issue. Rochas Okorocha had had much trust and confidence in me as his Chief Press Secretary/ Media Adviser. He would call me and ask any other person there to leave. He would hand over a document to me to read. After, he would ask for my opinion. l would tell him. He would cancel the areas l had taken exception to. That was the level of the trust. Sensitive documents involved.
In one instance, at an expanded exco, with the principal officers of the Assembly in attendance, one of the topics was whether lchie Mbanaso was to be reappointed Mayor of Orlu or not. Every speaker had spoken against the reappointment of lchie Mbanaso. Owelle looked towards my position and asked; Onwuemeodo, what’s your opinion?. l told Owelle that, he had asked Mbanaso to go to Orlu and recover the master plan. He could not have achieved that, without stepping on toes, and the reason for the attacks against his person, just like people had been attacking you ( Owelle), for working hard to open up Owerri. lf you deny Mbanaso reappointment because of the ugly names he had been called for doing what you asked him to do in Orlu, then, you’re also telling us to subscribe into the ugly names you’re been
called for opening up Owerri and expanding roads. Owelle announced Mbanaso’s reappointment instantly. I am only telling you the level of trust or confidence Okorocha had in me.
That’s the reason, if Gov. Uzodimma tells me today that he would make me governor of lmo and the only condition is that, l must berate or attack Okorocha, l will tell him to hold his governorship. After all, what they eat and drink are not the things I eat and drink. l drink coke and fanta. They do not. l can eat garri for a week. They can not. Do you understand now?. We move on.
If the governor doesn’t see anybody appealing to his conscience in Aboh Mbaise, let him move to Ahiazu Mbaise. And if he does not find any one that suits his dream, no not one, in Ahiazu, let him go to Ezinihitte Mbaise. The optimism is that, by the GRACE OF GOD, he will surely find somebody in any of the three local governments that make up the Mbaise nation. Even if the person hasn’t been in politics, GOD will take control. He should not also bother about what will happen after. Heaven will also take control. What are we talking about?. Afterall, we didn’t create ourselves.
l am beginning to imagine the beautiful scenario such development would enthrone. Good politics made available. The political “baby” in the womb of Onwa will begin to leap for Joy. The babe in the womb of Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary and began to leap for Joy ( Luke 1:41). Not every voice is heard by the ” baby in the womb” and the baby begins to leap for Joy. The “baby” could be politics or something else. l am saying something here.
Let Onwa go for gold. lf it is not gold, it’s not gold. And silver or bronze won’t be an option. l am still saying something here. All the zones clamouring to produce Onwa’s successor are not out of place. They are making legitimate demand. All those already aspiring to succeed him are all qualified and entitled to such aspirations. ln the wake or at the middle of all these claims and counterclaims, Onwa can strike a balance and go for that gold l had earlier written about. Going to Mbaise is the pathway. This is my own candid contribution to the debate. My own conscientious opinion. And it’s not binding on Onwa for those who do not know. But he could find this meaningful. Who knows?
While we continue to clap thunderously for JESUS.