Imo 2015: Between Okorocha And Other Emerging Interests

By Chinedu OPARA

In what analysts say is a timely recourse to the saying that a journey of a thousand kilometers must begin with a step, leaders of Owerri zone, one of the three political zones in Imo State, have formally declared interest in the state’s number one seat come 2015. The bid was made public on Sunday, January 8, 2012, during the formal inauguration of the Local Government Chapters of Owerri Zonal Political Leadership Forum, OZOPOLF, the political pressure group which says it is going to spearhead the quest. Though fears have been expressed in some circles about the workability of the project in view of the lethal blow inflicted on zoning by the emergence of Gov. Rochas Okorocha, the occasion under reference afforded the leadership of OZOPOLF the opportunity to reassure the masses of the zone that though the task seemed Herculean, it must be approached with a winning mindset.

To begin with, the group says it is convinced beyond all reasonable doubt that the Owerri governorship cause is a just cause. Chairman of the Forum, Prince Charles Amadi, who articulated this position, pointed at the history of the state’s governorship position, especially since the Second Republic in1979. “Since 1979, Okigwe has occupied the state’s governorship seat for a total of eight years and three months through Chief Mbakwe and Ikedi Ohakim. Orlu, by the end of 2015, would have enjoyed it for twelve years, courtesy of Chief Achike Udenwa and Owelle Rochas Okorocha. But, for us in Owerri, it’s been only one year and three months. What a marginalization!” Amadi told his people. Against this backdrop, the OZOPOLF leader said he believes equity and fairness demands that Owerri should be supported by the other two zones of Orlu and Okigwe to clinch the diadem when the next round of elections arrive.

Similarly, the issue of Gov. Okorocha seeking a second term was also addressed by Prince Amadi. According to him, Gov. Okorocha would not seek a second term because he personally swore not to do so during the campaigns for the 2011 governorship election. In addition, he maintained that Owerri zone was very instrumental to the electoral success of the incumbent governor and wondered why somebody whom the people paid in good coin would wake up one day and decide to pay them back with a rough coin.

Amadi also opened up on the strategies mapped out in the effort to make the journey a successful one. According to him, OZOPOLF would go the whole hog in the struggle. However, he assured that the body would provide level playing ground for all sons and daughters of the zone, irrespective of party affiliation or council of origin. In his words, “Every son or daughter of Owerri who is interested should come out, join any party of his/her choice and campaign. OZOPOLF would back all of them till one emerges victorious to become Imo State governor of Owerri extraction.”

In the same vein, the Forum, he said, decided to start early because of its understanding that the job at hand is enormous. Therefore, to make the desired impact with regard to sensitization and mobilization, each and every indigene of the zone should kickstart the project immediately. “Once we move now and go from door to door, kitchen to kitchen, in four years we would have touched every Owerri man and woman and then look forward to victory in 2015,” Amadi concluded.

Sir Ambrose Ejiogu, a Second Republic political player in old Imo State, in his speech drew the attention of all present to the enormity of the task ahead. Still expressing the belief that Gov. Okorocha would keep the gentleman’s accord he reached with Owerri zone, he, however, called on Owerri people to vigorously and committedly undertake the assignment because only they and not Orlu or Okigwe people would give the struggle undiluted attention. Furthermore, he promised that he and other old generation politicians of Owerri zone would reach out to the other zones to press on the need to restore equity, fairness and justice in the Imo political arena.

Surely, there is consensus that planning is sine qua non for success. Therefore, for electing to cast their net this early morning, one could say Owerri political leaders have taken the right step in the right direction. At the same time, however, some analysts are concerned that the road may be too rough, going by some recent developments in the Imo political arena. Some also fear that the zone could be pushed out completely if the incumbent finally buys into the idea being dangled at him by some individuals and groups calling on him to run for a second term in 2015. Those nursing this fear believe that though the power of incumbency is gradually losing stem in our democracy as the last election showed, it nevertheless remains a potent force that could turn the table when the die is cast.

Among the groups that have thrown their weight behind Gov. Okorocha’s second term bid are Orlu Zurume and Odimma Okigwe, two zonal socio-political organizations which hinged their request on what they say is the superlative performance of the governor. Former governor, Achike Udenwa, spoke the mind of Orlu Zurume during the December 27, 2011 reception put together for the Gov. Okorocha by his Orlu kinsmen. Udenwa, who is the first full beneficiary of the zoning system, having ruled for eight uninterrupted years between 1999 and 2007, shocked the people of Owerri zone when he told them to forget 2015 and back Gov. Okorocha to continue beyond 2015. Udenwa, who is also a former Minister of Commerce, reportedly argued that his reason for supporting Gov. Okorocha stemmed from what he has been able to achieve within these few months in office. Before Udenwa made his declaration on December 27, Odimma Okigwe had on November 27, 2011 made a similar call during a reception it also organized for the state governor. Led by Prof Ezeadi O. Ezeadi and Dr. E. J. K. Onyewuchi, Odinma Okigwe equally informed Imolites that its call was being made in the light of what the governor has achieved in so short a time in office.

Expectedly, reactions had trailed and continue to trail these calls. For Sir Geo-Cassidy Josiah, a businessman and member of Gov. Okorocha’s Agenda, Odimma Okigwe and Udenwa are mere sycophants whose call were brought about by selfish considerations and not necessarily by their love for the governor. He was livid at Chief Udenwa whom he said ruled the state for a whooping eight years without commensurate legacies. “Look at Udenwa who ruled this state for eight yeas and performed abysmally. To me, he is not qualified to make this call and this is why I think it was made to attract attention,” Josiah argued. He therefore urged Gov. Okorocha to shun the sycophants and focus on delivering dividends of democracy to the masses because, as he put it, they are the ones to decide in 2015.

Some notable leaders of Owerri zone have also openly advised Gov. Okorocha to strictly abide by the four years agreement he had with the zone. They insist that anything to the contrary could spin off a political turmoil that could shake the very foundations of Imo polity. Former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has given this advice in more than one occasion. Recently, at the inauguration of a new socio-political group, the Integrity Group of Orlu, at the Ihioma Civic Centre, Orlu, the former minister spoke extensively on the need to restore political harmony and peaceful co-existence in the state through the strict observance of equity, fairness and justice in the political   terrain. Specifically, he called on Gov. Okorocha not to succumb to the temptation of a second term because it will definitely cast him in negative light before Owerri zone, and indeed all well meaning people of the state.

Barr. Godfrey Dikeocha, one-time Speaker of the state House of Assembly, only recently too rebelled against the idea of Owerri zone being shortchanged in 2015 by Orlu zone. Though Dikeocha later said publicly that he was quoted out of context by newsmen who quoted him as saying that denying Owerri the state governorship in 2015 would amount to calling for Boko Haram, the issue remained that he was clearly opposed to a second term for incumbent Gov. Okorocha.

Further investigations also revealed that Gov. Okorocha’s main bulwark in Owerri zone, Chief Martin Agbaso, is not disposed to a second shot from him. This, we learnt, is because the Emekuku, Owerri North-born political titan is of the view that the governor should keep to the agreement entered into before he (Agbaso) dropped his ambition to allow Okorocha vie for governorship in 2011. It was gathered on good authority by this magazine that the duo reached and signed some agreements before Agbaso, who single-handedly shouldered the responsibilities of APGA in Imo, backed down from seeking election in 2011. Part of the conditions, we learnt, was the choice of his younger brother, Sir Jude Agbaso, as Okorocha’s deputy, and Okorocha throwing his weight behind Agbaso for governorship in 2015.

A high ranking leader of Agenda in Ngor Okpala LGA who pleaded anonymity confided in this magazine that indeed an agreement was reached between Gov. Okorocha and Chief Agbaso over 2015. “Yes, I am aware of that and, in fact, I represented Ngor Okpala at the meeting. My advice to Gov. Okorocha is that he should focus on this tenure as a gentleman and go higher because I think he can play at the national level,” the source said.

Certainly, the above scenario leaves one with one impression: the likelihood of a titanic battle in Imo State in 2015 if Gov. Okorocha eventually decides to run. At the moment, Gov. Okorocha and his camp have refused to give a categorical answer to the issue at stake. At best, what the governor has usually done in response to these calls has always been to ask the question, “What if I finish what I came to do in two years, would it still be proper for me to go beyond four years?” Those who say this position is not convincing enough about Gov.  Okorocha not seeking second term have also asked, “What if he didn’t finish what he came to do in four years?” No doubt, these are two questions heavily pregnant with meanings. However, what cannot be contested is the fact that sooner or later the answers would be in the open for all to see. But whatever is the answer, one undeniable fact remains that Owerri has thrown its hat into the ring for 2015 and is ready to duel to the last drop of its blood. Again, whatever the answer, analysts believe that Imo 2015 guber contest will certainly be a continuation of the gradual but steadily building political culture of do-or-die in Nigeria.