By the Grace of God, the incumbent Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State Chapter, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) will soon leave the position. By the Grace of God, because, Duruiheoma is leaving a hot seat, and heading for something higher but cooler with better opportunities both in his fortunes and name, as he is leaving a state position for a National one.
Duruiheoma has been tipped by the President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to replace another Imo son, Dr Festus Odumegwu, as the Chairman of National Population Commission NPC. This is no mean position, as it means that Duruiheoma is to head a sensitive and hydra-headed octopus organization like the Population Commission. Not only that, Duruiheoma is a taciturn and therefore will not talk himself into trouble like his predecessor.
Since nature abhors vacuum, while Duruiheoma heads to the Nation’s Capital Abuja for the mouth watering job, he in the process vacates another in Imo State, which is contentious, as far as the state is concerned.
The position of Imo PDP Chairman is a big office, with its opportunities and power, especially now that we are nearing elections in 2015. It is a position that determines who gets what position in the party, from the primaries to the election proper.
However, it is not positions that make men, but it is man that makes a position. You can be the husband in the house, but yet your wife is in charge despite you being seen as the male.
Since the era of party politics in Imo State, I can say that it was Late Chief RBK Okafor of the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, who defined both in theory and practice what a party Chairman is. Despite being Chairman when the Late Dr Sam Mbakwe held sway as Governor of old Imo State, with his Charisma and boldness, RBK Okafor was never dwarfed by any member of the party, as his word was Law. Party discipline was sacrosanct and no individual was bigger than the party, no matter how highly placed or rich.
What nearly came close to the RBK era was when Dr Alex Obi became the Chairman of PDP and Dr EJK Onyebuchi Chairman of All Peoples Party, APP, before it became All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.
These two gentlemen then held a close and tight grip on their various political parties that both parties posted good results during elections, with tested characters as candidates. Then it does not matter how dip your pockets were, but your quality to be acceptable to the electorate.
Both men could decide to expel a member, no matter his contacts and connections “with Oga at the top” provided such a person was culpable of any of the party rules.
Unfortunately, as the current democratic dispensation moved on, instead of the deepening of the democratic process in the land, and instill discipline among party members, those opportuned to be voted into political positions luckily got there and saw heavy cash of money in their hands than they had imagined, and as humans, began to manipulate the systems to fit their whims and caprices, by inducing party leaders with favours, who in turn started compromising, and therefore eroded party ethos, which suddenly fell into the hands of the now rich “elected” politicians that dictates the way to go in their various political parties.
This scenario was much evident in PDP whose elected members suddenly became richer than the party itself that depends on these fellows for its funding. Therefore, whoever pays the piper dictates its tone.
Today, political parties are dependent on the highest bidder. Under this circumstance the Chairmen of the parties become merely tools in the hands of rich members, as the party Chairmen are rendered impotent without authority and power, since money calls the shot.
Talking about Imo PDP of today, it was under this disturbing scenario that the out-going Duruiheoma and his entire Exco found themselves. Therefore, it takes a man of double Balls to go contrary to the dictates of the fellow who foisted him or her into office.
Duruiheoma was accused by many as not being too combative enough to head such a party as volatile as Imo PDP. However, what the erudite scholar lacked in “bubuyaya” which goes with party “politricks”, he packs up stairs. Naturally as a trained Lawyer, it would have been out of place to catch Duruiheoma exhibiting “Agbero” character which does not suit his profession.
Apart from his quiet mien, Duruiheoma is a peaceful man by nature and conducts himself with self confidence of a SAN, which many still swear does not go with the position he occupies.
In order words, those who placed Duruiheoma on that post gave a job of a Lion to a Sheep. While the Sheep is not weak, it can never be a Lion.
There was also the allegation that since Duruiheoma hails from a neighbouring village near Ogboko, Governor Rochas Okorocha’s place in Ideato South LGA, (he) Duruiheoma finds it difficult to confront his “brother”.
That could not have been true because the urbane Lawyer and former Chairman of Ideato South LGA once in a while criticizes his “brother” when the need arises.
Another issue mentioned by observers was that Duruiheoma was surrounded with hawks in the larger Exco, who usually hold the Party Boss to ransome in order to cow him and have their way. To please these hawks so as to protect his own job, they said, Duruiheoma became a “kidnapped Chairman” in the hands of these hawks, who have since been roaring like Lions after the elections, because candies were in short supply.
Therefore, as Duruiheoma leaves party business to exhibit his high cerebral pedigree on the NPC Seat, it is an opportunity for Imo PDP to now brandish that Tiger they have so much talked about ever since Duruiheoma assumed office. This is an opportunity to unleash the Bulldozer who will roll over the opposition parties come 2015, with his magic wand.
Though Imo PDP did well in the last election in 2011 by winning virtually everything but the Governorship seat, that particular “error” covers all that Duruiheoma did, as if the Ideato North born Ex-Council Chairman did not “deliver” in the last elections.
The blame of the hiccups that led to the experiment of a “Supplementary election” in Imo Governorship jigsaw cannot be blamed on the party Executive alone, but on all the Stakeholders, some of whom could not put all they had in the battle field.
Because of its numerical strength, PDP, including in Imo State, takes things for granted which was one of the follies that undid her. Even its top members work against the party when they feel their personal interests are being eroded. Is that how a party works?
In some cases, PDP aborts its own pregnancy in order to recognize another baby! It happened in the Anambra guber election just last month. It started in Imo in 2011and nobody spokeout. Now it is spreading, including to Ondo State, where former Legal Adviser of the party, Olushola Oke was abandoned to the benefit of Mimiko during that states guber election. PDP usually thinks that the people will remain fools all the time, and therefore continues repeating same trick, forgetting it will not work at all times.
Today, many PDP followers in the Imo State are feeling used and dumped because of PDP winner takes all syndrome. Although the Jerry Chukwueke Mobilization Committee has been soothing some angry nerves, but it is not yet uhuru.
After elections, it is usually the time to share party patronages to those who deserve it. In other political parties, those who contested elections and lost are usually considered for Board appointments to cushion the effects of losses such people incurred during campaigns. But in PDP, the positions are cornered by those who have “Abrahams” as god fathers. It turns out the survival of the fittest. Many are still nursing the wounds over the eluded Board appointments.
These developments rankles committed members of PDP who now believe they are only called out to come and contribute and fight but when time for sharing the goodies comes, they are completely forgotten and shoved aside.
Whoever will take over from Duruiheoma should recognize merit than connections. The last election should serve as eye opener for PDP if the party wants to learn from her mistakes. How could a person call himself a Leader and not win election in his booth? I am not talking about Ward. Yet PDP will recognize such a fellow and give him or her the protection and support to be gallivanting as “Leader” in the state, whereas he/she does not know how many polling booths are in his Ward, much more how many voters.
These “Leaders” stay in Hotels in Owerri to hold Ward meetings. This “Leader” visits his village with truck loads of Police escorts, and yet you call yourself a Leader. In your village, protected by Police men? It is a clear indication that such a “Leader” is floating and has no grass root base.
For instance in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshomole of then ACN defeated PDP in the Governorship election, including beating Chief Tony Aneni in his booth at Iromi. Rather than task the old man for losing in his booth, PDP “rewarded” him by making him Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees. Pray, if you can not command influence in your locality to win election for your party, is it as the National level?
While not saying that Leaders must be recognized, it must be based on qualities, no matter whose ox is gored. Nelson Mandela became a word citizen and icon, not because of his millions in the Banks, but because of his behaviour and leadership character based on pure transparency, and living by example, not because he could “fix” anything.
This same scenario is prevalent in Imo PDP, where mediocrity is preferred over productivity simply because you have no person to speak for you.
That is how PDP runs their show. It cannot help anybody covering these anomalies, if really the party wishes to move away from its delusion. “Advice no be course” says Bona Irokosima. You don’t cure a wound by covering it up.
Thank God the next Imo PDP Chairman will over-see the next elections in 2015. Past experience has shown that the status quo of doing things must change. Names win elections though, but not all names this time around win elections. Things are changing and Imo people are waiting for the man PDP will chose to replace Duruiheoma.
We know that the position goes to Orlu Zone. But who will be the character that will succeed Chief Bar Eze Duruiheoma SAN? I will tell you about some of them next edition.
