As part of the concluding edition of the political destination of present lawmakers of the Imo State House of Assembly for 2015, which began last week, I will discuss the suspected ambition of more members said to be interested in a second round ticket.
However, I will reserve some reactions trailing the first part. Apart from text messages, few persons called on phone to make contributions on my commentary. There is need to reserve all the reactions till the end of the analysis when it will be made public. Meanwhile lets proceed with the remaining.
CHINO OBIOHA (NJABA)
Obioha’s emergence as member representing the area in 2011 was not only miraculous but a bold statement that somebody is in charge of Njaba politics and that could be the tonic firing the lawmaker for a return ticket. Before 2011 election, a prominent politician in Imo state with megabucks to throw around was uncomfortable with developments in PDP forcing him to join defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The politician named Christopher Ohuruzo but fondly called Ishinmiri Njaba was granted the opportunity to produce a House of Assembly candidate who ran election in 2011 in all the 27 LGAs of the state, for the party in ACN. That was the beginning of Obioha success story to stardom. Of all the ACN House of Assembly candidates, only Obioha was successful, courtesy of Ishinmiri’s political prowess in Njaba. Ishinmiri’s magical wand could be said to be propelling Obioha to run another tenure.
It is not in dispute in Njaba politics that Ishimmiri is behind Obioha first tenure election. In Njaba, and beyond, Obioha is associated with Ishimmiri political family and that could be the reason the Njaba representative is said to have retraced steps to PDP since his big time political benefactor is back to the party with umbrella signage after a brief stint with ACN and Okorocha’s government.
Obioha is also counting on his successes in the present House even as much has not been heard from him in terms of making quality debates, bills and motions for the good of his constituency. In the interim, Obioha is reported to be making wide consultations and reach out to the constituency another for smooth sail to the State Assembly. He is said to be reconciling with former allies in PDP while his erstwhile ACN foot soldiers are being re-integrated into the PDP system for the task ahead. The Njaba North and South divide which gives more voting strength to his Njaba North is another factor inducing him to seek fresh mandate from the electorates.
However, Obioha will pay a supreme price for abandoning the PDP and considered it only necessary to return for the sake of picking a return ticket to the House of Assembly. Even as the constituents are not comfortable with his performance so far which could be said to be below average, considering his output, Obioha could be said to be an alien to present PDP ward executives and would-be delegates for the primaries since he has never identified with them before now. How he will muster the needed delegates support to scale through the PDP primaries could be his greatest albatross.
The Njaba North voting strength he may rely on to excel may also turn to a be misfortune if zoning arrangement and Charter of Equity in Njaba political equation is considered for next election. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the reigning view among political pundits in Njaba is that aspirants from Njaba South should be considered than Njaba North for Assembly Seat. The famous Njaba River provides a natural demarcation for Njaba North and South that determines political sharing in the local government.
Njaba South remarkably consists of all the autonomous communities in Umuaka clan where as Njaba North, otherwise called Nde Ofemmiri has Okwudor, Amucha, Nkwume Atta and other minute communities across the Njaba River from Owerri end of the Owerri-Orlu road.
Since our nascent democracy debuted, Njaba South through Chuma Nnaji had two tenures in the House of Assembly. Joe Emenaha, Obioha’s immediate predecessor from Nkume began the race for Njaba North which the incumbent from Amucha is completing the deserved two tenures. The mathematical answer ignites that it will return to Njaba South (Umuaka Clan) which hitherto will be out of reach for Obioha. Already, a council Chairman from Umuaka is said to be interested.
KINGSLEY DIMAKU (EHIME MBANO)
In 2011, the representative of Ehime Mbano, Ifeanyi Agwu was said to have lost favour in the eyes of Ehime Mbano political heavy weights who shoved him aside and denied him second chance ticket to return to the State Assembly. Instead of handing Agwu PDP ticket, his kinsman Kingsley Dimaku from same Agbaja/Umukabia ward was picked. Though Agwu decamped to a less-fancied party to run but Dimaku later emerged winner and continued to represent the area on behalf of Ehime East.
Having tasted power and the razzmatazz associated with such political position, Dimaku last weekend made public intentions to re-contest. The lawmaker is relying on sentiments that he is the man of the people to appeal to his party men to give him another chance taking into consideration the fact that he rejected all juicy attractions from opposition parties and government persuasions to jump into APC train. Sources close to the hotelier cum politician who returned from London to play partisan politics, stated that PDP would have been forgotten in the state Assembly and Ehime Mbano but for Dimaku who has remained resolute in showing concern for the affairs of the party. It was also gathered that the lawmaker may have not had much benefit from the present government because of his hard stance to APC and affairs of present regime. Therefore, another tenure for him would be well deserved to complement his efforts.
Based on these factors and the reason that he has been able to represent the interest of his constituent by providing dividends of democracy and enjoining the support of influential, leaders of thought in the entire Ehime Mbano, Dimaku is plotting for a second missionary journey in 2015.
Expectedly, it would be easy for an elephant to cross the hole of a needle than Dimaku having a successful campaign for a return ticket in PDP and eventual victory at the polls. Except Dimaku employs political sagacity and subtle measures to win the support of more Ehime Mbano political class late KO Mdadiwe will call “timbers and calibers” like Tony Chukwu, Athan Achonu, the Iwu’s and Co, it would be better for him to spend the campaign money on charity than invest on second chance.
Force working against Dimaku is enormous at the local level. The Ehime Mbano East and West dichotomy, a policy that is sacrosanct in sharing political offices, will definitely work against his interest. The East/West divide gives an insight into the Ehime Mbano House of Assembly, Charter of Equity were representations are shared between the divide. Ehime West through Stamford Onyirimba had two terms 1999-2003 and 2003-2007 while somebody from East in the person of Agwu took over. Agwu could have merited a second tenure but was replaced by his kinsman Dimaku who would be completing the said mandatory two tenures for Ehime East by 2015, before it is expected to return to Ehime West.
To show that it would be a herculean task for Dimaku who it is labored to sustain PDP in the LGA, four persons from Ehime West are also drumming war beats for a showdown against the incumbent in the coming months. Signs that. Despite his six electoral wards in Ehime East to Ehime West’s five, Dimaku will be employing several survival strategies to succeed have shown with not less than four aspirants from Ehime West nursing ambitions to replace him. One Tony Nnorom, a strong contender from one of the oil companies and a renowned political activist in the area, Arc Mc Anthony Iwuoha have declared interest.
Also, said to be warming up for the battle is Uchenna Iwuanyanwu (Uche link from Umeze1 ward). The contenders are moved by the desire to oppose oppression from Ehime East who by 2019 would succeeded in keeping the seat for 12 years and domiciled in Agbajah if Dimaku conquers.
VICTOR NDUNAGU (MBAITOLU)
Several forces ranging from the APGA tsunami in Imo political space in 2011 and need to witness change in Mbaitoli politics threw up perennial contestant and politician of Ifakala extraction, Victor Ndunagu. Ndunagu who is representing Mbaitolu is yet to make public his 2015 ambition unlike his colleague, Dimaku. But the representative of the Mbaitolu State Constituency is reported to be eyeing a second tenure as his body language suggests in recent times.
Ndunagu is hoping to exploit several angles as a weapon to excel. To him, the recent empowerment extended to women and youths in the constituency, speaking the minds of his people in the state assembly and provision of basic amenities like the grading of Nwaorieubi- Ukwuorji road in connivance with one tradition ruler which the Okorocha government has failed to undertake, will sell him to the public.
Ndunagu has been able to use his position to touch the lives of to people as the age long and abandoned deaf and dump school, Ofekata Orodo is receiving attention, while the Orthopedic industry for which the Orodo people are known for is being giving a face lift
The Ifakala! born lawmaker who is among the few APGA lawmakers that jettisoned joining Okorocha’s APC, feels he deserves a second missionary journey ticket from the party for unwavering support to APGA. His interest in running another term in fuelled by the fact that one of his aides named Dikeocha is the Mbaitolu party chairman of APGA. Since his personal assistants many likely tilt the 2015 ticket to his favour, Ndunagu is warming up to run for 2015.
Also, the popular notion that people Mbaitolu South where Ndunagu comes from be allowed to have another shot since the ticket has been dominated by Mbaitolu North where Onyeji from Ubomiri abd John Egbuchulem (Mbieri) had held it since 1999. There will be balance of equation if somebody from Mbaitolu South, comprising Ifakala, Umunwoha, Ogbaku, Eziama/Obiato and the rest communities in that divide gets another chance to be at the House of Assembly for eight years. Ndunagu from Mbaitolu South will be trying to equal the records of North that had occupied it for twelve years before he stepped in.
There is no doubt that Ndunagu would be trying an impossible mission in 2015 by making a comeback bid. Unarguably, Ndunagu emerged through APGA wave of 2011. After several years of trial using the APGA platform, Ndunagu was unable to make it to the House of Assembly until the 2011 election where favour titled to his side because of the need to have Okorocha as governor who then ran under APGA platform. Without Okorochs in 2015, it would have been difficult fo Ndunagu to excel again considering his less popularity and acceptance within Mbaitolu circle.
Before Ndunagu severed relationship with Okorocha camp and his eventual rejection of the APC brand of party, the lawmaker experienced persistent differences with a major political stakeholder in the area and the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere over the soul of Mbaitolu politics in APGA fold. Though, Ndunagu will thank God that Madumere and co-travelers have abandoned APGA for him but that will be a big minus because the Deputy Governor will prove a point that he is in charge of Mbaitolu by backing an APC candidate that will challenge him in 2015. The depletion of APGA in Mbaitolu whose members have either joined PDP or APC may likely weaken Ndunagu’s support base to make any impact in 2015
LUKE CHUKWU (OHAJI/EGBEMA)
Chukwu can best be described as one of the luckiest politicians Ohaji/Egbema has produced. After tasting the office of the executive chairman of the council, the Umuapu-Ohaji-born lawmaker made it to the House of Assembly, a feat no one has achieved. And his emergence was in grand style as he defeated an incumbent legislator and Speaker of the House (2007-2011). Chukwu proved bookmakers wrong when he braced all odds to be pronounced winner in a the much contested “Supplementary Election” of May 6, 2011. That victory earned him the new title of “Okwaturu enyi” against his former identity of Ochiriozuo.
The 2011 feat is still reverberating in his camp and that is why he is hungry for a second tenure. Feelers from his end also indicate that he has not been able to enjoy his stay so far in the House of Assembly considering that his victory lasted in court till early this year when it was finally disposed by the Supreme Court.
For him, the court case it was a distraction that another tenure will make if up for him.
Another serious factor gingering Chukwu to try the 2015 House of Assembly ticket is the fact that his immediate predecessor, Opiah had two tenures which he intends to equal. Ohaji/Egbema has two divides as the name shows. Goddy Obodo from Ohaji had one tenure from 1999-2003 before Goodluck Opiah took over and stayed for two tenures 2003-2007 and 2007 -2011 where he succeeded to merit speakership position. Since Opiah from Egbema section had two tenures, Chukwu’s heartbeat is ticking towards another mandate.
However, pour performance indices will be a clog in the wheel of Chukwu’s desire to return for a second tenure. Though without any remarkable bill or motion to touch the lives of his people, Chukwu according to constituents is yet to justify why he came out in 2011 to be in the House of Assembly. Except the lawmaker went to the State Assembly for either selfish aggrandizement or self enrichment, he can be said to be guilty of abandoning his constituents as he never darned it necessary since 2011, to organize a constituency briefing for all Ohaji/Egbema people, irrespective of party lineage to make available his score card.
Unfortunately, the House committee chairman on Agriculture and probably the only mouthpiece Ohaji/Egbema has in the present dispensation could best be described as an “Idle lawmaker” if the marginalization and denial of dividends of democracy his constituents have suffered in Okorocha’s government is measured. Chukwu’s ineffectiveness in protecting the interest of Ohaji/Egbema people earned him several recall threats and vote of no confidence from his cohorts in Rescue Mission administration.
As if Chukwu went to Imo Assembly to support every motion and bill passed by his colleagues against the wish of Ohaji/Egbema and maintain incriminating silence on suspected neo-imperialist tendencies of Okorocha’s policies on his people, the lawmaker till date is yet to make any categorical statement concerning the inglorious removal of existing and vital courses from Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA to the other multi campus at Orlu and Ehime Mbano. As if the Okwaturuenyi title has beclouded his strive for constituency representation, Chukwu turned a blind eye to systematic closure of General Hospital, Umuokanne, Ohaji, even as he does not care to know that Ohaji/Egbema has not benefited form the state including his Umuapu domain whereas his colleague can boast of attracting a kilometer asphalted road in their constituency government acclaimed 15 kilometre asphalted road for every LGA in the state. Chukwu incurred the wrath of a section of his fellow Rescue Mission sympathizers who have continued to tackle his stay in the State Assembly for his indifference approach to Adapalm oil palm issue, christened Imo Palm and handed over to Roche when he assumed office as a lawmaker.
Instead of ascertaining the interest of his constituents in the whole bargain which saw Roche take over the downstream multi million naira government form for 20 years worth over N3b, what excited him was the leadership of pedestrian landlord’s association for Adapalm where crumbs and pittance are thrown to the “boys” from the billions milked away by Roche in government. Chukwu forgot that no pre-cast building by Roche being erected in school premises in the state from the Adapalm proceeds has been completed in any place in Ohaji/Egbema when other LGAs boost of completed structures.
To deepen the plight of his people, Chukwu never cared an inch to use the instrument of the legislature to monitor the activities of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, which has also failed to deliver to the oil producing areas of Imo, where Ohaji/Egbema benefited immensely prior to this era Chukwu’s Umuapu alongside other communities enjoyed public power supply from PHCN courtesy of electricity bills paid ISOPADEC in the past against the present situation where darkness reigns.
But the lawmaker cannot explain why his constituents are experiencing blackout no thanks to ISOPADEC refusal to cater for PHCN Bills. The lawmaker’s sin is too numerous before the eyes of his constituents for him to tinker about a second chance in the state Assembly.
Again, Chukwu should have also realized the consequences that enabled his victory in 2011. May be his is praying for soldiers to intimidate his challengers again to pave way for his success. The former council boss cum lawmaker should understand that 2015 will be different ball game and his much celebrated Okwaturuenyi title will really be put to test.
