Sir Roy Iwuala:07039096666
It was Confucius who rightly said that, “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Arguably, the Isiala Mbano Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Executive Committee (Exco) can truly not be part of the people that have not seen the beauty of the stormy adoption raging through the nooks and crannies of the local government area. I mean the adoption craze, which is hunting for whom to consume. Interestingly, the adoption imbroglio is breeding and propagating mudslinging politics, vicious intrigues, and vitriolic attacks, hate campaign and whatnot that has orchestrated publicity campaign or press war. Sadly, everyone in the Isiala Mbano PDP Exco appears to watch the stormy adoption as a spectator rather than engage as a key player. This is why the question continues to reverberate who really adopted who?
Indeed, the purported adoption of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as sole candidate has its beauty or lessons, and I can see it clearly. Firstly, the story started with the front page report in the Nigerian Horn of May 29-June 1, 2014 captioned, “2015 Imo Guber: Isiala Mbano adopts Araraume as sole candidate.” Specifically, the said report indicted all the PDP ward chairmen, all youth leaders, and women leaders as party to the adoption craze.
The question which l asked whoever that cared is who invited the said ward chairmen, the youth leaders, and the women leaders to that adoption crazed meeting? Why were other LGA Exco members excluded from the invitation to such a critical meeting that demanded critical thinking? In all sincerity, where was the meeting held? The world will want to know why such a critical meeting could not be convened at the LGA party secretariat in Anara. Why is the LGA party chairman, Chief Azubuike Ekwegh keeping stunned silence on the vexed issue? Why has he refused to call a meeting of the LGA party Exco so as to nip the stormy adoption in the bud? Is it not proper and constitutional that other members of the LGA party Exco can advise the LGA party vice chairman, Bar. Ralph Nwanebu to summon a meeting since the LGA party chairman has chosen to keep himself aloof or evasive from the party officers? In fact, earnest answers to these posers can offer the needed pathway for quick resolution of the stormy adoption.
Secondly, the story continued with the bombshell by ward youth leaders of Isiala Mbano PDP as was published in the July 4, 2014 editions of the Announcer Express, Nigerian Horn and the Trumpeta captioned, “Petition on the purported endorsement of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as the sole Governorship candidate from Isiala Mbano.” Also, the advertorial by the ward youth leaders appeared on page 10 of the Daily Sun edition of July 7, 2014. The publication exposed the real nitty-gritty of the adoption imbroglio. In fact, it surprised me that the entire ward youth leaders in Isiala Mbano PDP were brave to call a spade by its rightful name. It showed that he, who lives with discipline, will die with honour. I was particularly overwhelmed that the ward youth leaders of Osuachara and Amauzari wards where Senator Araraume and Chief Jasper Ndubuaku respectively come from could stand their grounds on the vexed issue. The big, bold step has exonerated the ward youth leaders from such a tactless conspiracy and propaganda campaign.
Given the foregoing, the ward chairmen and the ward women leaders cannot continue to gloss over the stormy adoption as a very tactful or diplomatic way of handling what has degenerated to an explosive matter. A child can only play with his mother’s breast, but not with his father’s manhood. It is, therefore incumbent on the ward chairmen and women leaders to let the world know their side of the story or position on the troubled issue. It is instructive that, “Okenye anaghi ano n’ulo, ewu ama n’ogwu.” At the same time, a native doctor cannot watch his child (to) die when all the herbs in the bush have not been completely exhausted. In any case, I have unalloyed confidence in the ward chairmen and women leaders who as parents will play good shepherd and shepherdess roles in this onerous case.
Thirdly, this story came to a point where there is a sneaking suspicion that the so-called endorsement or adoption is totally untrue. Indeed, the adoption saga can be said to be badly mishandled or mismanaged. Look at the signatures that purportedly championed the advertorial in the Announcer Express and the Nigerian Horn editions of July 21-22, 2014 captioned, “That petition against Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s endorsement for governorship was pure blackmail.” The signatures in the said advertorial presented a picture that looks ridiculous, contemptuous, and very childish or immature. A careful observer will notice a kind of “join-join,” “patch-patch,” and of course “wuru-wuru” in the paper cut-outs containing the signatures. What a mockery!
Nevertheless, the July 21-22, 2014 advertorial does not want the dust to settle as it restated that, “The endorsement was a collective decision taken in a meeting attended by PDP leaders, stakeholders, members, and party executives from Isiala Mbano.” Thus, the question that continues to reverberate is who are the alleged party executives? What prevented them from being signatories to every such advertorials? For how long will they be kept behind the scene of action? Or, is the so-called party executives used to cover up what I refer to as obscure propaganda allusion or escapist fantasies?
On the other hand, what is preventing the LGA party Exco from investigating the adoption imbroglio, and subsequently make a statement. This, to my mind is the only panacea to address the real issues about the endorsement or adoption saga.
Sincerely, there is need for the Isiala Mbano chapter of PDP to wake up from slumber and face the challenges of their responsibilities. The wise rabbit makes its hutch with deep foundation to avoid being caught by the sons of men. In this vein, the LGA party Exco need to invoke the code of conduct for aspirants and party officers and other relevant sections of the party constitution in attempt to address the stormy adoption. They must recognize the importance of embarking on an elaborate self rediscovery or “ima onwe” so as to take proper charge or control of the party trusted in their hands. They should be careful so that the desperate and power thirsty leaders do not overthrow or override them. As Robert H. Schuler pointed out, “Take care? People who take care never go anywhere. Take a chance! Take charge! Take control!”
If I may ask, is it right or constitutional to adopt an aspirant prior to party primary election? What moral values do politicians teach or exhibit when they go to an aspirant’s home to adopt him? Must politics be carried out in such a manner that morality, justice, and fair play are not extolled? Must politics be a do or die affair? I need earnest answers to the pertinent questions.
In view of the foregoing, there is need to bring the LGA party chairman, Chief Azubuike Ekwegh to book. He has a cloud of suspicion hanging over him for allowing the adoption imbroglio to destabilize the party in Isiala Mbano. He does not give equal opportunity to all aspirants to ventilate their aspiration and programmes. Previously, he pitched his tent with an aspirant for the Federal House of Representatives, but recently he has relocated his bags and baggage to the home of a governorship aspirant. Who in Isiala Mbano PDP is not familiar with this conduct that is unbecoming, unflattering or inappropriate to a party officer in the caliber of LGA party chairman? Also, there is the rumour of financial recklessness on the part of Chief Ekwegh. He was reported to have refused to account for the proceeds of a certain state rally organized in Isiala Mbano. These issues and lot more bothering on abuse of office, which are discussed in muffled tones, do not bode well for a party that is preparing to go for an election to recover its stolen mandate. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
Given our prevailing situation of affairs, my good friend, Chief Tony Black Nduka would not hide his feelings. Indeed, I have learnt not to hide my own feelings in matters of this magnitude. There is need to dig deeply into the root of the adoption imbroglio, which I believe that Chief Jasper Ndubuaku is the originator and mastermind. Let him not pretend that no one is seeing his handwriting on the wall. A chameleon is never a faithful partner. His mordant wit, which is full of reviving old hatreds do not appeal to me. I wonder why he has intense hatred for Dr Ikedi Ohakim who made him a Special Adviser in his administration. Sadly, Chief Ndubuaku had in the Announcer Express of July 18-19, 2011 said that he will mobilize for street march to expose Ohakim’s loot in 4years. I totally disagreed with Chief Ndubuaku that the best way to repay a benefactor is to employ willful damage. According to Martin Luther, “Unthankfulness is theft.” Therefore, Chief Ndubuaku should know that God in Heaven is watching him as a noble knight of the Anglican Church. For once, he should step back from his busy life and pressure of the world and listen quietly for God’s guidance, lest he perish.
Significantly, Chief Ndubuaku has forgotten that we have gone a long way from 1998 to arrive in 2014. And, it is not a hidden fact that Isiala Mbano PDP faithful of 2014 have acquired a high degree of political awareness. Let him stop polluting every political camp he joined. For example, in 2007 when he pitched tent with Dr Ohakim, he cast aspersions on Senator Araraume. History does not lie. I wonder the kingdom, which Chief Ndubuaku came from.
However, I respect Barr Emma Nwosu (Ndoro-ndoro), Chief Aloy Oduba (Ceeworld), Chief Stanley Nzekwe, and a host of others who are in Senator Araraume’s political camp, but are not known for politics of prodigality and merchandize. Let somebody tell Chief Ndubuaku to continue to live in the past. No one will invoke hell on him except his misdeed. And, there is no greater devil than the man who wants Dr Ikedi Ohakim and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume to remain in perpetual discord.
In conclusion, I wonder what Senator Araraume hopes to gain from being adopted or endorsed by Isiala Mbano PDP. Whoever sold this bad idea to him did not mean well for him. And, I didn’t expect him to have bought this wrong or bad idea, albeit tempestuous. The hate campaign and unhealthy rivalry generated by the adoption imbroglio has exposed a lot of deficiencies on the part of Senator Araraume’s machinery. He should have known that false alarm by false friends, which gives false hope result in false dawn. Take it or leave it.
At this point, some questions may suffice. Is it likely that the said adoption in whatever guise can really translate to winning all the Isiala Mbano delegate votes? Was the adoption imbroglio employed as a kind of losing streak or Nshiko mentality strategy to pull Dr Ohakim down? Can the winner of all the delegate votes of Isiala Mbano PDP emerge as the winner of the PDP governorship primary election? Again, is the PDP governorship primary election between Senator Araraume and Dr Ohakim such that the two political camps should be at each other’s throat? I leave the puzzle to my readers. But, let it be known as Yorwueze Hagher rightly said, “Politics without ethics is hypocrisy in action, while politics with ethics is morality in practice.” I subscribe to politics with ethics or the golden rule. My dear reader, tell yourself the truth, which one do you subscribe to?
