I have had time in the past to discuss this political commentary about those angling to represent Owerri federal constituency in the National Assembly. Like I predicted in the previous title, the months nearing 2015 election will open fresh chapters in the race for who occupies the position, especially those from the PDP lineage.
When I picked my pen the last time to discuss those seeking to be “Owerri Man” in Abuja there were not less than ten persons warming up in all the known parties. Most of them are from the PDP, where phlethora of aspirants are amassing heavy war chest for a showdown. Expectedly, the PDP primaries to elect the party’s flagbearer will be centre of attraction when hostilities for the ticket begin. Following the number of gladiators willing to represent the federal constituency, including the incumbent, Ezenwa Onyewuchi, formerly of APGA, and APC before defecting to PDP sometime this year after the APC congresses, the party primaries will be a spectra to behold in terms of intrigue and horse trading.
As the PDP guidelines for the primaries has been released and details for election of would be ad hoc delegates and statutory delegates made public, the focus now is on who to be considered worthy enough to be trusted and given the mandate by adherents of PDP in Owerri Federal constituency to carry the party’s flag.
Only recently, a report in Trumpeta indicated that returnees to PDP from other parties willing to run for various elective positions are expected to fulfill waiver conditions before they are fully re-integrated into the PDP system to run for election in 2015. According to PDP guidelines concerning waiver, any returnee to the party will have to undergo a probation period of not less than one year where the person is expected to only attend meeting. During this study period, the concerned person will not vote or be voted for using the party platform for any purpose. However, there are exceptions to the rule where waiver could be granted to save privileged returnees the hurdles of observing the sanctions.
Among the top shots angling to represent Owerri Federal Constituency in the Green Chambers are four major returnees to PDP; the incumbent, Ezenwa Onyewuchi who ran in 2011 under APGA, Chief Gibson Oyiga Achonwa Njemanze, Kelechi Nnawuihe and Pharm Ben Obichere. The waiver clause has put a question mark on their chances.
For Onyewuchi who was opportuned to be in the lower National Assembly courtesy of APGA, and joining Okorocha to APC at the formative stage of the party could be his albatross. His penchant for changing party like cloth since he assumed the Reps position in 2011 may pose threat to his ambition. As part of the triumphant APGA squad of 2011, Onyewuchi may have been hoodwinked into joining APC to freely get a second term ticket under the party’s platform. However, discoveries by Onyewuchi’s camp, it was learnt, showed that the APC slot may have been reserved for a preferred bidder close to the corridors of power in Douglas House, the seat of power. It was at that moment that the Orji, Owerri North-born lawmaker remembered the PDP as the next bus stop and platform to pursue his agenda.
Similarly, Oyiga was one of the shining lights of PDP in the past. As the former Vice chairman of the party covering Owerri zone prior to 2011 election, Oyiga later joined the House of Reps bandwagon for that year’s election.
He ran an impressive campaign outfit that dazzled onlookers, but was subdued by the eventual winner of the party ticket, Ernest Ibejiakor also of the PDP. Frustrated, that he lost out Oyiga joined ACN where he got the party’s ticket. At the end of the April 9, 2011 National Assembly election won by APGA’s Onyewuchi, Oyiga has no option than to launch into Okorocha’s APGA government where he sojourned until the Rescue Mission train he was part of pitched tenth with APC.
Two other household names in Owerri Federal Constituency politics who have declared intention to run for the Reps race are Obichere and Nzewuihe. The two actors during the last dispensation allegedly were not part of the PDP train in their Owerri North localities culminating in the disastrous outing of the party in the area.
Having returned to the PDP fold to seek the party’s ticket for National Assembly, they have a moral burden to overcome for working against the interest of the party in the past. It is definitely going to be a herculean task overcoming the waiver burden.
However, all hope is not lost yet for PDP in the federal constituency as a political old war horse and one of the best brands in the area, Ben Onyechere seems to be the shining light among the pack. The Obinze Owerri West politician has a history with Imo politics especially in PDP family. Despite serving as Special Adviser to Governor T.A Orji of Abia on Media and public Affairs, Onyechere is the soul and heart of PDP in his area Onyechere’s political career dates back to the military era when he cut his teeth in the game of politics. Onyechere was among the aspirants that sought for the ticket of them NRC party for Owerri Federal Constituency seat in the early 90s, thereafter he became the campaign coordinator for Alex Ekwueme Presidential team in 1999 in Imo. Armed with versatile attributes, Onyechere was given a political appointment by the former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu. His scintillating performances prompted Orji Uzor Kalu’s successor, T.A Orji, to retain him in the Exco of the state till date.
Inspite of his position in Umuahia, Onyechere can be said to be a grassroots-oriented politician who does not delete the interest of people at his locality in all eandeavours. For over a decade, Onyechere remains the longest serving President General of his community and later emerged chairman of Owerri West PGs.
A thorough bred community leader and philanthropist per excellence, the aide to T.A Orji is a great mobiliser of the masses, Onyechere is no doubt a moving force that can be used by the PDP as the needed match maker to get the House of Reps seat. Against the backdrop of waiver problems the aforementioned aspirants will undergo, Onyechere is a foundation member of the umbrella sign party who has not only kept faith but maintained absolute loyalty worthy of commendation and reward by the hierarchy and foot soldiers of the party. In this era of culture of defection, those who have developed penchant for dumping the party have no business getting the party ticket for 2015 election.
To cement the affair, Onyechere is from Owerri West, said to be favoured among the three LGAs to produce the Reps member.
Judging form exposure rich pedigree and acceptability at the grassroots level, Onyechere could be the man to beat for the PDP ticket for the federal constituency seat in 2015 election
