Truth is bitter. And those who tell it to power are at risk. But in the end, they are usually vindicated. For those who have been following my column, “LASTLINE”, I had warned several months ago that if PDP does not thread softly, it may find itself in a quagmire that may cost the party the 2015 Guber Seat.
Today, the party is in court trying to replicate the 2007 scenario which cost PDP the Governorship seat as Senator Ifeanyi Araraume fought to the supreme court, even after former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo visited Imo to say PDP had no candidate.
One is praying that in the current imbroglio between Senator Ifeanyi Araraue and Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, over the December 8, 2014 Imo PDP Governorship primary, wisdom will prevail for the antagonist to sheath his sword so that PDP can put her house in order and face the herculean task ahead, as internal squabble is the least any body expects now.
But having said that, I want to write about the state of PDP in Ngor Okpala, my LGA.
PDP in Ngor Okpala now is not in one piece. It will be a delusion for any body to tell you that the party is intact. Even though those benefiting from the internal subjugation will tell you it is uhuru. But that does not mean that the situation cannot be remedied for all to work together.
The last Delegate election polarized the party as the LGA Executive led by Chief CC Nwigwe choose to select those they believe are amenable to both their personal aggrandizement and political survival.
In the end, buffoons dominated the list, as most of the Delegates could not write or read the names of “their” prospective candidates. However, the Delegate exercise has come and gone, as the candidates have all emerged. As good partymen, what those that were angered ought to do now, is to close ranks and deliver all the candidates produced by the party.
But it still rests on the Shoulders of the party Leaders in the LGA to show the way forward. One, those who went to the Delegate exercise and returned home as millionaires should not see it as a winner takes all situation, and insult the sensibilities of those who were short-changed in the production of the Delegate lists.
Election is a process. The first round has just passed. The main election is yet to come, which will commence with intensive campaigns, before the election proper, that will involve other political parties, eager to deliver their various candidates too.
In order words, what Ngor Okpala PDP needs now is total reconciliation of all members, both the aggrieved and the favoured among them. Therefore, it is high time the party chairman, Chief Nwigwe is told in clear terms that time for segregation and favouring of members against others are done away with.
Although nobody is perfect, especially when occupying a public office, but you must strive to make sure that you offend less people when in the course of a few your duty, because no office lasts forever.
But in the case of Chief Nwigwe, rather than pretend to remain neutral, as the chairman and father of PDP in the LGA, every member knows where his interest lies in every matter that comes to his table, which rankles most members. Despite the sensitive nature of his position, Chief Nwigwe allows members to easily read his mind on issues, because he hardly hides his emotions which is not good for a leader.
If you don’t belong or sheepishly agree to Chief Nwigwe’s orders, you are marked. While he is free to adhere to his own belief, others are expected to be robots and zombies, in a democratic environment where you are free to have your own thinking.
Because of impunity that reigns in Ngor Okpala PDP, very soon factions will begin to emerge openly since a group wants to lord it over and above others as if the party belongs to them, without considering the rights of others in a free society.
The earlier the Ngor Okpala PDP leaders realize that the forth coming 2015 election will be tough, the better for the party and its members. They must also realize that no election can be executed successfully under an atmosphere of suspicion among members.
For instance, a situation whereby certain people are marked out, ostracized and are denied invitations when PDP has an activity in the LGA is petty and childish. Political party in a democracy is a game of number. No one individual can win an election without the contribution of others. You must imcomperate all and sundry whether you love them or not.
It is very unfortunate that in Ngor Okpala, while President Goodluck Jonathan is begging aggrieved PDP members to remain in the party, Chief Nwigwe does not care whether you leave the party or not. If not, how could the chairman regularly deny some prominent members of the party invitations when there are important elections are staring all Ngor Okpala PDP members in the face?
Why would those who finance the party in their own little ways are always ignored when it is time for hard work to be recognized. Why is it that those who go against the party constitution are protected, while the obedient ones are haunted?
For instance, in Umuhu Ward9, the Ward Chairman, Chibuzo Okereafor, went to the “Delegate” without resigning his appointment as stipulated by the PDP constitution. Till date, Chief Nwigwe invites him to official functions of the party, instead of the new Ward chairman, Mr Bona Okorie, statutorily elected by all the leaders and members of the Ward, in accordance with PDP constitution.
Is that not impunity? What is Nwigwe trying to exhibit to the law abiding members of the Ward who democratically choose their Ward chairman? Is Chief Nwigwe not inviting chaos and Mayhem? Is the PDP constitution meant for a certain calibre of members? The Ward 9 issue must be addressed quickly before the majority of members who elected the new chairman follow Nwigwe impunity for impunity. A stitch in time saves nine.
The man in question, Chibuzo Okoreafor changed his name to “Sabinus” in the Delegate list and Nwigwe accepted this travesty, without asking questions as the Father of the party in the LGA, simply because Chibuzo is his “Boy”?
Now, rather than subdue himself to constituted authority according to PDP constitution, Chibuzo called a meeting yesterday where he said he still remains the Ward chairman and therefore factionalizing PDP in Ward 9, yet Nwigwe will not caution him.
Does it occur to Nwigwe what PDP will lose in Ward 9, by accepting a man rejected by the entire members in the Ward? Is democracy no more a game of number, and played by the rules?
This same Chibuzo has been Chairman of the Ward for over thirteen years now, against the constitution of PDP. In all the elections that took place while he was Ward chairman, he never won any election in the two Booths in his village, from 1999 to 2011. What Ngor Okpala PDP is looking for, is it not men and women with the capacity to woo others and win election for the party?
Why would Ngor Okpala PDP continue to reward mediocrity over meritocracy and expect the best? In politics, you don’t recognize the minority above the majority. While the minority will always have their say, the majority will have their way. Anything contrary to this old Democratic norm always ends in doom and disaster.
If Nwigwe must retain Chibuzo as his “Boy” he can appoint him as his PA, because to continue to retain him as Ward chairman of Ward 9 after being a Delegate is simply turning the PDP constitution upside-down, and may push the masses to the wall.
He who goes to equity must have clean hands.
If Ngor Okpala PDP under Nwigwe should have a self-searching recourse, it would realize that in his tenure as chairman , the party lost all the elections in the LGA.
Emeka Offor of APGA won Prince Obinna Egu of PDP. Senator Chris Anyanwu won Kema Chikwe in Ngor Okpala. Hon Emeka Ihedioha also lost in Ngor Okpala, but for the votes from Aboh Mbaise.
In the Governorship, the PDP which depended on Ngor Okpala to pull out the chestnut from the fire, during the re-run election, suffered a heavy defeat, as Rochas Okorocha of APGA beat Ikedi Ohakim of PDP.
Till date, Ohakim still talks about the Ngor Okpala defeat which marked the end of his regime in the 2011.
Four years after, has Ngor Okpala PDP sat down to deliberate on the 2011 show-of-shame?
Has the party asked the way forward? Rather than have a retrospect, Ngor Okpala PDP is doing as if all is well. It is doing as if the Delegate election which was used to humiliate a lot of members is a winner takes all affair and a victor-vanquished ceremony.
It is a shame that the first meeting called by Chief Nwigwe, was not a reconciliation meeting, but to set a campaign team. Worse, he deliberately left out those he think are enemies. What a way to begin after the contentions Delegate. At this crucial time, when all hands are needed on Deck?
For Christ sake, the chairman of Ngor Okpala PDP is for all members. He should be the father of all; or at least pretend to be one. Enough of these discriminations and gang-ups. Ngor Okpala PDP has a high stake in who becomes the next Governor of Imo state on May 29, 2015, and therefore the battle is not a one-man-show. It must be a collective effort.
Infact, some people have exhausted their roles during the Delegate exercise. In other words, some people were only relevant for the Delegate election as a process in an election.
Now that it is over, such people must step aside, while those relevant for the battle ahead should be fished out.
This is where I call on the likes of Chief Emma Nwogu, Okenze Obinna, Chief Charles Abara, Chief JC Onuoha, Dr Philip Ukaegbu, Bar Kingsley Nzemeachi, Hon Kizito Onuoha, Bar Enyinna Onuegbu (despite what happened to him) Hon Bede Eke, Chief Cliff Ogbede, Bar Soronadi Njoku, Chief Uju Madu, Chief Reginald Amadi, Bar Charles Okeroafor, Hon Evng Chinwe Obinna, Hon Speaker Achinihu, Hon Obinna Egu, Mrs Tina Okere, Mrs Oby Onyenwe and others to step out and take the driving seat of Ngor Okpala PDP now.
The worst thing that can happen to a political party, Groups or individual is over-confidence. And it is a tragedy waiting to happen to underrate your opponents in any fight.
Elections are about seven weeks away, and yet many in Ngor Okpala think certain things can be swept under the carpet; while the strong tells the weak to go to hell.
Ngor Okpala PDP should follow the foot steps of President Goodluck Jonathan, by changing her tune the way it should touch the heart of all and sundry. Both the victors and vanquished.
Anybody who is toeing the line of segregation now in Ngor Okpala PDP is a saboteur. Progress can only be recorded where there is peace and harmony.
What is needed in Ngor Okpala PDP now is peace. No bragging, no pomposity, no arrogance. Let every member eschew hate, for the battle needs all hands on deck.
Those who were denied Delegate opportunities should forgive and forget. It has come and gone, so no need brooding over spilled milk. There is nothing a goat can eat and become as big as an Elephant.
Those who made millions should share a little with their members. Let the Delegate Booty turn to sharing of peace than enmity.
Ngor Okpal PDP should consolidate at the Ward levels by settling all members, by listening to all complaints.
Politics is local everywhere in the world. No petition should be treated with levity, as every vote would count in 2015, following the seriousness shown by all the political parties towards the general election. Therefore no room for hanky panky, as the electorate are ready to protect their votes
Therefore, Reconciliation meetings are important and urgent in Ngor Okpala PDP, for all aggrieved parties to throw away their grievances and for PDP to move forward, and record successes as one united family in 2015 election.
