Had it been the governor of Imo State, Rochas Anayo Ethelbert Okorocha was active in the field of politics when a renowned music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti vibrated with several inspiring songs but laced with revolutionary undertones, he would have perfectly fitted into a character mirrored in the vibes.
The eccentric singer had in one of his music sang;
“Democrazy
DEMO-CRAZY
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration
If it no be craze
Why for Afrika?
As time dey go
Things just dey bad
They bad more and more
Poor man dey cry
Rich man dey mess
Demo-crazy
Democrazy
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration”
The Fela’s song, with a political outlook, embellished in broken English, (Pidgin), and having a plebian throng, best describes the melange witnessed in Imo state under the present brutish regime of the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Fela needs no introduction except for toddlers who were born after 1997, the artiste of the famous “Kalakuta Republic” called it quits from this earth when death came knocking. His musical life spanned through a period of almost four decades before he died. A notable Pan Africanist who used songs to expose ills in the society and condemn oppressive government policies and administration, Fela used his music to mock those at the helm of affairs of leadership who negates populist agenda for the good of the masses. Among his exposure of the oddities rocking the political system in Nigeria then was his coining of Democracy to “Demonstration of Craze” and “Crazy Demo”
This particular aspect of Fela’s interpretation of Democracy to “Demonstration of Craze” conceived in public parlance to be “Government of the People, by the People and for the People” draws me into the developments in Imo state, especially now Nigerians are warming up to experience another transition come next year.
In Imo State, fondly called the Eastern Heartland, the most talked about matter in the political arena is the governorship position. Discussion over who succeeds the incumbent, Okorocha dominates the scene. Okorocha came into power in 2011 and secured a second tenure billed to finish in 2019. As the extant laws do not guarantee a third tenure, he must vacate office for a successor come May 29, 2019, except a constitutional hiatus before the next general election creates openings for him to continue in office beyond next year.
But in the absence of any lacuna for such tenure extension, the political hemisphere is already gathering momentum for the race for who takes over from him. In an apparent bid to furtively dictate the pace of the governorship race in his All Progressive Congress, APC, party and possibility produce his successor, the Imo State governor has adopted a heretical means to foist his son in-law, Uche Nwosu on Imo people as successor. In the process, other aspirants in the party, especially, Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, are at receiving end of backlashes from the governor and his co-travellers behind the son in-law project.
The cerebral Araraume, armed with the capacity to give the governor a run for his money in the contest for who picks APC governorship ticket in 2019, is not only a household name in politics of the State but also possesses enormous contagious affection that has drawn several party stalwarts and non broom wielding Imolites to his side, in the coming battle for the soul of “Douglas House”
The seat of power in Owerri, the Imo State capital is known as “Douglas House” before the present administration renamed it “People’s House”
Contrary to mainstream views and popular opinion among Imolites, Okorocha and a section of followers in his Rescue Mission government has not hidden desire to surreptitiously ensure Nwosu, his son in-law emerges the next governor of Imo State. And how did it look as if the late Afrobeat king, Fela, had the Imo State governor in mind in the 70’s and 80’s before coming up with the song. Against laid down democratic procedures enshrined in the 1999 Nigeria constitution as amended and the Electoral Act, Okorocha exhibiting quantum of narcissism, listed identities of those who wouldn’t succeed him in office. Irrespective of the fact that he lacks the authority to decide who picks the party ticket and goes ahead to win the election to succeed him or even another elective post, Okorocha exhibited anti democratic tactics to checkmate Araraume. The Senator who represented Okigwe Zone a record two times, including Okorocha’s predecessor in office, Ikedi Ohakim, featured prominently the governor’s line up of those who won’t govern Imo after him. Okorocha at private and public engagements do not cease to mention that Araraume won’t be governor of Imo State. Newsmen who have listened to Okorocha speak on the issue of his successor during press parleys at the convenient of the governor testifies how he technically formulated laws based on age to count Araraume out by stating that his successor would be Under 50 years of age whereas no known electoral law or Nigerian constitution stipulates that anyone above the golden age mark should not aspire to be governor.
A critical look at the criteria adopted by the APC where Okorocha functions as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and laws of the land doesn’t stop those above 50 years of age from seeking the Office of the Governor.
While a question mark still surrounds Okorocha’s K-leg U-50 cut off age for would successor because his favourite for the plum position is below the age, stories credited to him over the trailer load of monies he would produce should Araraume bring pickup of cash for the Guber contest evokes the spirit of Fela and his “Demonstration of Craze” philosophy for Democracy.
Reminiscent of the factors that prompted Fela to formulate the “Demonstration of Craze” or “Crazy Demo” song, Okorocha, by boasting that he would make available trailer load of monies against Araraume’s supposed pickup load monies resurrected the character mode of a former civilian governor in the Northern part of the country who it was learnt made a mockery of governance during his stay in office. In what appeared like a folklore, story tellers disclosed that when the late governor, names withheld, for certain reasons, was asked by newsmen, to name his “Running mate”, the supposed Deputy Governor, who paired him for the governorship contest, he named his opponent, late Abubakar Rimi. Though, the political comic relief from him, another form of “Demonstration of Craze” showed up when the former state governor was also asked to name mineral resources abound in his state as part of the economic potentials for sustainability, the late politician swiftly named Fanta, Mirinda, Coke and other consumable soft drinks available in the state.
Apparently aware that Araraume has the financial muscle to give him a run for his money as an incumbent match, Okorocha told a gathering of his political soul mates not to worry “I will come with Trailer Load of money if Araraume comes with Pick Up load”
Watchers of political developments and APC stakeholders were however stunned when Okorocha not only shunned the first ever stakeholders meeting of the state chapter of the party but also failed to flood the venue with his trailer load of money to counter Araraume who was the single highest donor.
For the first time after the 2015 election, a collection of APC leaders under the leadership of the party state officials led by Hilary Eke met at a neutral ground other than the Government House to discuss affairs of the party. No known chieftain of the party was absent except governor Okorocha. Part of the schedule for the meeting held at Concorde Hotel in New Owerri was fund raising. At the end, Araraume was the single highest donor who showcased an unwavering love for the party by dolling out a whooping #20 million. His action received a deafening thunderous ovation as it dwarfed that of others including the anointed candidate of Okorocha, Nwosu who donated #10m.
Sensing that Araraume’s single donation has posed a big challenge to the expected trailer load of monies from Okorocha, the governor’s sympathisers present now started donating money in honour of Nwosu as a cover up.
At the end, what was on the lips of majority of the party stalwarts who graced the event and witnessed the money flow was “When is Okorocha’s Trailer load of money coming”
