The All Progressive Congress, Imo State chapter is in trouble. So also is the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Since APC was formed, the party had tactically avoided conducting any congress. As if the APC hierarchy knew what would be the fall-out of any congress, unfortunately the party could not avoid forever, this ritual which strengthens a political party, by deepening democracy through replacement of party officials by a recognized due process.
However, as APC approaches 2019 elections, it had to follow the party’s constitution by conducting a congress from the Ward to the National levels.
The reason was that, the tenure of the officials presently occupying the party positions has expired. In order words, if by any reason the present officers of APC remain in office without a fresh congress to usher in new officers, whoever they vote for during the APC primaries could be knocked out in the Court.
Because of this, President Mohammadu Buhari decided that APC must hold fresh congresses across the Nation. But with a caveat. All the offices of the party at all party levels were deemed dissolved, while the officers would remain in their former positions and vie for whatever positions they wanted.
This particular agreement was a costly one to many Aspirants of the party, who had asked for a blanket dissolution of the entire party.
Executives from the Wards to the National level so that Aspirants could capitalize on the fresh congress to install party structures that would let them actualize their ambition of emerging APC candidates.
But it never was. However, be it as it may, some Aspirants in APC despite the situation now have benefited from the latest process of congress.
Yet, some party men also lost out. This include the Governor of Imo State, who was in the fore front of the State Governors who called for a fresh congress, just months to party primaries and main elections.
As it stands today, the APC in Imo State is in a quagmire, with the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, a victim.
The trouble is that if the APC fails to put her house in order by settling all issues that arose from the congress, the party will suffer a big setback in the general elections. This is because a House against itself cannot stand. And from experience, party quarrels are hardly easily resolved.
The APC matter came up too near to two major and important exercises that make or mar political parties; party primaries and election proper.
Therefore, the begging question now is; can Imo APC be able to resolve its problems caused by the congress early enough and enter the primaries as one entity? Indeed, it is left for the next coming months to confirm where Imo APC stands as elections approach.
Then to Governor Okorocha, should the APC hierarchy in Abuja accept the already conducted congresses in Imo, it means that Okorocha has lost grip of the party in Imo State completely.
This is because from the already conducted congresses in the State, Okorocha is now floating, as he has no single person as his own party official, unless he decides to begin to poach those he wants to be on his side from the existing structure now.
What really happened was that as recently exhibited by the Governor, he took those he was dealing with for granted, with the erroneous arrogant belief that he as the Governor, was both incharge of Imo affairs and APC business.
Okorocha under-rated other members of Imo APC, thinking that with political power and money he could buy anybody to his side.
This is the same thing he is doing on the general economy of Imo State. The Governor believes that if he impoverishes Imo populace by demolishing their sources of income;shops, markets and not pay salaries of workers, he could control the electorate on where to vote in 2019 as they would feed from his palms.
But that has been proved wrong. So, if Okorocha has Plan B, he should dust it up now, because all his previous strategies against APC followers and Imo electorate have all collapsed like a pack of cards.
From Okorocha’s over-bearing posture and unguarded statements, I had thought the Governor had plans. I had thought that he knows what is coming and is equal to the task. But I am disappointed that our Governor who claimed to have retired all politicians in Imo State could not stand just internal-party Horse tradings, as he obviously now is at the receiving end, racing from one Big man to the other.
But how did Okorocha come to this present tight corner? The reason is simple. He wrongly read the attitude of the people he is leading. He thought Imo people are docile and stupid, and therefore could treat them however he feels without reactions from the masses.
The truth is that Imo State is one of the most educated States in Nigeria, with high population of sophisticated citizenry who are disciplined and calm. Imo is not Abia or Anambra State.
But had Okorocha read the barometer of Imo politics correctly, he would since have discovered that the 2015 Governorship election was a narrow escape for him. So, why was it that just after four years, a man who rolled into Douglas House as the man of the people in 2011 had to struggle to win in 2015, after a hotly contested supplementary election.
Unfortunately, Okorocha moved on without bothering to stitch the loose ends. Rather he became more Royalty in behaviour than an elected Governor. He began to scorn the masses, the people who stood behind him against all odds.
As the days went by, the Governor began to assume the power of a god, and even on his own, without party directive, named those who will be candidates of APC in 2019 election. The Governor even told Imo people who will take over from him, without the peoples input.
The Governor forgot that in 2011, it was Imo people that decided who to be there Governor and not the out-going Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
Despite the reactions from the masses, Okorocha continued his disdain for the Imo masses as if nothing was happening.
Today, it is evident and clear to all Imo people that Okorocha cares more about his personal business than the poor who trooped out to defend his votes in 2011.
When his friend, former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma visited Imo for Okorocha’s Personal Foundation, the visit turned to a State visit where Zuma made use of Imo peoples facilities and funds. When the masses asked, the reaction was insults, abuses and threats.
Before I digressed, Okorocha’s problem started with the 2015 elections which he could not win in the first ballot. To win the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate Hon Emeka Ihedioha, he entered into various agreements and alliances. But I had warned the Governor then that whatever agreement he entered with Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, he must be ready to keep to them, because if he does not, Araraume will make him do.
Instead of keeping quiet, the Governor over one year ago began to announce it that Araraume can never be the Governor of Imo State. Even if he was planning that, why would Okorocha leak it out?
He even began to abuse his predecessors; Achike Udenwa, Ikedi Ohakim, including Senator Arthur Nzeribe. And to Okorocha, since he has retired these personalities, he still thinks that their influences in Nigeria have also waned?
That was an illusion. Udenwa and Ohakim wield heavy influences today across Nigeria. And Okorocha cannot march both former Governors, if they agree to undo him.
Imagine insulting Damanze of Oguta. A man who has been sick and does not even bother if Okorocha is the Governor of Imo State or not.
Okorocha for no just cause relishes in using bad words for all Imolites, which led many to begin to wonder if Imo people did anything wrong in electing him Governor to lead them.
Today, Araraume has come to ask Okorocha to keep to the agreement they entered in 2015.
And unfortunately for the Governor, the situation has presented itself suitable for all those he wronged one way or the other to pull their contacts, energy, influences and funds together, to do battle with Okorocha.
From the look of things, the present opposition against Okorocha now may not send him into early retirement, which he wished others, but he has been bruised though.
At least Okorocha has realized that it is only God that can decree and it happens. The Governor has understood that the office he occupies is in Trust of Imo people and therefore not permanently his own.
When I said this in the past that the position of Imo Governorship is not a permanent seat, I was marked for elimination. But I only wrote out of experience, thinking that since the Governor is surrounded by sycophants who would not allow people like us reach him it was better advising from afar.
The best option left for Okorocha now is to remain in APC and fight for the survival of his political future and those of his followers. And let me say that if the Governor resolves to remain in APC, Okorocha’s only target would be to stop those who stopped Uche Nwosu from being Governor, from being same. And that will be the beginning of Imo APC’s waterloo.
Or in the alternative, Okorocha may move to another political party with his numerous followers, who obeyed his instruction to boycott the congress.
And those fighting him would be more happier and relaxed if Okorocha out of frustration bolts out of APC, so that they can have peace of mind to execute their 2019 plots to a conclusively end.
But the problem is that even if the Rescue Mission pulls into another political party, how do they convince Imo electorate to change their mind on Okorocha?
For your information, there is anger in Imo State, whether propaganda or real, Okorocha enemies have succeeded in sowing hatred into the hearts of Imolites against their incumbent Governor. And again, Okorocha did not even help matters as he portrayed himself as the nemesis of Imo populace.
That is why there has been jubilation in the land following Okorocha’s loss of grip in APC. And that is not a good omen for a Governor who claims to have done a lot for his people.
And most importantly an out-going Governor who wants to produce a successor, and also facing another election as Senate candidate for Orlu zone.
Does it mean Imo people are ingrates? What is the reason for such a hostile reception for a Governor who rode into office on the back of the masses? Does it mean Okorocha’s enemies want to retire him? God forbid! “The Root of all goodness lies in the soil of appreciation for goodness” Dalai Lama
