The much awaited All Progressive Congress, APC Mega Rally in Owerri, Imo State, has come and gone, but not without legions of unanswered questions trailing the outing, which was shunned by most of APC chieftains from Igboland.
The first shock for the crowd at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, venue of the Rally, was the absence of President Mohammadu Buhari, on whose behalf the rally was tagged “Mega Rally for Buhari”.
Before the Rally which took place on Tuesday, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri had fed the Imo populace with the information that the president of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari would be in Imo State in flesh and blood. But in the end, Buhari was nowhere around Imo State therefore fuelling the story that the president may never visit Imo State in his four year tenure in office, except for his presidential campaign in October.
For over five times now, the Imo State Government hand brandished the name of President Buhari being a guest of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and for five times it all ended a hoax.
As early as 8am on Tuesday, human traffic was trooping into Dan Anyiam Stadium in anticipation of seeing Buhari for the first time after the 2015 election, but sadly they all went home dejected as Buhari did not show up.
Unfortunately, the Vice President, Prof Yomi Osinbanjo who was rumoured to be on his way to represent his Boss could not also make it to Owerri, but instead the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Boss Mustapha spoke for Buhari at the Rally.
However, the information Trumpeta has indicates that President Buhari stayed away because the Rally came too quickly after the APC National Convention where two factions from Imo State APC fought openly at the glare of the world, and therefore the factions could not have reconciled its differences within a week to warrant the President to abandon more important State matters only to be hosted by a fraction of the party in Imo, which may not be healthy to his 2019 Presidential project.
Trumpeta was told that President Buhari, as the Leader of APC can only set his foot in Imo State when the party is united.
As if reading the mind of their Boss, all the Ministers of Igbo extraction in Buhari’s Executive stayed away from the Owerri Rally.
Prominently missing was Okorocha’s inlaw, Prof Anthony Anwuka the Minister of State for Education.
Others are former Governors, Ogbonnaya Onu, ( Minister for Technology) Senator Ngige ( Minister for Labour) and Ambassador Onyeama (Minister for Foreign Affairs)
Joining the bandwagon of absentees at the “Mega Rally for Buhari” are Chief Orji Uzo Kalu (former Governor of Abia State) Sullivan Chime (former Governor of Enugu State) Senator Ken Nnamani (former Senate President) Chief Jim Nwobodo(former Governor of Old Anambra State)
At the home front, the Imo APC chieftains operating under a Coalition otherwise known as “Allied Forces” stayed away.
This rank includes Okorocha’s incumbent Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, the only APC Senator in the Southeast, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu was absent. Others are Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Hon Emeka Nwajiuba, Dr TOE Ekechi, Sir Jude Ejiogu, Dr Orikeze Ajumbe, Chief Alan B Onyemechi, Chief Kingsley Ufere and others.
A member of APC Board of Trustee from Imo State, Mr Jasper Azuatalam was absent. Also absent was Imo APC State Chairman Dr Hilary Eke.
Meanwhile, addressing the crowd, the National Chairman of APC Comrade Adams Oshimole who expressed joy with the crowd he met declared that he was pressurized to attend the Rally.
Oshimole said that since it was his first rally after being elected the National Chairman of APC, there is no way he would have shunned the Imo Rally.
However, Heavy down pour nearly marred the Rally, but the mammoth crowd remained patient until after the rains when they began to leave in their droves, which happened to be the time the visitors and the Imo State Governor were delivering the speeches.
Meanwhile, the Imo APC Coalition was accused to have called Rain makers to pour down the rain which nearly marred the occasion.
Meanwhile, Chief Uche Nwosu who has been endorsed by his father inlaw, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as next Imo State Governor, Tuesday at Dan Anyiam Stadium, stole the show to give an impression that the Pro Buhari show was indeed created for him to shine as he came in with the longest convey, traditional dancing group and supporters.
Nwosu was said to be the only APC guber aspirant that gained entrance into the stadium with supporters and loud ovation. When Nwosu came in, he took a strategic position as he moved round acknowledging cheers from people.
All the group that appeared in uniform were mainly his structure and followers who were physically noticed right from the entrance gate. Only his banner and that of Okorocha were seen around the stadium.
It was alleged that posters and banners of other aspirants were removed by hoodlums.
Information revealed that the special committee setup for the planning of the ceremony were mainly those of Ugwumba Movement, the pet project of Nwosu. The Board of Trustee chairman of Ugwumba movement, Prince Charles Amadi was at the centre of the planning and execution.
In some local government areas, only those who are Ugwumba compliant received transport and feeding money to ferry those hired for the event.
APC members who belong to different structure that is not Ugwumba, I Believe group and other Rescue Mission group that are not in support of Nwosu guber ambition were isolated from the rally.
Governor Rochas Okorocha during his speech revealed that his successor must be a man of his choice who will continue to propagate the Rescue Mission agenda, adding that those opposed to his policies and ideas are already in trouble.
