By Henry Ekpe
Suddenly, Okigwe zone which was hitherto a symbol of peace in Imo politics has gradually assumed the position of Imo political hot spot
For years now, Okigwe (Imo North Senatorial zone) has not really had a representative in the Senate.
While Owerri and Orlu Senatorial zones have moved on after the elections, Okigwe has not had a Senator, as the Area turns to an electoral guinea pig with endless and repeated elections to produce who represents the Area in the Senate. After much imbroglio, which later led to the emergence of Chief Benji Uwajumogu as the next Senator of the zone, as Okigwe Senatorial zone and Uwajumogu were yet to heave a sigh of relief, the Senator died.
This again has led to another strenuous political search for yet a Senator for Okigwe zone, which will not be an easy task.
In the election of 2019, which ended in a fiasco, before Uwajumogu grabbed the diadiem through the court, four major political parties contested for the elusive but mouth-watering position.
The parties include Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which paraded Hon Patrick Ndubueze, Action Alliance, AA, had Chief Ndubuisi Emenike, All Progressive Congress, APC fielded Senator Benji Uwajumogu, while the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA had Attorney Charles Onyirimba.
Now, the almighty Independent National Election Commission, INEC, has fixed October 31, 2020, as the agreed date for another poll to elect Okigwe Zone Senator.
However, the status quo has changed in the election, because not all those that hoisted the various flags for the various parties would participate in the next election, even as it is certain that a few new faces will join the fray for the October 31, 2020 Battle.
Those who are certain not to appear on the ballot paper this time is Senator Benji Uwajumogu who died soon after he was inaugurated as Senator.
Uwajumogu ran under the platform of APC, therefore, a fresh candidate will now take the place of Uwajumogu for APC.
The next person is Chief Ndubuisi Emenike of AA, who died of gunshot wounds sustained at a function.
Emenike in 2019 ran on the platform of AA. Another candidate will appear for AA in the October election.
For the PDP, it is not yet certain that Hon Patrick Ndubueze will take a shot again at the contentious race.
If he does, that will be a return to a familiar terrain for him. And if he doesn’t PDP has an array of Aspirants already jostling to take the position.
All indications pose that Attorney Charles Onyirimba will return to the ring as his party, APGA still reposes a lot of confidence in him to continue the battle.
In any event, the Okigwe Senatorial election will continue with its high tension outing as witnessed before, if not even heightened this time, as nothing has shown that the tempo will simmer down.
The simple reason is that more heavy political titans will join the fray in days to come. And when Big Elephants clash, the ground is bond to shake.
Although the election is to produce a representative for Okigwe people in the Senate, but a lot of factors are involved because too many people are concerned.
The election involves both the power in Abuja and Imo State. This is the reason the exercise will be tough both for Blocks contestants and people of Okigwe.
Whether the contest would be subdued to transparent process or not is not the issue. The major concern is who emerges the Senator, and which “Group” props up that winner.
Already, there are indications that Senator Ifeanyi Araraume will soon throw his hat into the ring for the major contest.
We also learnt that a former Governor, His Excellency, Dr Ikedi Ohakim will in days time declare his intention to go to Senate too.
The problem preceding this Okigwe Senate Race will commence from the primaries of the political parties that will produce the candidates.
However, the main turmoil will be within the ruling APC, as the party will encounter a herculean task in arriving at a candidate in this turbulent election in Imo State.
Other parties will have easy sail in this aspect, as PDP will not have much problem. AA too will not encounter a headache in producing Emenike’s replacement.
As earlier said, APGA is at peace with its legendary candidate in the race, Onyirimba.
In the case of Ohakim, he will not have any contest in ACCORD.
Unfortunately, in APC there are too many Aspirants already, and when Araraume soon joins, it will up the ante and shake some tables.
Much as there are plots to stop Araraume, but such does not scare the Senator who does not shy away for any Battle. Therefore, the race within APC will be between Araraume and others.
The waiver which he got recently from the APC hierarchy is an indication that the party is aware of his ambition from the highest echeleon and therefore the APC primaries billed for next week will be interesting.
The forces against Araraume is from the sitting Government in Imo State, as the fear is that another strong man in Imo tipping his head up from Okigwe Area will be a big challenge to the powers that be in the State presently.
Power is jealous and you don’t blame the forces in Imo in challenging the morphing of too many power bases in the State.
Already, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is a problem from Orlu zone, whose presence is causing the Imo State Government sleepless nights.
In Owerri zone, Rt Emeka Ihedioha cannot be contained because he operates from a different political cell extant from that of those now occupying Imo Government House.
Therefore to them, allowing Araraume to emerge as the Senator from Okigwe would have balanced the political equilibrium of the Tripod of Imo State, which will not allow Governor Hope Uzodinma to roar across the three zones of the State without let.
The Governor had complained in many quarters that none of the Senators from Imo State gives him their ears. This is a concern to the Governor as it is counter- productive and dangerous for a Governor to have National Assembly members, especially Senators who operate on their own without deferring to their State Governor.
Under this scenario, the only alternative left is to stop Araraume at the primary level which remains an uphill task for his traducers. Araraume is a known political Battle ship who takes them as they come.
Now, the rumoured appearance of Ohakim in the race may still be a ploy to box
Araraume into a corner, which certainly will stretch his armour if eventually Ohakim shows up soon.
Therefore, in all ramifications, the October 31,2020 election in Imo State will redirect the hands of power bases in the State, as the outcome of the contest will have a long term effect on the perceived Power Brokers in Imo presently.
Since they say that there is no permanent friend in politics but permanent interest, we foresee a situation where realignments will bring erstwhile political opponents together for this particular election that will be celebrated by the winners, while the Losers mourn.
In recent time, Imo State seems to have been partitioned to “Outsiders” as responses and comments from those incharge of the State now indicate.
But that may be their undoing as Imo people will never accede to second salivery by other means.
This election in Okigwe will pit the masses against the proponents of elitist feudal idealism to subjugate the masses against their will, a new model in Imo State that is strange to the masses.
Therefore, apart from the usual political horse tradings and intrigues, the best option to bring this lingering Okigwe Senate imbroglio to an end is to allow the electorate make their choice.
