Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State appears to have gotten himself entangled in a deep political blue sea. Two options are open to anyone that gets stuck in a sea. And I guess readers do have the answers to this pertinent question.
However, Okorocha set the ball rolling last week when he gave an insight on what his next political move will be. Surprisingly, his submissions were filled with political platitudes. He made an unclear and uncertain declaration.
It was a declaration that portrayed him as one undecided on what he wants politically in 2015 or one yet to make up his mind on his political intentions as the next political dispensation draws close. The burden of indecision as regards his next political move seems to have overtaken our dear governor.
Hear Rochas “……It has always been my desire to serve in Imo State for one term; even now I desire to do a term. But that is where I need help and prayers because here I might take a risk of being lynched if I say I am not going to continue, unless I do something to make them hate me. But now, it would be difficult to get out of that entanglement.
He continued “Again, remember, I have always ran for President and it has always been my desire to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to give that which is inside me which would bring about the development of the country. These things are conflicting at the moment. So I would simply wait and see”
Most political pundits who analyzed his views will agree that Okorocha’s postulation is a stop gap mechanism. It is a ploy to watch political events unfold in the country and see if the new political octopus called the All Progressive Congress will serve as the ladder that will catapult him to the zenith of his political desire.
That a political fog seem to be hovering around the ambition of our dear governor is surprising considering the fact that many had anticipated a clearer political picture from him by now. With all the political razzmatazz he has displayed in the State, it is stunning that Okorocha says he needs more time before he tell us what he wants in 2015.
However, in one of my piece published on this page titled “Tips For Okorocha And Opposition Forces” I said Okorocha owes the people of Imo State the responsibility to tell them either he is seeking for a second term as governor or wants to aspire for the presidency. And I stated it is important he does so early enough. As the number one public office holder in the State, his body language regulates the political direction of the State.
Now that he says he is entangled on which of his ambitions he will pursue, the political temperature of the State remains stagnated. Politicians cannot afford to move back and forth because he remains instrumental to the political direction of the State.
Therefore, it is worrisome when an incumbent governor or President says he or her ambition is conflicting.
Indeed, this is a huge burden for Okorocha. And when a politician has a conflicting ambition, he is in a dilemma, a serious dilemma. And the best option when such situation arises is to act and act fast.
Rochas should note that the scramble for various elective offices has intensified especially in Imo State. A close look at the political compass of the State indicates that the race for Imo governorship seat in 2015 has already begun in earnest.
The likes of Capt Emmanuel Ihenacho has not minced words to say he is eying Douglas House, Owerri in 2015. And for me, this shows that the sailor and former minister of Interior is not a political pretender. This shows he is ready for the art of politicking and ready for the jigiri pogiri involved in the game of seeking for elective office as contentious as that of the governor of the State.
It is political maturity on his part to say he is interested in the contest. Iheanacho has proved a paint to those who relish in the belief that 2015 is far away and issues relating to the governorship race should be discarded for now.
I do not belong to the school of thought that classify those who say 2015 is miles away and therefore should not form the bedrock of political discourse in the polity at the moment.
Those who have grasp of the intricate political dynamics of the State will readily attest to the fact that Imo governorship contest is a special contest which only the rugged, the articulate and those who have the element of luck in politics succeeds.
With less than two years to an election year, this is the time for anyone who wants to hold any public office in 2015 to begin to “warm up” Serious politicians set the ball rolling on time. And they do so early enough. This is why we now see political alignments and realignments going on across the State and country. Besides, political aspirations are watered and nurtured by early political planning, alignment and realignments.
This is why I am stunned that Governor Okorocha’s says that he is yet to decide on his next political move. Such comments coming from him a politician who has threaded on the rough and murky waters of politics in the country is simply stunning and difficult to believe.
I say so because some of us knew he was eyeing the governorship seat of the State a year or two before the 2011 elections. He applied the concept of signalling his aspiration early enough. And that strategy worked in his favour. By the time he went into the governorship contest, he was easily ranked a major competitor in the race.
To be candid, I find it difficult to accept that Governor Okorocha is having “conflicting ambitions”. If he has as he claimed, why all the political noise and hullabaloo about joining APC ?Why assimilate all the political bullets from the Peter Obi’s and co over his move to the APC only to now say his ambitions are conflicting?
Or is he shying away from the political arena considering the disposition of the APC to give the North its presidential ticket and the vice presidential ticket to the South West? And if the coast is not clear for him yet to run for the Presidency in 2015, is the coast not clear for him to run as governor of the State for a second term?
I remembered clearly during electionneering campaigns in 2011, when he said he will do one term as governor. That line of thought seem to have changed in his recent submission last week. While he admitted that he will govern for a term, he said there was no pact anywhere that binds him to only govern the State for a term. This posture further opens another pandora box, though he is vindicated by the fact that the Constitution guarantees him a second term in office.
We heard from Martin Agbaso, the leader of APGA in the State, during the Jpros contract saga, that Okorocha promised to govern for a term and handover power to Owerri Zone. Some misinterpreted it to mean there was a gentleman agreement that Okorocha will hand over power to the Agbasos in 2015.
And true to Agbaso’s confession, Owerri zone have not relented in ensuring that it is not shortchanged from the scramble or race for the 2015 governorship seat. They have not relented and have showed no signs of relenting in their quest to realize their desire.
Several groups in different shapes and sizes, the serious and the unserious are holding on Okorocha’s promise of a one term in office to say it is the turn of Owerri zone to produce the next governor of the State. Such groups range from Owerri Zone Political Leadership Forum, (OZOPOLF) Owerri Peoples Front (OPF) and Owerri Peoples Assembly(OPA). While they differ in style and approach in achieving a common objective, they are strongly united by the passion to realize their agenda.
Aside this, some Owerri sons and daughters have signaled readiness to wrestle power from him. Afterall, in politics, they say the more the merrier! Those who want Okorocha to go for a second term as governor should understand the words of a great philosopher, Jodi Picout, who said “ Words Are Like Eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more recall them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fail”
If Okorocha promised one term as governor before he won the governorship race in 2011, he is bound stick to it. Great men are bound by their words. Since he wants to portray himself as a governor that has a different approach and style towards governance, he should also be seen to keep to his words and promises. That will make him an exceptional leader.
This will surely earn a place in the hall of fame if he sticks to this promise.
