i remain an apostle of two strong political parties in our polity. This is one of the reasons why I aligned myself to those who hailed the coming of the All Progressive Congress (APC) into the nation’s political landscape.
In my piece titled:APC, Igbos And 2015 published on this column few months ago, I maintained that the APC will increase political competition and compel the ruling Peoples Democratic Party , PDP to take the business of governance of the country seriously.
Those who misunderstood my postulations tagged me an APC agent and Rochas Okorocha’s new disciple. Those who agreed with me commended yours sincerely for espousing the benefits of another political party that has the capacity to give the ruling PDP a run for the votes in 2015.
Well, in my usual character to ignore those whose stock in trade is to cast aspersions without understanding and digesting the content of the message I propound on this column, I maintain again that two strong political parties is the beauty of modern democracy. I will say it in Owerri, echo it in Sokoto and sing it on the Mambilla plateau.
If the United States and Britain, two strong adherents to the norms of democracy which we practice, though with imperfections, see the need for two strong political parties to nourish democracy, I do not see why any lover of good governance will oppose the coming of another strong and virile opposition party in the country.
I reproduce verbatim what I wrote in part in that piece to butress my stance on the coming of the APC.
I wrote“The benefits of two strong political parties is the beauty of democracy.In industrilized democracies such as the United States and United Kingdom, Americans and Britons can attest to the fact that they attained economic prosperity because they had the power to elect and at the same time eject out of power political parties that either lived up to their expectations or those who performed poorly.
Countries who got entangled into a one party state syndrome can also attest that they have not fared well and better since such obnoxious political practice came into existence. The end product of a one party state is corruption, bad governance and inept leadership- triple attributes which has been the lot of Nigerians since the return of democracy 14 years ago.
Therefore, the coming of the APC is a major plus to the political development of Nigeria. If the Yorubas deemed it apprioprate to use it as a platform to extend their political tentacles, it can also serve as a springboard for Igbos to redefine their political intentions and desires”
The above explanation continues to serve as a propelling factor for my support for the coming of APC in Nigeria. How it shapes the political terrain in Imo however remains a source of concern if what we see and hear about those spearheading the party in the State is anything to by. And this is the crux of the matter in todays discourse.
Following indications that APC is to be registered soon, I observed that fresh concerns have arisen over the composition of the party in Imo State.The party’s set up seems to be raising dust and putting the promoters of the party in a cold war.
The APC in Imo State is like a brand new bus that has cruised to a halt at a motor park and passengers are scrambling for the few seats available. And because the new bus has good facilities such as a good cooling system, leather seats and provides all the comfort for a smooth ride, eveyone wants to be part of the journey. But because the bus cannot cannot contain everyone that intends to board, some are grieving that they will be left out in the cruise.
Another set of passengers do not like the driver of the bus and therefore unwilling to board a seat. Some of the intending passengers say he is reckless and has little or no regards for traffic rules and regulations. And the driver remains adamant and feigns ignorance to the rantings of his passengers.
This illustration aptly captures the present situation in Imo APC.
Last week, the Imo State Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe signalled his desire not to be part of the APC in Imo State. He also announced his resignation as Chair of the Imo State chapter of the ANPP.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Ajumbe who served the ANPP for nine years, said he had to leave because the national headquater of the party did not refund monies he expended from his private purse on the party in Imo State. He added that the APC is a good concept but he is uncomfortable with those promoting it.
Ajumbe’s exit from the ANPP and his resolve not to be part of the APC coincides with growing disaffection in the Imo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) . There are reports that some stakeholders in the party are at logger heads over some issues which border on what will be their role in the APC set up where Rochas Okorocha will hold sway.
Indeed, these are disturbing signals for the party in Imo State and the reasons for this development are not far fetched.
Before now, I had wondered how the coming together of strange political bedfellows from the ANPP, ACN and CPC are going to co exist in the new APC in Imo State where Governor Rochas Okorocha will call the shots. Okorocha is believed not to have a smooth political relationship with leaders of these political parties and he has never pretended about it. He has not given enough greenlight to them to come ,wine and dine with him in the APC in Imo and this appears to be causing discomfort to other APC adherents.
This can explain why those in ANPP and ACN in Imo State are said to be uncomfortable with him driving the APC bus in Imo. And the promoters of the APC at the national level might not have taken this factor into consideration when it allocated State
