Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency is one of the ten Federal Constituencies that produces a member of the House of Representatives at the lower National Assembly for Imo State. Unlike other Federal Constituencies in the state, Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West is unique with sterling qualities. One of the distinguishing attributes is the position of the Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta as the two LGAs that put Imo in the map of oil producing states in the country. The Federal Constituency also has similar characteristics as border towns to neighbouring Anambra, Delta and Rivers States. Apart from these natural endowments the area is also significant in Imo political arrangement.
In politics, the area has witnessed a chequered history in choosing who represents it inside the Green Chambers of the National Assembly. In 1999, when the three LGAs were merged to form a single Federal block, Chief Tony Eze Okere from Ohaji/Egbema ran with APP ticket to be in the House. By 2003, Osita Izunaso represented the interest of Oru West. Okere would have gone for second tenure but bowed out to zoning logic that made Izunaso from Oru West as his successor. By 2007, it became a consensus agreement and mutual accord that Oguta LGA should produce the candidate for 2007 election. In that regards, the eventual winner, Barr Kamma Nwauwa, who ran under APGA platform, incumbent Hon Gerald Ironna and Paschal Ejiogu, all from Oguta LGA jostled for the ticket. While Nwauwa suffered no stress grabbing APGA ticket, Ironna and Ejiogu engaged in rat race leading to skirmishes between the duo which swayed victory to Nwauwa in 2007 after Ejiogu joined Labour Party as alternative platform. Factors behind the emergence of the relatively unknown Nwauwa and his pedestrian APGA in the Federal Constituency will not be part of our subject of discussion but suffice it to note that there was political shenanigans that characterized the entire scenario.
By 2011, a new chapter was opened on the zoning formula for the position. Based on the earlier rotatory arrangements among the three LGAs, some aspirants from Ohaji/Egbema block declared interests in various parties. While Dr Goddy Esom Obodo, a former House of Assembly member who represented Ohaji/Egbema and one time Commissioner for Works got the ticket of defunct ACN, another former Commissioner of Ohaji extraction, Barr Golden Nwosu dragged the PDP ticket with the incumbent Hon Ironna. At the end of a rather fierce hostilities, the latter was handed the party’s flag for 2011 election thereby disrupting the mutual zoning arrangement that would have favoured Ohaji/Egbema. Political pundits are of the opinion that if Ohaji/Egbema had it in 1999, 2003 and 2007 went to Oru West and Oguta respectively, 2011 would be for Ohaji/Egbema under second round arrangement.
Since zoning arrangement is not enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution and no legal regulation bans aspirants seeking any position in the country based on zoning arrangement, the race for the federal seat was an open game for all the interested contestants. At the end, Ironna carried the day. Suffice it to note that apart from Ironna, other Oguta politicians like Nwauwa of APGA and Ezennia Ogbuehi of ANPP also contested the 2011 election.
As 2015 is fast approaching, the question on the lips of many keen observers of political developments in the area is where will the pendulum tilt to? In view of the fact that the zoning arrangement has been disrupted and no longer applicable since 2011, the coming general election will be an litmus test for people of the area. The non-respect to zoning system will definitely open a fresh chapter in selection of candidates by political parties.
Notwithstanding, candidates from each of the three LGAs would have a vertible logic to aspire to represent the Federal Constituency in Abuja even as several factors cannot be divorced from the factors that will shape the 2015 debacle. There is no doubt that the favoured Ohaji/Egbema LGA must do all political biddings to ensure that 2015 ticket is reserved for the area. Taking into consideration her status as the mother LGA that beget Oguta as well becoming the first to taste the seat in 1999 and allowing others in subsequent general elections, equity, fairness and justice demand that Ohaji/Egbema be allowed to restart the three-chain arrangement in 2015. Also, the fact that it lost out to Oguta, a brother LGA in 2011 would inform people of the federal constituency to give Ohaji/Egbema 2015 chance again. It is in this regard that some frontline politicians from Ohaji/Egbema extraction is reported to be warming up to try the seat for size. Though he has not made public his ambition but feelers from Hon Luke Chukwu’s camp indicate he would be a major challenger for the position come 2015. The body language and recent political maneuvers of the member representing Ohaji/Egbema in the House of Assembly suggest that another electioneering activity awaits him in the near future.
Despites the turbulent times and political misfortune he has been experiencing from his APC/APGA political family that not only passed a vote of no confidence but also began recall process, the House Committee Chairman on Agriculture is reported to be sensitizing foot soldiers and allies of the Federal House project. Joining Hon Chukwu in the Federal House Project is Dr Goddy Esom Obodo who was recently appointed Mayor of Orlu Zone by Governor Rochas Okorocha. The Prince of Oil Kingdom, Obodo as fondly called is said to be interested in the position he lost in 2011, hence the revival of his Reps Seat ambition. Feelers from his camp indicate that the new Mayor of Orlu position he gained from Okorocha is a stepping stone to relaunch his campaign machinery under APC platform. Rumours have been making the round that Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah, Speaker emeritus of Imo State House of Assembly may make himself available again for another public office and Abuja where he currently resides undoubtedly may be his destination. The unconfirmed news became rife when the Egbema born lawmaker appeared at the make-shift complex of the Imo State House of Assembly for the Special Session held in honour of Late Hon Louis Chukwu. Rt Hon Opiah who was recently handed a Chairman of Federal Board appointment by President Jonathan caused an uproar at the Assembly Complex when workers out of excitement almost mobbed him by causing human traffic. Words oozing from the mouths of onlookers were that Opiah would be a sure candidate for the Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West House of Reps position. Despite our affinity as somebody I served as media aide, I can’t officially confirm his next political move. Therefore, he could also be a victim of the rumour mill making 2015 postulations.
Oru West aspirants will also have a stake in 2015 if the following logic is anything to go by. People from the area would argue that 2015 is their turn if the rotary policy should be strictly followed. Since 1999 was for Ohaji/Egbema and they had in 2003 before Oguta’s 2007, it will be their turn in 2015 since it was Ohaji/Egbema’s turn in 2011. The Oru West Constituents may not mind the consequences that denied Ohaji/Egbema the 2011 chance since Dr Obodo ran the race against the eventual winner from Oguta. The inability of Ohaji/Egbema people to secure their deserved chance in 2011 may be a golden sacrifice which Oru West would not hesitate to grab to in 2015 since they have permuted that the next general election is their turn if rotatory formula would be strictly adhered to. Another factor that may force aspirants from Oru West to seek the position is the elimination of zoning caused by second term representation of Oguta person.
In this regard, the Deputy Speaker of Imo Assembly, Pharmacist Donatus Ozoemena is reported to be warming up and oiling political machinery to extend his representation beyond Oru West frontiers. Already, grapevine sources reveal that Ozoemena who is enjoying the support of APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso has begun consultation and extending meeting to stakeholders outside his Oru West domain. It was even reported that his future political ambition has made him to develop interest in the affairs of the two oil producing communities. Apart from using his elevated position to delve into matters affecting Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta like the Adapalm (Roche) Landlord’s Association brouhaha and projects inspection, Odoemena again was made Chairman of House Special Committee on affairs of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The committee no doubt is an “entry behavior” into Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta to feel the political terrain before 2015 election. He is said to have also raised Oru West Peoples Assembly to make a case for his future political ambition.
Having scuttled the zoning arrangement, Oguta people will also be part of the 2015 struggle for the House of Representative seat. Since no zoning regulation stops any candidate, interested bidders are free to vie for the Abuja position. Despite tasting the office, the incumbent, Ironna, is no doubt interested in making a back-to-back stride. To actualize this second missionary ambition, Ironna has continued to keep in touch with his campaign team and sent out signals of fresh bid for the position. Ironna body language says it all.
It was even gathered that the seasoned lawmaker who has tasted power as elected Chairman of Oguta LGA and Honourable member of the state legislature courtesy of his rosy relationship with a powerful power broker and political Idol in the area, Chief Francis Arthur Nzeribe, has started plotting all loopholes for 2015 success. Ironna will not only be the front runner, the likes of Ezediaro and Agwa born Dr Obodo who sought PDP ticket in 2011 would re-engineer their structures for 2015. Until the aforementioned persons come out of their cocoons to make their intentions public. I rest my case for next edition.
