By orji Sampson
The recent request made to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha by a section of Mbaise political stakeholders is raising dust among groups and individual in Mbaise. While a group has approached the Reps member to vie for the position which he is yet to accept, a section of Mbaise people have come out to categorically declare their stand against the reported plans to adopt an aspirant for the Governorship election come 2015.
According to a release made public to the press at Lodan Hotels on Thursday September 26, Two Socio-cultural Groups, Mbaise Patriotic Coalition, an umbrella organization of all the Associations working for Mbaise Governorship for 2015 and Concerned Citizens of Mbaise Nation, stated their worries over the erroneous insinuation in some sections of the press that Mbaise has adopted a political aspirant for the 2015 Governorship race.
The groups in their separate statements condemned the idea of using Mbaise as a nation to pass wrong massages capable of destroying the name and peaceful co-existence existing in Mbaise land.
Addressing the press, Nze B. C Nwachukwu, Chairman of Mbaise Patriotic Coalition, MPC stated that Mbaise as a people, and nation, has not endorsed or adopted any particular aspirant as her favoured candidate for the battle ahead adding that Mbaise has many sons and daughters interested in the Governorship race come 2015.
Continuing, Nwachukwu pointed out in his address that Mbaise people have not assessed any of the candidates nor listened to them to consider adopting any one as sole candidate for the Guber position.
The groups however disassociated themselves with any act capable of shutting out any aspirant without proper screening and assessment by all stakeholders.
On their own part, the Concerned Citizens of Mbaise granted that Mbaise people are committed to produce the next Governor of Imo state come 2015, but the choice of that candidate is reserved for only credible, acceptable, willing, gentle and humble Mbaise sons and daughters, not those being lured by “self-seeking political jobbers” who are allegedly sourcing for contracts and appointments in Abuja.
Chairman of CCMN, Hon Magnus Chigbu, who is former vice Chairman Ahiazu Mbaise maintained that Mbaise people cannot afford to present any candidate that has disturbing traits or nuts to crack with the Presidency as well as a disloyal party man/woman found wanting in arrogant behaviours.
Meanwhile, the groups also used the medium to express their implicit respect and confidence for their son, the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives who has what it takes, to be the Governor of the state but took exceptions and condemned any attempt by some perceived misguided politicians and political job seekers attempting to enter into unnecessary political miscalculation with his personality. It also condemned any hasty adoption of aspirants by any group as premature. The group noted that it would consult with their neighbours and friends, from Orlu and Okigwe zones to seek their opinion before endorsing any of the aspirants from Mbaise.
Also speaking, Chief Jimmy Ibe, an OZOPOLF leader maintained in his argument that the Owerri Zonal Political Forum (OZOPOLF) which MPC/CCMN also belong to is not a political party but a movement preaching the massage to other zones to allow a citizen from Owerri zone to become the next Governor of Imo state.
Chinetu-Ugo as he is popularly called said OZOPOLF has no right to pick a candidate and that when parties emerge with their candidates OZOPOLF will go to sleep but may consider the credibility of the candidates if they can deliver.
