Despite the controversy surrounding the November 16, 2013 Anambra State Governorship election, all indications point to the fact that the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Obiano is heading for victory. This leaves other candidates, especially those of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tony Nwoye, Ifeanyi Uba of Labour Party, Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressive Congress, APC clutching the dust.
You may ask how does the outcome or otherwise of the Anambra State Governorship election concern Imo State citizens and its Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha? And the answer is; Too many reasons.
In the first place, Anambra State shares a common boundary with Imo, secondly the APC candidate in that poll, Senator Ngige belongs to the same political party with the Imo State Governor, and thirdly, the party cruising to victory, APGA, was Okorocha’s party when he won the governorship seat, only to dump the party after achieving his goal, describing APGA as a “Communal meeting” that cannot carry his presently acquired political wait and status.
And most importantly, Gov Okorocha is alleged to have sunk millions of naira from Imo State coffers into the election to help his party’s candidate carry the day. Therefore, the outcome of the Anambra election has enough to do with Imo State.
In any event, apart from the aforementioned factors, Okorocha as the man at the centre of the whole scenario ought to have by now read the hand writing on the wall, as a tested politician, and realize that the Anambra election is a clear signal of what to come in 2015 in Imo State.
Much as his Aides and Advisers may wish to save their jobs and tell the Governor just what he wants to hear, those of us that are already marked dead, that give our advice without anything in return would wish to inform Okorocha emphatically that this is the time to return to the drawing Board and restrategise.
Should the Governor continue to pretend that he would reenact the 2011 miracle, he would be shocked to his bore marrows the level of rebuttal he will encounter in the hands of Imo people when next he comes to them for their mandate.
The scenario of 2011 is glaringly different from what obtains now. Okorocha has within a short period of time frittered away his goodwill among Imo people, just like President Jonathan is doing among Nigerians.
While Jonathan is incurring the wrath of Nigerians for his docility and failure to call a spade by its name and show leadership, no matter whose ox was gored, Okorocha is entering the wrong books of Imo populace because of his over zealousness to simple issues, and his leadership which is riddled with vengeance, and akin to Monarchy than a Democracy where various ideas are allowed to flourish, with the majority having their way and the minority having their say.
Prior to 2011, Okorocha had held no public office, except being a Special Adviser to President Obasanjo, which was a position only his principal and employer could give his stewardship. Therefore, he was standing on a good stead to lampoon the then sitting administration in Imo State, regaling the populace what he would do if given power.
Indeed, Okorocha has been in power in Imo State for over two years now and therefore on the spot, as the masses have tested him, by giving him the free hand to put his “talks” into action and are now in better position to judge him. So, also has his opponents garnered enough facts and figures to juxtapose what he told the people when campaigning in 2011 and what is on ground presently. This is the disadvantage always faced by the incumbents, unlike the person eyeing the position who could convince the gullible masses of how he would put Air Conditioners on the streets of Owerri, when voted into office, only to realize that the matter was not a simple as thought, even as Imo populace are restless lots.
Therefore, while the opponents may be building castles in the Air, and yet have on their side the angry masses who felt the incumbent has not done enough, the sitting Governor will be busy wriggling out from many accusations including giving account of his promises.
Meanwhile, Okorocha’s greatest error till date was his dumping of APGA, after using the party’s platform to win the elusive Imo Governorship election, an ambition which had eluded him since 1999. Having ascended into office, he ought to have stuck with APGA and develop the party to greater level.
Mistake many people make was to think that APGA was a push-over. Before Okorocha pitched tent with APGA in the Imo Guber 2011, the party had remained a strong force, though without you seeing the teeming members of APGA who seem to work in the spiritual.
Was APGA not in court with Dr Ikedi Ohakim up till the day of 2011 Imo Guber election? For those who are up to date, Late Senator Amah Iwuagwu knew the battle he faced in the hands of Prince Osuji, who was the candidate of APGA in 2003 Owerri Senatorial election. Many still believe APGA won that election, but PDP used “Government magic” to corner the victory.
Take it or leave it, APGA has become a symbol of the Igbo Nation among the comity of ethnic groups, because of the progenitor of the party, Late Ikemba Ojukwu. Therefore, APGA may not have registered members as such, but it lives in the heart of many who run to the party during political battles for ethnic ego at the nick of time. It has always served as the political vehicle of the Igboman.
This was the situation that produced the Okorocha myth in 2011, not really that he was a political magician, despite his political pragmatism and power of oratory. Okorocha simply grabbed the opportunity with both hands and lured Imo people into believing that he had the magic wand to turn the state into a utopian society, using the APGA sentiment, and it worked magic.
Therefore, why Okorocha choose to abandon the party that brought him into power, with its Igbo sentiment, and joined newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC that has everything to do with the Yoruba and Hausa lingo bits me! It was the height of political miscalculation, and it is already unfolding.
Had Okorocha remained in APGA today and spent the stupendous amount he had already put into APC now, APGA would have been right there rubbing shoulders with PDP in Imo.
Okorocha had everything going well for him in APGA, until he chose to press the self-destruct button. He was the Leader of the party, by the virtue of his position as the Governor. He also had an advantage over other members, because he has the fund to put in the party and corner its structure.
Many said he may have dumped the party because he did not want to keep his agreement with the Agbasos to run for just a term. But it could not have been, since as the Governor, he had the power to hijack the party hierarchy and its apparatus to make his second term a foregone conclusion.
And worse, Okorocha left APGA in bad blood, which caused a lot of uproar within the party. This means that he did not plan his exit from the party well, so as to leave an opening, incase there is the need for a return to the party any day. After all, the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji left PDP for PPA, then to APGA, and back to PDP and heavens did not fall. Politics is a game of interest, and nobody will kill you for pursuing your political interest, no matter where.
But in the case of Okorocha, he lampooned and disgraced APGA while leaving. He insulted the party under which he got to power, simply because he was leaving. Why would he not leave quietly, than describing the party as a “village meeting?” It was too demeaning a description to ascribe a political party founded by the Leader of the Igbo nation, Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, whether dead or alive. A party which gave him an opportunity that PDP, ANPP even Action Alliance, AA could not give him.
When the former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim left PPA to join PDP, he followed civility, and gave respect to the PPA followers. My father told me that when quarreling with a friend, watch your words, because you may reconcile tomorrow. But Gov Okorocha threw decorum to the winds when dumping APGA for APC.
Despite Okorocha’s description of APGA, the party is soaring high in Anambra State, where it originated. And in Imo, Okorocha’s movement to APC will not in any way affect APGA’s usual spontaneous followership in Imo State, especially within Owerri Municipality which was part of what made Okorocha what he is today. With the internal squabble rocking PDP, if the party takes things with its usual arrogance, 2015 may breed another shocker for PDP. The problem with PDP is that it usually takes things for granted.
From observations in Imo State, after PDP, the next option for the electorate is APGA, as they see APC as a party that has no Igbo feelings, but only to control power, and is owned by the Yoruba and Hausas. I am sorry, as I am no ethnic jingoist, but that is the true position in the South East.
This belief was compounded with the dumping of Ndigbo from Lagos at the foot of River Niger, by the Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola. Where then was the hand shake across the Niger? Although the hardworking Governor Fashola later apologized to Igbos for that act, yet it was one of the issues that cost Chris Ngige the Anambra Guber. He, including Owelle Okorocha, is being seen as people collaborating with Yoruba and Hausa to sale Ndigbo. That is the assumption, though.
My investigation showed that, had Ngige joined any other political party other than APC, he would have been the man to beat in that election, following his outstanding performance as a former Governor of that state, which still lingers in the minds of Anambra electorate. But the APC toga cost him a lot.
The scenario will play out in Imo in 2015 if Okorocha does not retrace his political steps. Apart from the odd party Okorocha put himself now, many Imo people are no more comfortable with his type of Leadership, which rather than unites, polarizes Imo people along “them” and “we”. Rather than empower, pauperizes the masses.
Why many Imo people kept awake all nights waiting for the result of the Anambra election was simply to know how APC fared. The concession was that APC should lose, not because they hate Ngige, but that the party’s triumph would be another added territory to the Okorocha’s empire, which would expand his political horizon and emboldens him the more to up his rough shod policy against perceived political detractors, which seems the anchor of his administration’s policy.
The elites in Imo State as of today believe that the Okorocha administration has whittled down their respect, by reducing them to nothing, and a section of the grass root believe that Okorocha is “chopping alone”, while the rest think he is doing well. Therefore, it is left for him to correct these perceived anomalies; on believe his Aides that all is well. The choice is his.
As far as APGA is concerned, they will never forgive and are ready to pay Okorocha back in his own coins. The party had already started the war by denying the Imo State Governor at the Supreme Court. The party was also fingered as opening Okorocha’s strategic flanks which he adopts in winning elections that was nipped in the bud on the eve of the election, when police in Imo State arrested some “Foreign observers” and “INEC Staff” in hotel rooms in Owerri, while planning to head to Anambra State. They have been granted bail after appearing in court on Wednesday. And disturbing, they were represented in court by senior Legal Advisers of Imo Government.
As it is today, Okorocha’s political detractors are expanding by the day, even as he has refused to use his position as the father of the state to rally every body together for the peace and development of the state by realising that he is in office for the good of all Imo people despite political leaning or zone. His non-compromising stance is not helping matters, as he refuses to acknowledge that a father can suffer unpleasantly for the children. What is Leadership, if not act of selflessness? What is Leadership if not to use your position to bring all together? What is leadership if not to protect the poor, weak and vulnerable Without sacrifice, a Leader cannot succeed. It happens in our immediate families.
As the first son of the House, you always ignore “insults” from the younger ones for peace to reign in the family since whether good or bad, those outside will say you are not leading your family well. “Remember, you are the first son?” they wick implore you.
Therefore, Anambra election has served as a case study not only to Okorocha, but to APC, PDP, Ndigbo and those who thought Ojukwu’s death was the end of APGA. But most importantly, it is an opportunity for Gov Okorocha to consult his crystals and soothsayers and go back to the drawing Board. There is still enough time that is, if he has a listening ear to constructive criticisms.
