Though INEC is yet to lift ban on campaigns and electioneering exercises for 2015, but the dress rehearsals are on in several localities as aspirants willing to vie for elective posts in 2015 have commenced the preliminary touches.
Orlu, Oru East and Orsu Federal Constituency is not left out as politicians from the area are reportedly warming up for the position come 2015. Even as none has so far publicly declared interest to run for the position in the next two years, some persons are believed to be making underground moves to get the support of playmakers in the constituency before declaring interest.
With an unclear picture of would be aspirants, the incumbent, Chief Jerry Alagbaoso leads the pack of politicians from the Federal Constituency believed to be marking time waiting for move order for the race to Abuja.
Alagbaoso, popularly known as Asiwaju entered the lower chamber of the National Assembly in 2011 under PDP banner. It was a difficult task for Alagbaoso to grab the PDP ticket before he bulldozed his way to emerge victorious at the polls. Having tested the power, Alagbaoso is rumoured to be nursing a second term bid. His body language, statements and eventful sojourn at the lawmaking body suggest that he wants a return ticket in 2015.
Since 2011 he got the mandate of the Federal Constituency, Alagbaoso has not turned his back to people of Orlu, Orsu and Oru East LGAs, as he not only gives regular account of his stewardship but also rewards them with bountiful empowerment programes and privileges. No doubt, Alagbaoso can be ranked among the Abuja representatives who have showcased dividends of democracy to the people. His campaign machinery is still intact as he continues to oil and sharpen it for the task ahead.
However, it may not be a smooth sail for Alagbaoso to grab the ticket again considering several factors inherent in Orsu, Orlu and Oru East politics. There are grudges against him for limiting his empowerment and spoil of the office only to associates and political family forgetting the entire electorates who voted him into power. He has been accused of ignoring entire PDP executives except LGA and Ward Chairmen who he honours regularly. The people are disturbed that he touched life during his time as a custom officer than now he has elective mandate to serve his people. In view of the changing political climate in the state, those opposed to his second tenure will also pose a threat to the 2015 ambition.
Bro Stan Dara is a member of the Imo state House of Assembly representing Orsu. Dara, who detest the Honourable name because of his membership of Knighthood of St Mulumba is also reported to be getting set to move from the state legislature to National Assembly. After his second missionary journey in Imo Assembly, Dara is equipped and has acquired the required legislative know how to proceed to the House of Representative. There is no doubt that Dara has proved his mettle and justified the confidence reposed on him by the people of Orsu since he got their mandate in 2011. In each of the tenure, Dara has brought dividends of democracy and always employed his political sagacity to turn things around for people of Orsu. Despite his membership of the legislative arm, Dara has always explored all avenues to warm his way into the heart of political game changers in the state and that impacted positively on the lives of his people. There is no gain saying in the fact that the son of a Catechist and teacher uses his contact with the powers that be to attract public amenities to Orsu people. In line with his Anaegboiyi title, Dara is said to be working towards a higher ambition in 2015 wants to move from Owerri to Abuja for purposes of drawing more democratic entitlements for his constituents and by extension Orlu and Oru East LGAs. Dara who exploited his leadership of the Rochas Road Revolution, (RRR), to put in shape local roads in his Federal Constituency, is believed to be building strategic structures across the three LGAs for the 2015 battle.
The luck that has carried Dara on since he joined politics may witness a break in 2015 race since he may likely quit from the Imo Assembly after 2015, having spent eight years in the state legislature. Those opposed to Dara’s growing political career will be a stumbling block and may kick against him being on the saddle for uninterrupted twelve years. In our society where petty jealousy and local envy is common, Dara has hurdles to face if he wants to be in Abuja come 2015.
Besides, his seeming romance with the present government led by Rochas Okorocha is putting him at crossroads with PDP faithful at the LGA arm. His absence during the recent visit of the party’s Contact and Mobilization Committee at Orsu LGA, where somebody represented his interest, was glaring and puts a question mark to his rumoured interest in Okorocha party, against the wishes of majority of his constituents who sent him to the House of Assembly under PDP. Except he opens up early on the platform he intends to run with for the next election, Dara may end up of becoming the Biblical Aaron who may lose at both ends caused by indecision on party platform.
Still from the same Orsu is, Dr Celestine Izudinobi. Izudinobi was the APGA candidate for the Federal Constituency in 2011. He met a brickwall while attempting to come on board using the Okorocha-APGA trend that threw up supposed mediocres with half chances into elective position. The former Special Adviser to Okorocha on Pension Matters is also making contacts within the area to have another trial for the Reps job. He still relies on the old roots established during the 2011 challenge.
However, the American based health worker who has joined partisan politics could also be hit with the same failure he received in 2011 if indices trailing his involvement in local politics are to be reckoned with. There is general feeling that the Ebenator Orsu born former appointee is yet to be conversant with rudiments of grassroots politics as he occasionally keeps away from the public and adopts unfriendly electoral acts. These factors unarguably will manifest when hostilities for the election begin.
From Orsu, I proceed to Orlu where two seasoned politicians are rumoured to be interested in replacing Alagbaoso in 2015. They are former Chief of Staff to the Governor and Commissioner in the State, Dr Vin Udoukwu and a Chieftain of PDP, Chief Elvis Agukwe. Udokwu is a household name in the Federal Constituency having served as Chief of Staff to former Governor, Achike Udenwa and a one time Commissioner for Health before he was relieved off his appointment towards the tail end of Ikedi Ohakim regime. After surviving the nightmare inflicted on him by dare devil kidnappers who kept him in their dungeon for several months, and being in the cooler for a while, Udoukwu is likely going to revive his political career and access popularity test with the House of Reps quest. Udoukwu made some goodwill when he functioned as Udenwa’s Chief of Staff and Ohakim’s Commissioner. The Reps desire could be another means to seek payback from the people of his area. The medical doctor cum politician will be relying on the influence and political prowess of ex-governor Udenwa, who no doubt is a figure and kingmaker in the three LGAs and Orlu Zone. His magical wands can again turn around the fortunes of his kinsman and able lieutenant.
Dr Udoukwu’s absence from the local scene may deny him opportunities of getting the position. Within the time he took leave of absence courtesy of the encounter with the fiery kidnappers, a lot has happened at the local scene with Udoukwu missing in action.
For Agukwe, he will definitely rely on the PDP structure to vie for the seat. After holding position in the state as Commissioner, Agukwe may likely join the House of Reps bandwagon. However, the scars of 2011 election and its sad tales that depicted some PDP chieftains as mere paper tigers, in their electoral booths and wards, may again frustrate Agukwe’s 2015 ambition.
As Orlu and Orsu persons are reportedly warming up for the race, Oru East is not left out as Hon Remi Igbonaju is representing the interest of the area. Hon Igbonaju is a Dubai based businessman with vested interest in local politics having vied for the same position against Alagbaoso for the PDP ticket in 2011. Igbonaju, popularly known as Ohamadike is seeking the mandate of the Federal Constituency which he lost two and half years ago. A notable philanthropist and grassroots mobilizer, Igbonaju is desirous to create impact in his present desire.
What will definitely work against the business mogul is the fact the Oru East has the Senate position in the person of Senator Hope Uzodinma and it would be a Herculean task allowing the LGA to produce the Senator and Reps members at the same time. Until the game becomes clearer, let’s watch and see.
