From the time table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for next general election, by this time next year, the governor of Imo State would have emerged after the conduct of the gubernatorial polls on Saturday 28 February, 2015.
The race for the throne no doubt will be interesting and a specter to behold if current indices and armada of governorship aspirants for 2015 in Imo State are anything to reckon with.
While the incumbent, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is witnessing inclement weather to publicly make his next political destination known to people of the state and his able lieutenants who are waiting on the wings for next line of action, several others are upbeat and gathering massive war chest to succeed him in the race for 2015 Douglas House.
There is no doubt that Okorocha has become a bit clumsy about his 2015 desire which has further confused his foot soldiers and co-travelers in APC. Apparently hunted by oral and perhaps written commitment to run only a tenure which he described as Rescue Mission to enable him secure the mandate to challenge his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim’s second tenure, Okorocha is cautious not to betray his avowed statesmanship and gentleman status to avoid second term declaration for 2015. In that regard, the Imo State Governor was reported to have seen the crystal ball of the backlash that would likely trail attempts to declare for a second tenure, which automatically is masses support in contrast to his earlier promise during campaign to herald the 2011 election, to summon a meeting of APC stakeholders and facilitators. At the said meeting held in Government House, Owerri, early this year, Okorocha was reported to have opened a Pandora box by disclosing that he would prefer to seek national attention and those in his Rescue Mission political family desirous to succeed him and others seeking elective positions should declare interest at the interactive session.
Pundits and even close watchers of the governor’s political traits remain unperturbed about this report as divergent views have continued to follow the claim. To many, Okorocha was flying a kite and playing a joker about his decision to jettison second tenure and seek national attention for either presidency or vice.
While Okorocha’s unclear destination ahead 2015 has dumb founded aspirants from his APC camp except a former commissioner in his cabinet and serving appointee in charge of Housing, Dr Charles Onuoha who has made public his intention to run for the governorship, other political parties especially the PDP is witnessing unprecedented number of guber aspirants armed with the necessary arsenal to prosecute the electoral battle from primary to the proper contest.
The list is endless and I will seek for apologies from those who may not be captured in the names I will reel out for the position. Imolites need no soothsayer to be informed that perennial guber seeker and Obazu Mbieri- born Humphrey Anumudu, Pan African President and House of Reps member representing Mbaitolu / Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Bethel Amadi, Deputy Speaker House of Reps, Emeka Ihedioha and two-time Senator who represented Okigwe zone in the past, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Dr Sylvester Agonmuo are in the race for PDP ticket. The list of those wanting to occupy government House Owerri, is endless with Senator representing Owerri zone, Senator Christy Anyanwu, prominent politician of Mbaise extraction, Emma Ojinere, ex-minister Chuka Odom, ex-minister and Ken Ojiri warming up for the battle still under PDP platform.
The likes of Captain Mbamara and Osmond Ukanacho are not left out in Accord Party and UPP respectively, where as erstwhile PDP Chieftain who recently defected to APGA will challenge his kinsman, Martin Agbaso, for the soul of APGA come 2015 Imo governorship contest.
In spite of the array of guber aspirants seeking the mandate of their party men and women to be their flag bearers, there are determinant factors that would warrant one of the legions of aspirants getting the better of Imo of people to be their governor.
In 2011, the unavoidable skirmishes characterized by mudslinging and cheap blackmails employed by the camps of the major contenders to be throne; PDP’s Ohakim and Araraume of ACN threw up an unsung hero in Okorocha who undoubtedly became the greatest beneficiary of the prized position.
Therefore, ACCEPTANCE will be a major force to be considered in 2015 election.
The issue of acceptance came into fore at the end of the recent PDP outing at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, where the party held a sensitization rally dubbed “Unity Rally” by President Goodluck Jonathan who graced the occasion. In view of the volume of party Chieftains and seasoned politicians who have retraced their steps back to the once glamorous platform that was unbeatable in the past, what is on the lips of many is “who will PDP parade in 2015?”
There is no doubt that crème de la crème of Imo politicians can be said to be sailing in one boat in PDP and if they put their acts together ahead 2015, Okorocha and his Rescue Mission, APC, should be getting set to quit the scene. If the tumultuous crowd that seized the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri and even over flooded roads leading to the stadium and Wetheral road that Saturday is considered, keen observers of Imo politics believe that what PDP in Imo state needs is only an acceptable and right candidate to win the heart of the masses.
There is no gain saying the fact that what endeared Okorocha into the heart of many Imolites who led the crusade for his coming into power was his acceptability by the people prior to 2011 election. I can confidently defend that it was neither because Okorocha had megabucks to throw around to convince people join his campaign team nor ran for elective positions in the past with different parties that made him the man of the moment, but the attribute that he had no disturbing stain among the pack of contenders was the magic wand. His altruistic ventures in philanthropy through the Rochas Foundation became the tonic that made him the “man of the masses” and arrow head of the struggle to wrestle power from Ohakim and PDP.
Though, the massive support base Okorocha enjoyed before, during and after the last election has waned drastically with most of those who were captivated by his make believe sweet aroma licking their wounds after experiencing bitter pills from his style of his administration while others have come to realize that all that glitters is not gold leading to a new popular song in Imo dubbed “Ikiri ka onye oshi mma”.
In view of what the people have gone through and considering mixed feelings over Okorocha’s style of government, the next person after the Ogboko Ideato South born politician must undergo litmus test to be trusted and supported again. Acceptance is a guaranty to getting a ticket.
By next edition, I will enter into religion, party and other matters connect there to.
