The political climate in Imo state is gradually picking up ahead 2015 general election. Similar to what was obtainable in past general elections, the political landscape is changing and a lot of campaign activities shaping the state.
Undoubtably, Imo state fondly called the Eastern Heartland will be one of the states to watch out in 2015 especially in the governorship race considering the avalanche of guber hopefuls plotting to succeed the incumbent, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, when his first tenure expires next year.
Whether Okorocha will recontest or not, one remarkable trend in the emerging political scenario is the number of persons exploring different parties to be number one citizen of Imo state by May 29, 2015.
The major contenders are party packed in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, followed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, whereas pockets of aspirants have identified with other parties like UPP, Labour Party, Accord Party and Fresh Party for the expected February 28, 2015 mother of all battles Okorocha if he is running will not face hurdles to chinch APC ticket in Imo in Imo.
One unique character of the governorship aspirants warming up to succeed Okorocha is their campaign slogans. Campaign slogans are not unfamiliar to Nigerians during electioneering periods as it have become a persuasive tool used by elective office seekers to hoodwink electorates and supporters for votes during elections. From the First Republic when Nigeria got independence in 1960 to our nascent democracy, campaign slogans which come in several forms cannot be divorced from political activities.
Barely five months to the next general election, several elective office seekers have secured the services of great thinkers, philosophers, and wordsmiths to fashion out a pleasing slogan to suit the ideology of each aspirant. Three years ago, the major contenders for the position of Governor in Imo state, immediate past governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and incumbent, Okorocha adopted “Lets Do More” and Rescue Mission” slogans respectively.
In the present dispensation, aspirants are warming up for the race with several forms of slogans that can also be said to be attractive and a reach-out campaign tool to the masses. Even as Okorocha can be said to be playing “hide and seek” game about his second term bid following traces of speeches and a body language that are in semblance to a “Micky-Mouse” type of play, the governor is also involved in the “slogan” approach as being propagated by his political team.
Though without a proper definition of his next political destination, the insignia “Rochas We Know 2015” is gradually coming on stage as a dominant slogan to behold in Imo. With a peculiar colour trademark of blue and red, accompanied by APC signs and broom identity, several vehicles have been released to the public bearing the “Rochas Rescue We Know” the slogan is another signal that something is in the offing for Okorocha come 2015. Apparently aware that his Rescue Mission agenda may no longer be attractive since it was the slogan applied in 2011 to lure the masses, another approach is being adopted to gain acceptability again. The “Rochas We Know” could be a new tactics to replace “Rescue Mission.
After four years on the saddle, it would be granted that Okorocha has exhausted his planned Rescue Mission and should move to the next stage if he intends to govern Imo for a second time. In 2010, Okorocha’s gospel was that he is on “rescue” and will only govern for one tenure. According to the governor, he was descending to salvage Imo from the hands of “predators” who had plagued the state for past years, hence the mantra of Rescue Mission.
Having succeeded in gaining power, Okorocha may be seeking for consolidation and completion of uncompleted projects he may not be chanced to complete before 2015.
Therefore, the “Rescue Mission” would have ceased to exist by 2015. The “Rochas We Know” could mean that after one tenure, the Imo state governor has delivered and should be allowed to continue for another tenure. Therefore, Rochas we know 2015 definitely means “one Good Term Deserves Another”
The campaign slogan is not restricted to the incumbent alone as those warming up for the next governorship election are also showcasing fascinating messages that carries unique attributes.
Leading the pack of those seeking to replace Okorocha using strong campaign weapon is Barr Humphrey Anumudu. The Obazu Mbieri-born political old war horse believes he knows what it takes to take Imo to the promised land. In this regard, he chose the “Onye ma Uzo” slogan. Anumudu’s Onye Ma Uzo message may have been coined after complete assessment of the activities of governors of the state in the past and present who are yet to fill the appetite of Imolites in the area of service delivery.
Anumudu may have the vision of Onye Ma Uzo, but it is yet to be actualize because he has not had the opportunity since our nascent democracy debuted. Anumudu was close in 1999 when he reportedly came first ahead the likes of eventual winner Achike Udenwa, incumbent Okorocha and Greg Mbadiwe in PDP primaries.
Maybe, Anumudu has carried the vision for over a decade and that could be the reason he is desirous to show Imolites the “real way” As a successful businessman and entrepreneur, Humphrey from the famous Anumudu family of Obazu Mbieri has fleets of glowing establishments. From his legal back ground, Anumudu shifted to the auto industry with a conglomerate considered as one of the best in the industry.
The onus lies on PDP delegates for the governorship contest and entire electorates to consider Anumudu worthy enough to deliver and make real his Onye Ma Uzo vision in 2015.
Similarly, another high riding governorship aspirant reaching out to the masses through a slogan that has an admixture of English and Igbo languages is Rt Hon Bethel Amadi. Amadi, the member representing Mbaitolu/Ikeduru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives who believes that the “Salvation of Imo is a must come in 2015, branded his slogan “Anya Imo” a possible avenue for Nde Imo to be salvaged. To Amadi, previous regimes including the Rescue Mission may have done their best, but those records are not enough to salvage Imo. The ranking lawmaker who would be completing twelve years of uninterreptuted lawmaking for the Mbaike constituency feels he has the magic wand to arrogate the “Anya Imo” title to himself.
Considering his level of international and national exposure Amadi has in his kitty, having garnered enough experience in the lawmaking business and going further emerge president of African legislative parliament, is a rich pedigree for the Repds member to lay claim to the “Anya Imo” title. But the question that will be on the lips of many against Amadi is, if he recently discovered he is the “Anya Imo” and what has he done so far using his privileged position as a three time lawmaker and Pan African Parliament president to attract for the good of his constituents?.
Because he was born, bred and lives in Imo, Barr Bethel Chukwuemeka Nzimako is packaging a Divine Project 2015 to rule Imo. For Nzimako who has a history that is associated with the state , Nzimako believes that as a “Home Boy”, he has a “Divine Project 2015 where the motto is; “Together with God, we shall salvage Imo state”. According Amadi using the local language, “Onye Amuru Na Imo State, Birikwa Na Imo State, Marakpa Nkpa Na Ihe Nde Imo Choro” like him is the man that can take the state greater heights. Literally, what Nzimako from Orogwe in Owerri West LGA implies is that As Onye Amuru Na Imo Stat (As one who was born in Imo) Birikwa Na Imo State (lives in Imo state) Marakwa Nkpa Na Ihe Nde Imo Choro (knows the problem and what Imo people want) deserves the position in 2015.
Nzimako’s logic has raised concern among informed Imolites who have observed that “foreigners” have been at the helm of affairs of the state in the past. Though the said “foreigners” are Imolites and bonafide indigenes of the state but can be said not to be full time residents. It means that the said people live outside the state and only returns to contest and rule. Therefore, the campaign message Nzimako is carrying advocates for the election of one born, trained and lives in Imo like him who knows the problem of the state as well as the finesse to turn around the fortunes of the state.
Another peculiar “Home Boy” plotting to redefine the social, political and economic landscape of Imo state is a legal luminary and household name in the state, Sir Ken Njemanze (KSJ) SAN. Having tasted power as commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state in the last dispensation, the University of Lagos-trained law graduate has a vision of building a “Greater Imo” in 2015. If the campaign slogan of the Owerri Nchi Ise-born lawyer cum politician which centres on “Greater Imo 2015”, is anything to go by, Njemanze seems to be the man with special talisman of “Breaking Barriers To Re-building Imo” Without being mouthy and vociferous about his message, what Njemanze could be waiting for is the chance to pioneer the emergence of a “Greater Imo” come 2015.
Not left out in the ideological warfare is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha who is flying his “Imo Project” slogan high. After playing outstanding role at the national level where he is the number six person in the country, the politician with identical “Green Cap” trademark is retracing back home for the 2015 to make real his “Imo Project”. As the House of Reps member claims to be God fearing, Tested and Trusted, (GTT) “Imo Project” could be an avenue to experiment and transfer his rare qualities home for the improvement of Imo state to Ome nke ahuru anya title associated with his name. The continued bashing he has received from perceived opponents and contemporaries in the governorship race has not only popularized his interest but also fortified his quest in the “Imo Project 2015” exercise. With considering number of political juggernauts forming his campaign support base, and canvassing grassroots support for him, Ihedioha is on the march again to greatness in the bid to actualize the “Imo project 2015” which concentrates on the “bond” he has with the people.
The bond which is his word is targeted at extricating the Eastern Heartland from the shackles of impoverishment as well as taking the state to the desired el dorado.
