As we count down to the primaries of all the political parties ahead of the 2015 general elections in the country and particularly in Imo State, it is imperative to draw public attention especially that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to some of the issues which are germane in its effort to making a good choice in its governorship candidate.
Granted the fact that politics is a selfish game and therefore gives no room for morality and good conscience most times, it is pertinent and important too that the PDP in Imo State as constituted today be reminded of the need for the party to trace its root, rediscover itself, if the party really intends to win the 2015 Governorship election in the state.
I, in all sincerity agree to the fact that political positions under a normal democracy are all to be contested for as a way of ensuring that the most popular candidate emerges at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, this thinking and principle has been grossly abused by the show of affluence in the recent time as most people especially political office holders rather than provide for the citizenry, stock pile money simply for the purposes of bulldozing their way in future elections by coercing, inducing and buying the conscience of the helpless delegates and voters.
This often times succeeds at the detriment of tasted and trusted aspirants who may not be prepared to compete with such aspirants in this el dorado journey.
But again in most other cases just like in the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, most political parties including APGA, PDP and few others went for President Goodluck Jonathan as their consensus presidential candidate. The reason for this action is very clear and understandable because the political parties felt that since they have seen the quality of the president they are looking for in Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, that it will save costs, time, intra-party wrangling and mudslingering to adopt him in other to save the party from crisis and disintegration, wise decision indeed.
While some selfish politicians still argue that there is no charter of equity in Imo politics on Governorship position on how power should rotate among the three geo-political zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri, it is important to disclose that the likes of Chief Solomon Lar and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, National chairman and secretary of PDP as it were in 1999, knew all these including Chief Bernabas Gemade who supervised and conducted the primaries. Though there was nothing like this type of agreement prior to the 1999 Governorship primaries of the PDP which saw Barrister Humphrey Anumudu emerge tops.
After all the considerations, the then state chairman Sir Innocent Nwoga, the National chairman and secretary Chief Solomon Lar aftid Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo at the prompting of the then leader of the party pr. Alex Ekwueme constituted a reconciliation committee lead by Senator Onyeabo Obi and Chief Okwy Nwodo, Chief Emmanuel Adiele, Dr. Sylvester Ugoh and Senator Echeruo which later gave birth to the much talked about charter of equity.
As God would want it, most of these leaders and eklers of the party both from Imo State and outside are still alive today and £\so in a better position to tell the party what happened at the then Modotel Hotels and now Rockview Hotel, Owerri as a way of avoiding this t/me bomb that may arise from the PDP Governorship primaries in Imo State/
Therefore equating such situation with Imo State/ in 2015 especially where PDP parades an array of eminently qualified 25 governorship aspirants or more, one would think that the party at the state and National level should think beyong the party’s primaries by going forward a little to see who among the aspirants that can gain the general support of all if adopted as the flagbearer.
That is where Barrister Humphrey Aniimudu stands very tall and outstanding. Apart from his humble and peaceful disposition, Anumudu could be without mincing words be described as the Golden hen of Imo PDP who laid the egg of stability of the party.
This he did when he single handedly paid the first ever one year rent of the party during the tenure of Chief I.D Nwoga as state chairman in 1998 to the tune of one million naira (Nl, 000,000.00).
He did not stop at that in ensuring that the party saw no disintegration and crisis when he in the same 1998 wholeheartedly accepted the decision of the leaders and elders of the party to relinquish the Governorship ticket which he won to Chief Dr. Achike Udenwa from Orlu zone unconditionally.
The reason for this then as we were told is to balance the already existing inbalance of governances in the tripod state since Okigwe and Owerri zones had once produced governors in the persons of Late Chief Sam Mbakwe and Senator Evan Enwerem.
As God would want it, some of the major key players in those gestures are still living witnesses to these facts. They include Chief I.D Nwoga, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Chief Dr. Achike Udenwa, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe and himself Barrister Humphrey Anumudu among many others too numerous to mention here.
Fortunately again, of all the four of them who ran for the 1998 PDP primaries in Imo State, it is only Barrister Anumudu who has gotten nothing out of the whole sacrifices he has made in the party. Chief Achike Udenwa has once been the Governor of the State, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe has been an Ambassador and chairman of the Board of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has once been a Special Advicer to the president on Inter party affairs and now Governor of Imo State of APGA – PDP extraction.
However, Anumudu has consistently contributed and played his roles in the sustenance and survival of the PDP both at the state and National level without grudges! Believing that there will definitely be a pay back time for all his sacrifices.
Talking about the unity of PDP in Imo State, it is important to stress the fact that of all the eminently qualified PDP aspirants currently in the race, that Barrister Anumudu is the only one who enjoys relative love and friendship of all without exception. Even some of the aspirants had co-ordinated him during one of such his Governorship aspiration.
Even in the present quest, Barrister Anumudu do not believe in making too much noise and heating the polity with the hindsight that power belongs to God. And these among many others marks this unassuming but financially buoyant Anumudu out among others as the most suitable to fly the Imo State PDP Governorship flag in the state.
One thinks and strongly believe too that Barrister Anumudu’s candidacy will apart from given the state PDP the assured victory, will also further unite the party as well as save it from the anticipated crisis after its primaries.
PDP in Imo State as we talk today is in opposition and therefore do not need to toy or gamble with the 2015 Governorship election. Money is not everything and our leaders should grow above premodial and selfish interest in taking this hard pill. It is better to take the pill and survive rather than pretend as if all is well because all that glitters are not gold.
Chidozie Ugoamadi 08023488536 Owerri – Imo State.
