For a few months now, the Executives of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo state, from the state, LGAs to the Ward levels can be described as the Cat with nine lives. This is because there has been rumour upon rumours that the Executives would be dissolved having lived its full course of four years tenure in office, which ought to elapse this October.
However, at each point this rumour gained currency, it was usually dispelled with assurances that the Imo PDP Executives will be intact until after the primaries which commences in November.
This was the situation until the PDP Integration Team led by former National Chairman of the party, Dr Ahmadu Alli stormed Imo state on Monday. In the team were top Brass of the PDP at the National level, including the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, who handled the Ekiti PDP Guber primaries which gave birth to now Governor-elect-Chief Fayose. That primary was judged one of the best ever conducted by PDP due to its transparency.
Since the Ahmadu Ali, team left Imo state, tongues having been wagging as what really is the fate of Imo PDP Executives. Are they quitting office or not?
While some root for the dissolution of the Executives, others say no. That they should continue in office.
As usual in politics, each group has its reason for either in agreement or against. It is expected in organization like PDP that is populated by a legion of individuals and splitter groups all jostling for political power.
However, why many are all ears waiting for the final verdict of Ahmadu Allis team findings, a legion believe that the matter has been laid to a final rest till after the election in 2015.
But the question now is; is it proper to allow the Executives to continue in office despite the expiration of their tenure? This question can easily be answered by those who were in Imo state during the last election in the state which PDP lost various positions for the first time since 1999 in Imo state.
Much as Nigerians, nay Imo people have poor memory of political calamities, which necessitates our leaders repeating same mistakes all the times, but it is important to note that you don’t repeat same action and yet expect a different result.
In 2010, as the elections approached then with the PDP Executives rounding off their tenure, the party tried to adhere to the constitution by electing new Executives from the State, LGAs to Ward levels. But the crises it generated did not abate, and formed one of the factors that made PDP lose the Governorship election in 2011.
Today, the same scenario is about playing out, and members of PDP who believe that repeating an action can produce a different result are reveling in the optimism that changing Imo PDP Executives now will not cause an implosion within the party, even as it wants to return to power in the state in 2015.
The truth of the matter is that the present Imo PDP Executive ought to go because their tenure have expired. But unfortunately it is a very wrong time to tamper with that sector of Imo PDP right now.
No one is saying that the present Executives are saints. They are not. Infact one would be happy for them to go, for it will create an opportunity for Imo PDP to breath a fresh air. But sacking them now is like throwing away the bath water with the baby.
Indeed in the whole scenario, the Imo PDP returnees are arguing that not dissolving the Executives will not give them a sense of belonging, because even their Ward Executives as constituted now does not represent their interests because they were existing before they returned to PDP.
These returnees include former Governor of Imo state, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Mike Ahamba, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Col Lambert Iheanacho, and others.
During the deliberations, they tried to convince the Ahmadu Ali team why the Executives should be dissolved.
But Dr Peter Odili made it clear that Araraume, Udenwa and others are fully welcome back to PDP, but he admonished the gentle men to learn to remain stable in their political careers, and therefore not expect that each time they jump from one party to another, such parties should demolish her structures to accommodate them, asking what happens now if Imo people tinkers with her Executive for Udenwa and co, only for them to jump ship again either before, during or after the next election in 2015?
A very good delivery from Odili. But in the real sense, what Udenwa and co requested for are done in good political tides, not now that elections are just by the corner.
However, for peace to reign, these returnees who are strong political powers in their own rights ought to be accommodated one way or the order or else they form a clog of progress in the PDP as the party approaches what could be described as her toughest election ever, as Imo PDP will for the first in 2015 head into an election as an opposition party since 1999.
Since they came back late, these returnee politicians should tarry awhile because the elections are already here. But these politicians should after now learn how to be patient and remain steady in one political party. They should learn how to be followers and also serve others, for those who have been following and serving them are no fools.
We pretend to be operating American model of democracy here but taking only those aspects that favour us, but jettisoning those that favour our opponents.
In America, when a President or Senator has served, he or she falls in line and allow others to shine. In our own case, a former Senator or Governor wants to “remain in office” even when out of office. That is the reason Nigerian politicians jump from one party to the other.
For instance, how does it sound that a founding member of PDP like Dr Achike Udenwa, who served as Governor and Minister is now queuing behind others in Imo PDP simply because he refused to act a statesman and kingmaker by remaining firm in PDP.
Now, for returning to PDP, all the structures should be demolished for Udenwa and Group to be accommodated? The question remains; why did they quit in the first place? However, it is now for the PDP to either meet their request or not at its peril.
Another issue is that the former Governor of Imo state, Dr Ikedi Ohakim has remained the Rock standing behind the incumbent Executives, and proclaiming against any dissolution.
Some now say it was because it was during his tenure as Governor that the present Executive were constituted. Others say it is because their stay in office will favour Ohakim who is jostling for the 2015 Governorship election.
But Ohakim in his reaction at the PDP office said he is pushed by the love of PDP in supporting the present Executives. Ohakim said he is acting from experience garnered from his re-election debacle in 2011. Then, it would be recalled, a template was used to replace the previous Executives in order to avoid an implosion within the party. Yet it was misconceived by those who felt they were schemed out and there was a peace of the grave yard within the PDP only for the bumble to bust during the election as every member of the PDP had one reason or the other to give for not giving adequate support to the party during the 2011 elections.
That the present Imo PDP Executives were born under the Ohakim administration is a fact, but the belief that they will dance to his tone is absolutely rubbish.
Indications are clear that most of the members of the present Executives from the State, LGAs, to Ward levels have different gods, whom they serve. They have forgotten those that facilitated the ascendency of their present “utopian” heights.
Some Ward chairmen are bigger than their leaders now, owning to support and opportunities given to them from people even from outside their Wards.
Among the Imo PDP state Executive, who can you bet your kobo on as a stooge who can be controlled like a Robot? Is it the chairman, Secretary, Organizing Secretary etc. For those who do not know, they all belong to different political cells of Imo state, and in some cases based on the most rosy portion, and at a given time.
Much as the Imo PDP Executives are not to be put your heads on, yet the only best option now is letting the sleeping Dog lie, until after the election.
Again, these Executives are humans and have toiled for PDP all these past years, no matter what anybody may say. And they believe that the coming primaries will be time to rip from their sacrifices all these years the party has been in opposition in the state under a suffocating administration supervised by Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Sacking the Executives now will back-fire, more than PDP may contain. Imagine removing the state, LGAs and Ward Excos with election just a few months away. Whoever denies these Executives the “Lolly Pop” of the primaries should be ready for massive anti party activities during the election proper. And this is not what PDP wants now. Patience. Patience!
What Imo PDP should be thinking of now is how to manage her depleted fortunes and put her human resources together and get set for a war. Whoever thinks removing Gov Rochas Okorocha from the Douglas House would be a tea party should wear his thinking cap.
Therefore stirring an internal squabble within Imo PDP now will be like pouring fuel on a wild fire. And nothing will tear Imo PDP to shreds now than tampering with the Executives from State, LGAs, to Ward levels. Let the sleep Dog lie.
