For the first time in history of politics in the state, political heavyweights are coming under one umbrella for a common purpose of achieving victory in next year’s poll.
Despite the avalanche of political parties existing in the state, PDP seems to be the attractive platform career politicians who have made mark in the field are rushing to. The new found fraternity that appears to be strange political marriage
Trumpeta learnt is geared towards not only stopping any attempt by the incumbent governor of Imo state Owelle Rochas Okorocha from gaining a second term but also to knock him out of political relevance in 2015 election.
The desperate bid to stop the growing influence of Okorocha and make a mincemeat of his Rescue Mission political empire by 2015 election began early this year when top notchers of APC at the formative stages were induced by the presidency to turn-coat. It would be recalled that former governor Achike Udenwa, Mike Ahamba (SAN), Col Lambert Ihenacho (rtd) and several other big wig politicians in Okorocha government and APC fold were among those who said good bye to the governor and returned to PDP during the February 21 when President Jonathan welcomed the returnees. It was noted that after the deal brokered by the Presidency, Udenwa and others returned to PDP to form a fresh synergy against Okorocha.
Trumpeta gathered that the Presidency is not resting on its oars to box Okorocha into a tight corner in 2015 election by gradually pulling out prominent politicians around Okorocha and asking others to join PDP umbrella family. The latest in the rank of the PDP is Chief Martin Agbaso. Agbaso’s return to PDP after many years is said to be masterminded by the Presidency. The motion behind dragging Agbaso to the umbrella party from his adopted APGA is said not to be unconnected to the planned grand design to demystify Okorocha in Imo come 2015 election.
It was learnt that the Presidency has tasked all major political stakeholders in Imo to form strategic partnership with the sole aim of torpedoing the governor who in recent times have somehow become loquacious about his political prowess and electoral magic to even win President Jonathan if given the chance by APC to go to the battle for Aso Rock.
In line with this strategy, one of the new converts and another protagonists, Agbaso went to mend fences with erstwhile political foe and former governor, Ikedi Ohakim. The meeting it was further gathered was to work out modalities on how to shoot down Okorocha in next year’s election.
The latest development involving Agbaso and Ohakim is to add to the existing opposition earlier mounted by the likes of Udenwa, Ahamba et al, eager to get their pound of flesh from Okorocha who they alleged treated them shabbily and without disregard during the infant days of APC formation.
Through details of the discussion Agbaso had with Ohakim behind closed doors were made public, but Trumpeta learnt that new collaboration is geared towards stopping Okorocha next year.
Speaking at Ohakim’sBurma Retreat home Agbaso in his words “I have come to renew our old friendship. I have come to renew an old fraternity. I had always called this my home. So I see my visit as “home coming of some sots. You have been my friend and I want to assure you, you are my friend forever”.
The Political Chieftain and APGA leader recalled how his friendship with the former governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, “was almost
destroyed by politics, by blackmails, intrigues and hunger haram”.
Chief Agbaso went down memory lane and recalled how a very handful of them had pioneered PDP in the state, including Ohakim, Greg Mbadiwe, Humphrey Anumudu, etc, because they shared the same ideology which made the then All Peoples Party (APP) leaders to continue to refer to them as young horses.
He regretted that in 2011 he had to bring up the incumbent governor Owelle ROchas Okorocha to take over the Imo governorship from Chief
Ohakim, not knowing that it was going to be a great and costly
mistake. He used the opportunity to apologize to Ohakim and Imo people for the great sufferings that Governor Okorocha has put them to since 2011
Chief Agbaso then promised to ask for a hand of fraternity from Ohakim so that they can unite their efforts to oust governor Okorocha in 2015, noting that it can only be achieved by collective effort.
“What is important is our willingness to do it and our openness with one another throughout the process. “If we can be open to ourselves as
before, share our love, with the common understanding that we are one family, then we shall be sure of victory”.
On his future plans, Chief Agbaso disclosed that the overtures made by the PDP leadership since last week were welcome, and he will be making
an announcement in a couple of days “about the reunion that will lead to our reclaiming Douglas House, Owerri”.
A visibly happy Ohakim repeatedly embraced his friend and former political foe amidst cheers from his kinsmen and representatives of other parts of Orlu and Okigwe zone present. He eulogized Chief Agbaso
and expressed his profound gratitude for the reunion.
According to him, their relationship had been marred by their political difference and the political blackmail and intrigues that ensued leading to the 2011 general elections.
His words: “I am very happy that you are one of those few leaders in Nigeria and indeed Africa who can get to a point and say, enough is enough, I better go back to where I am coming from and bring out that pedigree and begin to move on”. He described Chief Agbaso as a great fighter and pioneer of political imagination of Imo State, a target fighter who is irreplaceable.
“He is a leader like one who uses a canoe because he knows how to manipulate it well to achieve results. If you sink the canoe, it
surprisingly bounces out of water with a velocity greater that with which you had sunk it”.
Speaking further, Ohakim told Agbaso that he has just emerged from the University of life, from experience which no university can teach anybody, stressing that both of them had been friends.
Chief Ohakim went on and admitted that both of them had their differences in the past, adding that what is now important is that they have forgiven and forgotten those pasts and can still synergize to rescue Imo State. He finally promised to work with Chief Agbaso by giving him the necessary support to achieve his aspirations.
Meanwhile, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Imo Leader Chief Martin Agbaso
has received the mandate of his party faithful to negotiate terms for collapsing into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The mandate came at a well attended meeting he hosted at AGAD RETREAT
Emekuku last Friday. The meeting was called to brief them and discuss recent overtures made by the PDP to woo all former members of the PDP back.
Chief Agbaso told his audience that the national spread and orientation of the PDP is one principle factor that has persuaded him to favourably consider the request by the PDP leaders. He said he believes that all objective APGA members embarrassed by the unending leadership crises in APGA can safely move on.
He regretted that he has also become really uncomfortable that APGA leaders, who instead of uniting and operating under one umbrella are more interested in factionalizing the part and compromising the Igbo cause. This, he said, has dashed the hopes and aspirations of the good people of the state and something needed to be done quickly to ensure that the hopes and aspirations of the Igbos to one day lead this nation does not suffer more.
Making himself more open to his people, Chief Martin Agbaso explained that he may leave APGA and go PDP “a main stream national party where opportunities abound and will make it possible for his supporters andloyalists to reap the fruits of their labour”.
IN HIS WORDS: “There comes in a life when we do not allow sentiment to prevail over our good intensions. I think it is this time”.
Chief Agbao therefore enjoined them to approve his plans to move to the PDP, which he said is more of a large, accommodating, sufficiently stable and ventilation party.
Continuing he said, “What I am offering you all my supporters in APGA is partnership to join me so that we can deliver together, and lead ourselves into more opportunities on the PDP national platform”.
Chief Agbaso then threw the bombshell: “I ask you please to release me to join PDP. I am asking for your permission. I ask you to permit me to go and fight for you for a better platform so that when I get there at last we shall rejoice and thank God.”
Reacting to some of the questions thrown to him by party members, Chief Agbaso assured that every aspect of the existing APGA structure will be addressed and accommodated in the PDP so that every member will be carried along. Satisfied with the explanations, the body approved Chief Agbaso’s request and mandated him to go ahead with talks with the PDP, and those who did not want to move are entitled to stay away and continue in APGA.
Chief Agbaso has since held preliminary talks with PDP national leadership.
