Late last month, news filtered into town that the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was mobilizing students of Foundation College across Nigeria to escort him to the All Progressives Congress APC, Headquarter in Abuja to obtain the Presidential Form of the party.
Infact the buzz was felt in Owerri as the entire expanded Imo State Executive Council Members emptied into Abuja, while offices were literally deserted by the top officers.
All eyes and ears were open waiting for the earth-shaking event in Abuja, to be followed by a Triumphant entry into Imo state as usual with Okorocha, displaying the form to “My People” for them to “eye mark” that he has joined the Presidential race.
But nothing was heard of the Okorocha Presidential Form outing again. The matter became a guess game, as even the most of his trusted Aides can not swear that Okorocha actually picked the form.
However, a Sun Newspaper cover page picture later showed Owelle Rochas Okorocha displaying what looked like an APC Presidential form at Arewa Youth Forum in Kaduna State. Till late the issue of Okorocha’s Presidential race project has remained an issue of debate because no one actually can stake his kobo on the matter.
When General Buhari picked his form, it was a National issue as it was announced weeks before he made an open declaration where he made salient comments on the incumbent administration.
The day Alhaji Kwankwaso picked his, it was a national discussion, as he used the occasion to take on the President Jonathan Government through hard policy statements.
It was the same situation the day Nda-Issaih joined the race. Nearly all the National dailies carried the outing in their cover.
Now, it is still confusing to Nigerians and Imo people in particular that Gov Okorocha who usually beams ordinary Christmas parties with Children live in as many as five Television stations can pick a Presidential Form of the APC without at least showing it on IBC Television.
So, people are still asking if really Okorocha is in the Presidential race, beyond the picture published by the SUN Newspapers. And why should the first people to be shown that form by Okorocha be Arewa Youths in far away Kaduna?
Okorocha we know, if he really has collected the Form, would have laminated it in a big frame, mount an open vehicle, and display it to all Imo people right from the Sam Mbakwe Airport to the Douglas House Owerri. After which a big party would follow, where about Eight Governors would be in attendance for an “Owambe”. But pundits say that actually Okorocha has obtained the Presidential Form, but he is in a political quagmire, because he has his eyes on two electoral positions at the same time.
Okorocha does not want to make much noise about the Presidential project they said, because it is simply a kite flying to checkmate his party from scheming him out of the National Cake sharing, while he still holds the Governorship seat position in Imo state, because he really is in the race for the Imo Governorship.
The Imo Governor is at the verge of introducing a new dimension to politics in Nigeria; holding two forms of two positions at the same time and if possible contest both simultaneously. But these a mare wishes as Okorocha will soon come to realize that you don’t eat your cakes and have them back.
Very soon, Owelle will reenact the Chief Achike Udenwa folly, where he could not be able to arrive on who succeeds him as Governor of Imo State in 2007. In the case of Udenwa, one would say that Chief Udenwa was confused until time ran out on him, and he eventually lost the opportunity to foist his own successor.
But what would one call the activities of the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who because of his dual ambitions, has crippled his own party, APC in Imo state?
Till date, no Aspirant has picked the APC Governorship Form in the State. Prospective Aspirants are afraid and confused because Okorocha has put them into a state of anomia. No APC member can dare pick the form as such a bold step may earn the follow a political suicide. Therefore, under this scenario, APC is limping into the 2015 Imo Governorship election.
Indeed, what Okorocha is angling for now at the national level is the Vice Presidential ticket of APC which is bound to come to the Southeast and at the same time keeping an eye on Imo Governorship Seat.
But the Vice Presidential position can only be named after the party’s Presidential convention which comes up on December 10, 2014, when the sale of Governorship forms of the APC would have ended.
In this case, does it mean that Imo APC will not file a Governorship candidate for the 2015 election? Some weeks ago at the International Conference Centre Owerri, Governor Okorocha had told Imo people gathered there that he will run for Governorship, but was only confusing the PDP with the pretensions that he will run for Presidency.
A week later, he was in Kaduna brandishing APC “Presidential Form”. Does it mean Okorocha is confused? Is it like a situation where a Hunter carried Elephant on his Head and yet was looking for a Rat with his legs? Or is it political greed pushing him to man two positions at a time?
However it pans out, whether anybody likes it or not, Okorocha’s present political posturing will affect the fortunes of APC in Imo. His complicated adventure has also affected his followers, as they do not know what to tell others; whether their Boss is vying for Governorship position or that of President?
And in all these confusion, Owelle Okorocha does not care, provided the political experiment he has embarked upon under APC platform is simply to achieve his personal ends.
Okorocha is that typical politician who just sees a political party as that vehicle that takes you to political destination, and whether the vehicle knocks engine or even get burnt does not matter, provided he has disembarked at his target Bus stop.
He did it to Action Alliance AA, which was even his brain-child, to All Nigerian Peoples Party ANPP, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and just lately All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA immediately he grabbed the Imo Governorship diadem in 2011.
As far as Okorocha is concerned, what matters at all times is his political survival, and future and not that of the political party, which is exactly the political Theory of Machiavelli in the Book, The Prince. To the Imo State Governor, the end justifies the means.
It is very unfortunate that Governor Okorocha as a leader who has followers, believes that every position is meant for him alone, instead of nurturing those who can man some positions for him, while he targets some. But no, Okorocha will contest Imo Governorship race and the Presidency at the same time and day.
Now, you ask, what happens to the likes of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, who has been with Okorocha, even at time the Governor never contemplated his present position. The guy has been so loyal to Okorocha that he has received all types of name callings for remaining totally committed to his relationship with Okorocha.
Lately, Okorocha discovered Chief Jude Ejiogu, his Chief of Staff, a man with qualities, who has traversed various Parastatals and Ministries before Okorocha took him in as a confidant.
Is it not unfortunate that despite all these loyalists, the Governor of Imo state cannot trust any body to be anointed for Imo Governorship seat under APC, so that he can have enough time to work for his Presidential ambition?
APC’s governorship primary is billed for December 2014 and yet the party has not sold one single Governorship Form in Imo State. Every Aspirant is waiting for Okorocha, while the time ticks away. Just like waiting for Godot!
For sure, the incumbent Governor is too confident that whenever he declares for the Imo Governorship, he will simply cover the losts grounds in a jiffy. After all, he has the entire state coffers under his armpit. The security men are there at his beck and call.
The Imo Vigilante is there. What of Keke Napep people?
And other numerous groups under his influence as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
But what the Governor has forgotten to take note of is that no matter how big a politician thinks he or she is, the masses must determine his fate. That is why consultation is necessary and important in politics.
For starters, let it be noted that while President Jonathan pretended he was not running for a second term, but about four months ago, he visited all Traditional Rulers in the whole Federation. That visit which looked harmless then was consultation by the President of Federal republic of Nigeria. So, Okorocha should not fight his “Chi”.
Uptill now, Okorocha will tell Imo People he is contesting for Presidency today, and tomorrow it is Governorship. Despite the amount of power and money at his disposal, he is quite aware that his predecessor had such advantages, yet things went sour in 2011. Is he immune to political uncertainties?
In the end, the only person that will suffer the consequences of Okorocha’s dual ambitions, political greed and indecision is the All Progressive Congress APC.
As I write, many APC members are disillusioned because they can not place the mind of their Leader. And this is the worst thing that can happen to followers, and it is also a calamity on such a Leader who takes his followers and those he is leading for granted.
If Okorocha does not make hay now he will embark on fire brigade approach to his 2015 election, which will put him under pressure.
Although he believes that the entire APC structure in the state belongs to him, that is no reason for him to see APC members as his robots who can be controlled like zombies. Things can change within a few minutes against political permutations.
Observers are saying that Owelle Okorocha is not treating Imo APC members with respect, that is why he thinks that it is only him that has the quality to contest for Presidential election, and at the same time clutches tight to Imo Governorship seat to the detriment of those he has been assuring for years now that he would hand over power to them in 2015.
Though now a forgotten issue; Does Owelle Okorocha still remember that in 2011, at different fora; Churches, Campaign Grounds etc he told Imo people that the Governorship position is too small for him and therefore simply reduced himself low to rescue Imo people from their sufferings after which he will move over to the Presidency in 2015? Will he still pursue a second term?
How time flies! Imo people are watching.
