For the uninitiated, the race for Imo Governorship seat which comes up in 2015 is still far away, but for the real politicians it is just by the corner.
The reason is that by May 29, next year, the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha would have been 2 years in office, leaving just one year for politicking, primaries, campaigns and the election proper. While the following May 29 is for another swearing – in.
Therefore, that is why our ears are filled with news about 2015.
However, while all the intending aspirants and would – be candidates are “warning up” it is of importance to note that since 1979 Imo State first participated in a democratic election, which produced Dr Sam Mbakwe, it is on record that “anointed” candidates or tipped winners had always kissed the dust.
What am I saying? Those who started early preparations, or usually concluded by general assumptions would be Governor of Imo State had always ended up not nearing the Douglas House in the end. Rather, obscure, unknown or never believed candidates end up being Governors of Imo State.
Why it has been like that, no body knows. It is simply the mystery behind Imo Governorship seat. It is the gods of Imo at play. It has defied all formulas and those whoever took Imo Governorship election for granted have always ended in shocks.
Therefore, while aspirants are now busy plotting ahead something tells me that in 2015, the usual mystery will play itself out. In other words, until the 2015 election is won and lost, you don’t bet your last kobo on any candidate or party.
Let us begin with the Dr Sam Onunaka Mbakwe Governorship. At the time Mbakwe became Governor, he was of the Nigerian Peoples Party NPP, headed by the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. And Mbakwe hailed from Obowo in Okigwe zone of Imo State.
His main opponent was Chief Collins Obi of National Party of Nigeria NPN, the dominant Party at the National level then, headed by Alahji Shehu Shagari, fromSokotoState.
Collins Obi a reputed rich Banker himself hailed from Dikenafia in Ideato South, Orlu Zone.
Though politics then was played on ethnic bases at the National level, but it was not clear who between Mbakwe and Obi would win. Many believed Obi would win because of the behemoth, NPN, and because of the stupendous fund available to him. And again, Mbakwe who was a Lawyer to Igbos inRiversStateduring the “Abandoned property saga” was seen as an anti establishment person, and therefore not wanted by the powers that be inNigeria. And remember, the likes of Dr KO Mbadiwe was one of the top NPN juggernauts inImoState.
But in the end, the relatively known Mbakwe won. It was a keenly contested election and NPN wantedImoStatebadly, as their neighbour, Rivers and Cross Rivers were all NPN.
Mbakwe’s second term election was tougher than the one of 1979, to the extent that the tough Lawyer and Governor had to turn into the returning officer, and announced the result on the state owned Imo Broadcasting service IBC by himself.
After Mbakwe and the long military occupation ofImoState, General Babangida brought two party system with his Social Democratic Party SDP and National Republican Convention, NRC.
In Imo then, the presumed dominant Party was SDP where you have the political heavy weights like Chief Arthur Nzeribe. Infact, the SDP had the highest number of members in the Imo House of Assembly.
NRC was seen as the party of bourgeois and many pitched tent with SDP, with the false belief that SDP will simply over – run NRC during the governorship election.
While NRC paraded one certain Lawyer from Atta, in Ikeduru LGA in the person Chief Evan(s) Enwerem as its candidate, the SDP had Dr Alex Obi, a Medical practitioner from Oboama, Enyiogugu, in Aboh Mbaise LGA.
But there was a problem within SDP. Dr Ezekiel Izuogu from Arondizuogu, Ideato North LGA was tipped to pick the SDP ticket, but the political Bulldozer in the party, Senator Arthur Nzeribe preferred Prof Fabian Osuji to Izuogu.
In the end, Nzeribe had his way, and Osuji was made the SDP candidate. But a few days to the election, Fabian Osuji was disqualified. Many thought that this would cause SDP to file Izuogu to replace Osuji in the race, but instead it went for one of its LGA chairmen, Dr Alex Obi.
And what happened in the election? The confusion led the unknown quality from Atta Ikeduru of the NRC to win. That was how Senator Evan(s) Enwerem emerged Imo State Governor. How many surprises and mysteries now? Two!
Then came 1998, when the military, after enjoying for some years, decided to try the civilians again.
The likes of Chief ID Nwoga, Chief Echeruo, Chief Charles Ugwu etc went to form a party called Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Then heavy weights like Senator Arthur Nzeribe, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu were with All Peoples Party APP which now morphed into ANPP. While Chief ID Nwoga was chairman of PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume was chairman of APPA.
In 1999, the elections commenced. In PDP’s Governorship primaries, Bar Humphrey Anumudu came first, Chief Greg Mbadiwe came second, Chief Rochas Okorocha was third, while a certain Mr Achike Udenwa, who was working as Accountant at MCC Construction Company Portharcourt came fourth.
But leaders of the PDP decided that they would pick Udenwa who came last to fly the party’s flag during the Governorship election proper.
Tested political war horse, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu won the ticket of APP. The outcome of the PDP primaries gladdened the heart of the heavy weights in APP. Reason? They had hopped that any of Mbadiwe, Anumudu or Okorocha would have been difficult to beat, and nursed a triumphant mien, that Udenwa would be no match.
But what happened in the election? The then unknown quantity from Amaifeke, Orlu, Achike Udenwa trounced APP candidate and became Governor of Imo State, and for a historical second term. The only man to have set that record yet in Imo Governorship seat.
It was after Udenwa’s triumph that the heavy weights in APP, including Athur Nzeribe, Chief Iwuanyanwu, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and others defected to PDP.
What am I saying? Another shocker and surprise in Imo Governorship!
Before Udenwa left office, the PDP had become a monstrous deciding factor in Imo politics till date. Either it files a candidate from any party, or chooses whom to support. Yet, it has never fallen short of producing the surprising element in Imo Governorship.
Udenwa, in the spirit of the gods of Imo Governorship forgot to arrive at who succeeds him as Governor of Imo State, after spending eight yeas on the saddle.
Some say it was for the Imo Governorship to live up to its mystery that led and incumbent to spend eight un – interrupted years in office without thinking of whom to hand over to.
As the 2007 election approached, Udenwa was confused on either to choose his Deputy, Engr Ebere Udeagu, or Bar Iyke Ibe to succeed him.
This was outside Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who had spent stupendously to erect a solid political structure to become governor ofImoState. Since Araraume was very close to Udenwa, and Udenwa had not told him to stop his governorship ambition, many assumed Araraume was the “anointed candidate” of Udenwa.
Therefore, it was a surprise to many at the PDP primary at Dan Anyiam stadium, as Udenwa stood confused, and even abandoned Iyke Ibe, on the spot, giving covert support to Chief Hope Uzodinma who joined the race weeks to D – day.
Araraume rolled out his political machines, and against all odds, and including an incumbent Governor factor, demolished every obstacle and collected the ticket.
However, following propaganda and mud slingings, Araraume’s name became an aberration to the PDP big wigs inAbuja, and suddenly Chief Charles Ugwu (Rokana) who had supported Obasanjo’s third term bid as Chairman of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria MAN, mysteriously replaced Araraume as candidate of PDP.
The Senator from Isiebu in Isiala Mbano LGA fought PDP to a stand still in the Courts, and retrieved his ticket.
PDP as the dominant party in the state till date, denied Araraume, and there was confusion among the electorate on which way to go.
Udenwa and the bulk of PDP in the state, in a search for whom to support, arrived the bus stop of Chief Martin Agbaso of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, as their candidate.
It nearly worked out. But still the gods of Imo Governorship at work, could not allow that. As Chief Agbaso was coasting home to victory, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, suddenly stopped the exercise. And the Imo Governorship diadem slipped off the hands of the Ezedibia, Emekuku, Owerri North LGA born Agbaso.
What happened, only God and history can tell. But suffice it to say that before the next round of election for the same Imo governorship, Udenwa yet again, with his group went out shopping once more.
This time, the gods, we learnt, said it must be from Okigwe Zone that the candidate would emerge and the lot landed on Bar Jude Nzeako of ACCORD Party. But the Crystal Ball and rumour mongers chorused that he was Araraume’s prodigee. And the search continued until the team arrived at Okohia, in Isiala Mbano LGA, looking for one Chief Godson Ikedi Ohakim, of the Peoples Progressive Party PPA, a party only known at Abia State, where its founder, and former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzo Kalu comes from.
After the adoption, with PDP support, Dr Ohakim won the election to the shock and surprise of many, but only fulfilling the mystery surrounding Imo Governorship seat.
Four years after, election year arrived and Ohakim, including those with him saw his re – election as a foregone conclusion. Because he was the incumbent, have the paraphernalia of power, contacts, and most importantly fund. But the gods of Imo Governorship had other ideas.
To fulfill this omen, Rochas Okorocha from PDP, defected and dusted the APGA structure which was fast becoming obsolete in the hands of its leader and sole financier in Imo, Chief Martin Agbaso.
In ACN, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume reinvigorated his quest to become Imo Governor.
Take it or leave it, among all the candidates and the political parties that contested the 2011 Imo Governorship election, there was no time any body could bet that the PDP with its number of followers would lose the election. At least, the worse would have to win with a marginal number of votes, not defeat.
But because of the mystery surrounding Imo Governorship election, various factors started rearing its ugly heads days before the election.
Ohakim’s men started acting strange, attending nocturnal meetings of the opposition. When you catch them, they deny. Sectional slogans became sweet tunes in the ears. Dialects became mode of communication among groups. Money given for Ohakim’ s election ended up in opposition pockets. Trusted allies and friends became elusive and in the end, the gods of Imo Governorship did it again a record fourth time and Rochas Okorocha, who was not given a chance became the winner.
Why I said Okorocha was not given a chance? Within Ohakim’s camp, the focus was on Senator Araraume, whom they believe could deplete Okigwe Zone votes and not Okorocha from Orlu, when PDP had the likes of Hope Uzodinma, Jerry Alagbaoso, Eze Duruiheoma and others in Orlu Zone. Well, all is now history.
But we are in 2012, and yet 2015 Imo Governorship battle songs have started ringing in the air again.
My take is that we should all tarry. Whether we like it or not, the election of 2015 can not be divorced from the usual mysteries and shocks that dot Imo Governorship, right from the Mbakwe era.
Mark my words, those who by the grace of God that live up to that time, will remember I said it. I de laugh o!
