Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the incumbent Governor of Imo state, who hails from Ogboko in Ideato South LGA, in Orlu Senatorial Zone will seek a second mandate as governor come 2015. Reason? There is no vacancy in Abuja for any other candidates except between President Goodluck Ebele “Azikiwe” Jonathan and a candidate from Northern Nigeria. Mark my words!
Though Owelle Okorocha would have loved to run for the Presidency under APGA, at least for the fun of it, but the forces controlling Gov Peter Obi of Anambra State will not allow APGA to file a presidential candidate in 2015. Read my lips!
Under this scenario, Owelle Okorocha will have no alternative than to hold firmly to the one he already has; which is the Governorship seat of Imo state.
Therefore, since Owerri zone has made it clear that it would not only seek to produce the next Governor in 2015, but will occupy Douglas House but in an event Okorocha run as incumbent, can Owerri be able to dethrone him from the seat?
I ask this question because the fight for Imo Governorship seat is always fierce, and produces shocks and uncertainties, which I had enumerated on this page before.
Under which political platform will Owerri go to this fight? Who will lead this fight as the arrow head and candidate? Which “zone” within Owerri zone will produce this lucky person? How will Owerri zone arrive on this rare personality? Can this person emerge without squabbles and decimation of Owerri zone before the real fight proper? Questions! Questions! and Questions!
I can be said correctly to say that Owerri zone has been marginalized in the production of those who has governed Imo state since 1979. Okigwe has ruled the state for eight years plus, between Dr Sam Mbakwe and Chief Ikedi Ohakim, while Orlu has had its turn for nine years and still counting, between Owelle Okorocha and Dr Achike Udenwa. But political power is not given based on sentiment.
If it were, Okorocha would not have been on the saddle today. Therefore, it behooves to say that if Owerri zone anchore their argument on brandishing statistics and sloganeering, they would be shocked in 2015.
However, what I think that can materialize the Owerri dream to rule Imo in 2015 include their strategy, the candidate, political party and where such a candidate comes from.
Strategy here covers all that would be done for an Owerri man or woman to be governor in 2015. Like how to work on, and convince the other zones to rally round the zone to produce the next governor in Imo state.
These include the issue of equity and fairness. Doing Peter, how you did James and John. Owerri cannot produce the next Governor single-handedly. Therefore, it must seek the hand of other zones.
Despite the fact that Orlu Okigwe and OZOPOLF have started romancing, but can this love last till the targeted time?
I know for sure that Okigwe people have voiced it in the open that they will not support Owerri in her quest for Imo Governorship seat in 2015.
The simple reason they gave was that after the April 26,2011 Governorship election, the fate of their son nay Okigwe zone depended on Owerri to rally behind Ohakim return to power, but rather they gave their votes to Okorocha. Even the argument that Owerri is populated by visitors, which include even Okigwe indigenes, fell on deaf ears. So,will Okigwe really support Owerri in 2015?
We are all aware of what transpired in the last election on how Orlu people conspired and turned –coat over night to queue behind their brother, Okorocha, devoid of political affiliations. Who will swear that now that Orlu has the throne that they would easily relinquish it? Therefore, Owerri zone needs to go to work on this aspect. They say politics is conspiracy and summersault is allowed. Owerri should work on their cousins now to convince them.
Let us talk about the candidate from Owerri. How would this candidate emerge? I have seen many times where Owerri people under the aegis Owerri Elders Forum arrived on a candidate, yet fellow aspirants shunned the sages and proceeded to the primaries, where Owerri candidates split their votes.
Most importantly, with the last Governorship election in Imo, as regards promises made and what the masses are seeing now, the choice of candidate will earn from the electorate at least 30%, even before the voting Imo people are tried of a candidate who says one thing and does another.
In order words, Owerri people must look for a person with impeccable character, good, pedigree, conduct, mien, character and the fund to prosecute the project. Much as no Governorship candidate can fund his election alone, but the fellow needs to have the capacity to at least begin the battle before helps could come.
A candidate who allows sponsors to write-off his or her campaign funds is recipe to hijack the fellow when he becomes governor and therefore gives Imo a Governor who is under siege of godfathers. This is not what Imo wants in 2015 and beyond.
Under which platform will this messiah emerge from? If we must tell ourselves the truth, since 1999 no Governor has emerged in Imo state without the influence and input of the behemoth, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. It was PDP that made Udenwa, Ohakim and Okorocha governors of Imo state.
Let no one deceive himself that Owerri zone can win Imo Governorship election without the connivance of PDP teeming members. Governor Okorocha maybe bragging today that APGA won him the election in Imo state. But is a wrong assumption. It was PDP members, who conspired with the sprinkle of APGA followers to have their pound of flesh on those PDP big shots whom, they say felt the common PDP members has no power. It was simply a revolt against the leaders.
Was it not Udenwa’s anointing of Chief Ikedi Ohakim of PPA that gave him the key to Imo Government House in 2007?
Therefore, Owerri zone cannot realize this dream without PDP impute. In order words, even if the zone is denied PDP ticket in 2015, for it to make hay, PDP must give its blessing before Owerri zone candidate can make an impact in another party.
Take it or leave it, PDP has a strong hold followership in Imo, and there is yet no political party that has changed this truism. PDP may be lampooned because of their arrogance, losing Imo Governorship seat in 2011 and other follies, but PDP is the only party through which Imo Governor will emerge in 2015. Either as a candidate, or supported by PDP in another party platform, period.
Frankly speaking, the “Zone” within Owerri Zone, from which this lucky man or woman would emerge will be another interesting factor. Will the person come from Mbaike, Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, or Owere clans?
I do not know if this project is based on any political platform. For if it is hinged on PDP foundation, it means that the coast favours the Mbaise clan here.
During the last Governorship election, apart from the Mbaise clan which delivered PDP, Ngor Okpala, Owere and Mbaike clans were humiliated by APGA candidate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and more worrisome, at a time it was these areas that held the ace for PDP Governorship in Imo.
Should sentiment raise its ugly head from other zones in supporting Owerri realize its dream, can Okigwe person vote for Ngor Okpala, Owere or Mbaike man when the time comes? Owerri therefore should put its house in order before the D day, which may seem too far, but yet near.
Does Owerri zone think that Owelle Rochas Okorocha will fret and run under the bed and relinquish Imo Governorship seat on a platter, without roforofo fight? Not likely.
You can accuse Okorocha of anything, but not a coward, who shy away from fights. Okorocha is going to give Owerri zone, nay PDP a run for their money.
And anybody who has taken time to study Okorocha’s political deft touches will know that he does not take prisoners. The Governor is a good student of Machiavelli. The end justifies the means.
He fights “any how” and only a politician who plays without boots can march Okorocha foul for foul, head butt for head butt and penalty for penalty and free kick for free kick. Does Owerri zone have such a person?
We are all aware how Okorocha confronted PDP in an open fight, without the power of incumbency. Now that he has both power and free fund, what does Owerri zone expect? A titanic battle for power!
The only thing that may work against Okorocha is if he does not fulfill some of those wild promises he made to people of Imo state at the height of desperation to capture power.
But our people forget easily. Should Okorocha throw one or two “magic” of his in the air before April 2015, our people may be carried away once again.
Therefore, while Owerri zone marches on to grab power in 2015, it is better they realize that the journey is hard, even as the road is sprinkled with broken bottle. Only the tough and thick skinned will complete this kind of journey. Is Owerri zone ready for the herculean task? Only time will tell.
