By Chidiebube Okeoma
Though 2015 seems to be a bit far from now, but to politicians in this clime, the politics of who gets what in regard to 2015 general elections in Nigeria has enastly stated Politicians have started putting all necessary logistics and mercenaries together to make sure that they succeed in their various interests come 2015.
Across the country, the agitation of which geopolitical zone will produce the next number one citizen of this country has taken a centre stage. While the three Northern geopolitical zones are hell-bent on unseating the incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from office, the people of South-East are undecided. They are yet to speak with one voice in regard to presidency in 2015. The so called leaders from the zone are selfish and wicked. With due respect to some selfless and visionary leaders in Igbo land, most of them are self ostentatious. They have traded the interest and wellbeing of the zone. Tell me how the lgbo people are yet to clinch the presidency of this nation since its existence, yet most people are parading themselves as leaders of the zone?
2015 is at the corner, yet the so called Igbo leaders are at longhead with each other. While some groups are insisting on Igbo presidency in 2015, others are giving their full support for Jonathan’s anticipated re-election bid.
But here in Imo State, the game and clamour for which geo-political zone occupies Imo Government House has commenced sooner than latter. While it is rumoured that the incumbent Governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha will be seeking for reelection in 2015 the people of Imo East senatorial district (Owerri Zone) have told whoever that cares to listen that it is either them or nobody. They have argued that Governor Okorocha should go after his first term and handover to an Owerri zone man. They stressed that it will amount to injustice and inhumanity to man for the people of the zone not to produce the Chief occupant of Imo Douglas house come 2015. To buttress their point, they recalled that since the creation of the state in 1976, an Owerri zone man has only became the Chief executive Officer of the state for just 18 months. Chief Evan Enwerem’s regime was interrupted by the military since then no Owerri zone man has taken a shut at the state diadem.
To make sure that they achieve their goal in 2015. Some politicians from the zone have formed a group know as Owerri Zone Political Leaders Forum (OZOPOLF). They have as their most ultimate priority to produce the next governor of the state. The sociopolitical group has Chief Charles Amadi as its chairman. The have embarked on tours and awareness campaign across the zone to sanitize people on the need to support their project. The Chief Amadi led group has equally counseled the people of Okigwe and Orlu zones to see reasons with them and jettison their ambitions in regard to 2015 and give their bid clarion and wholesome acceptance. OZOPOLF insists that the race for who becomes the Governor of the eastern heartland in the next general election should entirely be left for the people of the zone. OZOPOLF has not adopted any candidate from the zone. Also for all I know they have not chose any clan from the three clans in the zone, namely Mbaise, Owerri and Mbaike to produce the next governor of the state.
The youths of the zone are not left out in this agitation. The leadership of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Owerri Zone Forum has equally raised alarm over this. They have also threatened fire and brimstone. In a report credited to the chairman of the Forum, Comrade Isdore Chukwuemeka in the media recently, the youth body emphasized that no going back in their quest to produce the next governor of the state. They admonished the Governor to take a bow and not to re-contest come 2015.
Honestly the call by the people of Owerri Zone that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state really surprises me. The clamour on Zoning arrangement after what happened in 2011 governorship election in the state seems to me like a chides play. When I consider the intrigues that brought in Rochas Anayo Okorocha as the Governor of the state, I still see their agitation as hollow. After all it is the people of the Zone that insisted that zoning has been truncated in the state in April and May respectively last year. When the immediate past Governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim called on the people of the zone to vote him to ensure Owerri Zone governorship in 2015, the people of the zone refused. Chief Ohakim maintained that during the electioneering dispensation, that he was the only candidate that could guarantee an Owerri Zone person being the Chief executive officer in 2015.
Also the then Governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Chief Ifeanyi Araraume begged the people of the zone to vote him and they turned off his plea. Araraume enthused that he will govern the state for just one term and handover to Owerri Zone people in 2015. But did the people of the Zone accept his appeal? Definitely no. with due respect to the people of Mbaise Nation and Ikeduru, the people of Owerri federal constituency, Mbaitoli and Ngor-Okpala LGAs of the state gave Okorocha 100 percent votes. Mbaitoli and Ngor-Okpala LGAs unarguably are the two biggest Local Government Areas in the state. They gave their unflinching and indefatigable support to the most qualified candidate then and who is now the amiable governor of the state. Frankly speaking, that is what it ought to be. Zoning has really brought the progress and good of this country to a standstill. For all I know Zoning is undemocratic. Moreover it is a party fair and not part of the letters of the constitution of this country.
An average Okigwe zone man believes that Ohakim was voted out of office by Owerri zone people. The feeling in the Zone right now is that they (Okigwe zone) we witch hunted by Owerri zone. They argued that had Owerri Zone given Ohakim or any other Governorship candidate from the Okigwe zone support, they would have been holding sway to the state seat of power. Really, if Owerri Zone people knew that they must produce Governor in 2015, they wouldn’t have voted Ohakim out. Because Okigwe zone having six Local Government Areas and Owerri zone having nine, it would have delivered Ohakim or any other Governorship candidate from Okigwe zone to pave way for the smooth takeover by Owerri zone people in 2015.
Sentiments apart, Okorocha was the better candidate in last Governorship election in the state. He deserves to be the governor of the state right now. But my take is that had the people of the zone knew that they must produce the next governor of the state in 2015, they would have respected the zoning arrangement which has been existing time long. They would have given maximum support, solidarity and votes to former Governor Ohakim who was constitutional barred to exceed 2015 as the governor of the state then.
They should have respected the power sharing formula in the state and take into consideration their interest in 2015.
With the emergence of Okorocha as the governor of the state, it is crystal clear that zoning has gone for good in the state. What we should be talking about now are the credibility and ingenuity of candidates. It is the track-records and antecedents of candidates that are paramount and not zoning arrangement. For me zone has always produced mediocrities. It has paved way for failures and green horns.
With the agitation of the people of Owerri Zone towards 2015, it has gone along way to remind Okigwe zone people that it is a payback time. I just ran into the gathering of mammoth youths from Okigwe zone who vowed to pay-back Owerri Zone people in 2015. They youth who spoke passionately about the intrigues surrounding Imo guber, said that instead of an Owerri zone man to be governor in 2015, that Orlu Zone people should continue. They youths who buttressed their points said that any zone they give support in its entirety must win in 2015. Saying that six plus nine is fifteen which is above Orlu that is twelve and six plus twelve is eighteen which is far above Owerri zone’s nine.
For me they are perfectly correct. As it stands now, they are the sacred cows of Imo politics. Okigwe zone must definitely determine which zone among Orlu and Owerri will produce the governor in 2015. They youths also made it clear that should zoning be resurrected in the state, Okigwe must be allowed to complete their tenure which was shattered by the virtue of Okorocha’s emergence. They posited that before Owerri zone should start agitating for the soul of the state, Okigwe Zone must be allowed to complete their four year remaining term which was truncated by Owelle Okorocha’s emergence.
Succinctly expressed, zoning or Imo charter of equity has gone for good. What we should be taking about is most viable candidate to pilot the affairs of the state come 2015. The call and agitation of the people of Owerri zone is infantile. It is morally unjust for Owerri people to be clamouring to produce the governor of the state on zoning arrangement process.
Also to tell Okigwe zone to support them to realize their project is indeed interesting. The people of Owerri zone insisting on producing the next governor is like one eating what he has vomited. Honest people in this state will agree with me that the same people who are hell bent on producing Okorocha’s successor in 2015 were the same people who sent the zoning accord in the state to the dust bin. Ohakim and other candidates from Imo North senatorial district (Okigwe zone) were rejected in 2011 to pave for Okorocha.
With Okorocha’s emergence, the zoning of a thing has gone for good. It is like a tale story for Owerri people to be insisting on producing the next governor of the state based on Imo charter of equity.
I will kindly advise Owerri zone people to start shopping for a candidate who has the political sagacity and goodwill. They should present to Imolites a personality that has the antecedents and track-records of human empowerment. Gone were days when neophytes were foisted on the people because of the so called zoning arrangement.
The person must have record of human development and empowerment. It will no long be promises. It will be based on the candidate’s achievement as an entrepreneur. Imolites are more politically aware and educated than before. The game of 2015 will be two times tougher than that of 2011.
If they must oust Okorocha, if he decides to re-contest, they must present a grass rooted politician. One who has excelled in his area of specialization. One who has passion for the less-privileged. One whose human kindness flows through his veins. One who believes in emancipation, transparency and honesty.
Hiding under the guise of Imo charter of equity to agitate for Imo governorship come 2015 is null and void. They can only win if they do the right thing by presenting sound and generally accepted politician who is far better than Okorocha. They must present a person whose history of philanthropic work is real and constant. Gone the days when votes were counted in hotel rooms. The votes of the people must count and if the people of Owerri are serious with the issue of succeeding Okorocha in 2015 they must begin now to look around the zone to present that person who the Imo citizenry will accept.
The issue that Okigwe zone leaders are working in consonance to boot the governor out in 2015 is hollow. Like we all know, it is no longer the issue of political or apex leaders, it is about the people. The people are the ultimate in democracy. I just advise Owerri zone indigenes to forget merging with those who call themselves leaders from any of the two zones and do the ultimate work which is fielding the most credible candidate who will win the support and confidence of the majority of Imolites, Anything short of this will make the dream of OZOPOLF not seeing the light of the day.
Comrade Chidiebube Okeoina is an Owerri based journalist, Imolite and public affairs analyst, 08060131 756
