After the Governorship supplementary election in Imo in May 2011, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP challenged in court till November of that year.
The issue concerning that Imo Governorship election is still a subject of litigations in various courts on who really won the contentious and coveted seat.
However, as at June 7, 2011 that the present Members of the Imo House of Assembly were inaugurated, there was no question that the PDP was in majority, as the party won even majority of National Assembly members seats too.
But while the PDP was busy rejoicing for capturing the greater number of legislators in the State Assembly, the then newly sworn-in Chief Executive, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was thinking ahead the PDP, by plotting how to poach members of the opposition party to make his party APGA the majority, for his own political survival and smooth running of Governance without the over-bearing influence of PDP.
This political deft touch by Okorocha left the PDP bemused and shell-shocked, when at the floor of the chamber on that fateful June 7, 2011, four of its members declared that they had joined the opposition party, APGA.
And the “decampees” were Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu, from Ihitte-Uboma State Constituency, Hon Acho Ihim, Okigwe, Hon Ada Ihuoma, Ahiazu Mbaise and Hon Ogbonna Ozuruigbo, Nwangele State Constituency.
The development took every body by surprise, to the extent that those invited by these decampees for the ceremony had to take the same vehicles that brought them to the Assembly Complex, back to their various homes and destinations.
For instance, the former PDP Southeast Zonal Chairman, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, who was instrumental to Hon Uwajumogu picking the PDP ticket, was waiting at New Castle Hotel, New Owerri on the day of the inauguration.
The PDP top shot was said to have stationed somebody in the House to feed him with the situation report and when to start coming to celebrate with his political prodigee, Uwajumogu.
Ozichukwu was shocked to his bone marrows when he learnt that Uwajumogu had switched over to APGA without consulting him, and the political titan from Ihitte Uboma left with anger from the Hotel with those who came with him and never met Uwajumogu again.
Prof Nnamdi Obiareri (Agunechembe of Okigwe) was the man who “picked” the PDP ticket for Hon Acho Ihim. Infact, PDP made it clear that it would not give Ihim the ticket, following his past antecedents with WAEC, JAMB, and students which is still fresh in the minds of many Imo people.
But Obiareri, who was denied PDP Okigwe Federal Constituency ticket for Chikwem Onuoha, in order to please some powers that be, was appeased by allowing him pick Acho Ihim, whom he stood behind. And during the election, PDP fought ACN to a standstill for Acho Ihim to emerge victorious.
Therefore, Prof Obiareri was devastated when he learnt that Acho Ihim had dumped PDP for APGA, after he (Obiareri) even marched on many toes in Okigwe to back Acho pick the ticket and win the election proper. Acho did this without consulting the leaders and his followers.
Obiareri had to storm out of the Imo Assembly premises with his entourage and Cultural Dance Group in anger. I am sure today both men may have no rosy relationship following Acho’s back stabbing of Obiareri.
For Hon Adaku Ihuoma, I have been around in Imo for over 15 years as a Journalist, but I have never heard of her name politically before. But because of her husband, a top police officer, other sterling candidates were shoved aside in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, for Adaku Ihuoma to emerge in the primaries, even to the shock of most PDP die hards.
And her election was a thug of war because of the likes of Nze PC Onuoha, a top APGA guru, whose younger brother Aductus Onuoha contested the seat against Ihuoma. Yet, because of concerted efforts, Ihuoma won.
Therefore, not a few PDP members from Ahiazu Mbaise were hurt by Ihuoma’s betrayal, which was like a slap in their face, after working tirelessly for her victory.
In Nwangele LGA, Hon Ogbonna Uzurigbo, OZB, knew what he went through before picking his ticket. Infact, the battle with late Commissioner for Sports, Chief Tony Uzukwu for the Assembly ticket was fierce. And it was in the course for PDP victories in the elections in Nwangele LGA that Tony met his untimely death. He just left a strategic meeting that night and was leaving for Nwangele when he met his gruesome death in an accident along PortHarcourt road by Concorde Hotel junction.
So, it was bewilderment and anger in Nwangele when the masses learnt that OZB had left PDP which spilled the blood of its member for OZB to win, and he joined APGA at his inauguration as Lawmaker.
To make long matter short, at the end of the June 11, 2011 intrigues in the Imo Assembly inauguration, Hon Benji Uwajumogu emerged Speaker of the Assembly; Hon Adaku Ihuoma became Majority Leader, Acho Ihim her Deputy and OZB the Chief Whip.
Following this development, the PDP went to court to challenge the actions of the Lawmakers saying that it was against the constitution as amended, and the Electoral act on the issue of red-carpeting, which harps on one politician jumping from one party to another party, after having won an election on the platform of the other.
Well, that is a matter left for the court to decide, but my take here is how the scenario of the “Uwajumogu four” is playing out in Imo state presently.
For starters, Hon Uwajumogu, the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly has openly and repeatedly sworn that he is still a member of the PDP.
Indeed, Hon Uwajumogu can be the Speaker of the House, even if he belongs to the Minority Party (PDP) as the case may be. This is because the members can choose whoever they want among them to lead them, no matter the political party. It is only the Majority Leader, who must come from the Majority Party, I was told.
But is Uwajumogu really a PDP member? If he is, then he is a bad example of what a party member and loyalist should be.
Presently in Imo, Uwajumogu who claims to be a member of PDP is leading the heaviest onslaught against “his party” since Okorocha took over the mantle of leadership in the state.
Uwajumogu doubles as the Spokesman of the State Government, as he misses no opportunity to lampoon the former administration in the state led by “his party PDP”.
In one of his interviews in the Nations Newspaper a few Saturdays ago, Uwajumogu said PDP government looted Imo State blind, so much so that Owelle Okorocha has started righting the wrongs. A PDP member in deed!
Since June 11, 2011, Uwajumogu, I was told, has not attended any PDP meeting, be it at Umuihi Ward, Ihitte Uboma LGA, State or National levels, yet he claims to be a member of the party. I learnt that he donated a vehicle to APGA, which is in the custody of the Ward Chairman, which drove PDP Ward Chairman in Umuihi mad.
PDP has a caucus in the Imo Assembly, is Uwajumogu a member? How many times has he attended their meetings? How many times has Uwajumogu attended PDP Speakers Forum at Abuja or elsewhere?
When APGA Lawmakers are invited by Gov Okorocha, is Uwajumogu found in their midst as PDP member, or as Speaker?
Let me state clearly here that I don’t care which political party Uwajumogu belongs to, but I got involved in this Uwajumogu saga following what his Media Aide wrote to repudiate the allegation that Uwajumogu is an APGA member. I am ashamed of the moral and integrity nuances of the whole saga.
Though the law is an Ass, and politics is about maneuvering, we should realize that elements of conscience and morality should be applied since politics is all about leadership. We cannot mentor our youths and future leaders by dancing around truths all the time. We cannot lead by deception. It is bad and dangerous to posterity by trying to swindle history.
How does Uwajumogu feel when he looks the Imo masses in the eyes and claims to be presently a PDP member simply because, according to him, there is no record to show he declared openly in the chamber that he has joined APGA?
What does Uwajumogu tell his children; that he is a member of what political party? Assuming Uwajumogu fools us all, what does he tell his family? Would he look his children in the eyes as a father, but in the name of politics, tell them that he flies in the same Jet with the Governor of the state for functions in Abuja as a PDP man?
When last did he visit Wadata House PDP Headquarters, Abuja for meetings like his colleagues from other PDP states do? What could make a Third Citizen of a state deceive his followers? For easy lucre? It is unfortunate that our politicians hardly learn from history. And I am disappointed that even the younger generation of politicians are in this dirty character soiling in the name of politics. Doesn’t future exist any more?
Uwajumogu is a very easy-going man. In fact a nice guy. But when we talk about conscience, I will not bet my kobo on him.
If Uwajumogu says he has not joined APGA, what of Ihuoma and Acho Ihim, whose positions in the House are attached to their prefixes; Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader respectively? Which Party is in the Majority in the Imo House of Assembly?
One mistake our politicians continue to make is that the electorate are still gullible and daft. But 90% of the unemployed youths in Nigeria today are educated and graduates seeking for employments. These are the electorate politicians will meet in 2015. Do you think Ihuoma and Ihim will present themselves again before their people for any elective offices? Will the people trust them?
For Ogbonna Ozuruigbo, he followed his mind after his conscience pricked him to no end. But the damage had already been done. As a young and fresh politician, he needs to work like an ant now to convince the people of Nwangele, that he will not “use and dump” them again in the future.
Usman Danfodio said “Conscience is an open wound, and only truth can heal it”. I rest my case. See you next week, Godwilling.
