From this week, my back page will surprisingly witness a double-barrel touch. While my main topic for the week takes centre stage, another political-oriented issue will also deserve a mention. The focal point of the discussion will be the approaching 2015 General Election.
Granted that two years is still far to engage in premature permutations, my piece will no doubt dwell more on emerging scenario and political developments likely to shape future events in the state and beyond.
As usual with similar commentaries that bother on politics and politicking, my comments may be controversial as it would definitely evoke warranted reactions. All feedbacks and remarks shall be given the attention it deserves in the spirit of balance reportage.
Again, it is important to state that I am not under anybody’s payroll to engage in hatchet job as a pen mercantilist. I have spent reasonable time in the state watching, writing and playing active role in the politics of the state. I feel proud and challenged to state that I am also qualified with a degree of experience to comment on politics of the state.
After an eventful journalism practice in Lagos that saw me transverse some media houses covering known beats, in print and electronic media like sports, crime, judiciary and entertainment, this year marks my one decade of pen pushing in my dear and lovely Imo State. As the pioneer state correspondent of defunct New Age newspapers in Imo, my first official assignment on touching Owerri, from Lagos, was the opening of Radio Nigeria, Heartland FM on February 28, 2003 by the late wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Stella Obasanjo. She was accompanied by Dr Mrs Kema Chikwe, who was a Minister during that era.
As a news hunter, I was on ground and joined other serious-minded colleagues to comb the nook and cranny of the state for news. While adopting my Lagos/Ibadan (Western) type of journalism, which is unarguably quite different from what is obtained in Owerri, I managed to make in roads into the political class in the state. My pedigree was enriched when I was appointed the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, CPS, of the Imo State House of Assembly in 2007. The four years I spent in the House was splendid as it further garnished my knowledge about politics or rather “Imo politicking”.
As I begin this tedious task of analysis, I promise to as usual blast from (according to Ogechi Iwu of Hot Fm in his regular morning ritual of newspaper review in popular “People’s Assembly” program) an independent-minded posture. The focus will be on 2015, and I will discuss Governorship, Senatorial, Representative and House of Assembly battles ahead with particular reference to all the zones, federal constituencies and state constituencies respectively. It is titled BABANABA 2015 VIBES.
Making a debut for this column is the renewed quest by people of Owerri zone to govern Imo in 2015. For those who may not be informed about zonal structure in Imo State. There are three zones comprising Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe. While Orlu has twelve LGAs, Owerri and Okigwe share nine and six respectively. From the creation of Old Imo State in 1976 when the present Abia State and part of Ebonyi were part of the state, the first civilian Governor, late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe (Phd) who ruled from 1979 to 1983 came from Okigwe zone with the following LGAs, Obowo, Ihitte Uboma, Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Onuimo and Okigwe. The military took over until the return of democracy in 1991 when Chief Evan Enwerem of blessed memory was elected Governor. Enwerem is of Ikeduru LGA of Owerri Zone with Mbaitolu, Owerri West, Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise and Ngor Okpala. Enwerem took charge from late 1991 to 1993 when the military struck again through the infamous Gen Sanni Abacha coup.
With the return of Nigeria’s nascent democracy in 1999, an Amaifeke born accountant, from Orlu Zone, Chief Achike Udenwa (Onwa) was elected Governor. Udenwa had an eventful eight-year reign. After him came Chief Ikedi Ohakim, this time from Okigwe Zone like Mbakwe. Ohakim from Isiala Mbano had four years and gave way to the incumbent, Ideato South-born Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Orlu zone. Owelle is clocking two as number one citizen of the state.
