By ogbonnaya isu
As the race for the governorship in all the State is gradually coming closer and closer, many people have started to show some interests for the governorship in their states. As already known, Imo State is likely to produce more aspirants than even three States in the South East put together.
This has a parallel to serve as an indication. For example, in the nineteen ninety nine race, Imo State had seven major contestants- Humphrey Anumudu; Greg Mbadiwe; Rochas Okorocha; Achike Udenwa; Ezekiel Izuogu and about five others.
Similarly, in two thousand and three, the number went up to about fifteen, including Ezekiel Izuogu, Rochas Okorocha, Achike Udenwa the incumbent, Humphrey Anumudu, Mrs. Nnanna Okoro and about eleven others. The worst was in two thousand and seven when the number of aspirants swelled up to twenty one, the largest aspirants for the governorship in the country. They included, Jerry Chukwueke, Ezekiel Izuogu, Charles Ugwu, Ikedi Ohakim, Emmanuel Ojinere, Humphrey Anumudu, Ifeanyi Araraume, Ike C. Ibe, Kema Chikwe, Mrs. Nnanna Okoro, Hope Uzodinma, Martin Agbaso, Jude Nzeako, Festus Odumegwu, Ebere Udeagu the then Deputy Governor and about ten others.
In two thousand and eleven, the number of aspirant was no near to reducing from what it has been years gone by. The result is that Imo State has become very notorious as a State where everybody wants to run for the Government House whether qualified or not.
Now, two thousand and fifteen is still a little far off but gradually coming nearer and nearer, the list has begun to build up again. The expectation is that this time around, it may hit over thirty aspirants. The most interesting thing is that this time around, they may be more pretenders and few recurring names and of course the real men and women serious enough to be counted.
The recurring decimals may include Humphrey Anumudu, Kema Chikwe, Emma Ojinere, Senator Araraume, Charles Ugwu, Mrs. Nnanna Okoro. Some in this group could be seen as political pretenders who like to contest everything every time. They may include Chukwueke, who has been making series of moves. Included is Emmanuel Ojinere, who since two thousand and seven has contested everything but known to always being fronted either by Kema Chikwe and this time around by Hope Uzodimnma.
On his part, Captain Iheanacho appears to enjoy a sizeable favourable public support because of his maturity and how he used his opportunity as Honourable Minister of Interior to empower a lot of his people, particularly the youths of the area.
However, his relationship with Kema Chikwe may pose a serious obstacle to him because Kema is an elephant who does not easily forgive not to talk of forgeting. Although, she may not go far in the race if she actually tries to run because of her political antecedents, she will do everything to frustrate Captain Iheanacho if only to pay him back for contributing to her defeat during the Senate race two years ago. Besides, Captain Iheanacho is seen by many to be too aloof who likes to look down on people. He was quoted to have many years ago, referred to the down trodden as “very hungry but ungrateful bunch of people.” Besides, he until now has not been very visible for general acceptance. He, too certainly needs a great deal of image brushing on a serious scale.
On his part, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha appears to be strong contender because of his current position as the Deputy Speaker. This position gives him a lot of visibility and clout. However, many believe that he is too temperamental, arrogant and very dismissive of people. Fortunately for him, it appears that he has quite a few powerful writers who can do for him a lot of image damage control if he can sustain such powerful, persuasive and credible writers. This notwithstanding, he can take on any of the known contenders.
On his side, Chief Agbaso is well known and is likely to draw a lot of public sympathy. But if an Mbaise person emerges from another party, sympathy votes for Agbaso would not be in a huge number to see him through half-way.
In conclusion, those pretenders like Ugochi Okoro, Kema Chikwe, Jerry Chukwueke, Emmanuel Ojinere are just notorious pretenders who use Governorship race to shore up their anti-hill ego. That of course, does not give one governorship ticket or a win. They should go and rest early enough.
