Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the Imo State born Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja was in the news recently for the right reasons, though.
He was reported to have appealed to his Mbaise kinsmen to give him time to ponder on their request to vie for the governorship seat of Imo State in 2015. Newspaper reports indicated that some group of Mbaise sons and daughters had visited the Mbutu born lawmaker urging him to run for the governorship seat of the State.
That was not the gist, the clincher was that the group was reported to have adopted him as the sole candidate from the Mbaise nation for the plum job. This has ignited heated debate in the state which lend credence to the fact Ihedioha is not a small player in the political chessboard of Imo State.
Before the clarion call on Emeka to contest for the governorship by his Mbaise kith and kin recently, the number six citizen of the country has been widely speculated to be eying the number one job of the State.
Emeka has refused to openly admit that he has an eye on Governor Rochas Okorocha’s seat, though his body language has continously betrayed such hidden intentions. He has maintained a rare political character by keeping sealed lips on the issue or controversy. But those who know his style of politicking know that Emeka moves, talk and act like a Governor in waiting .
His charisma, candour and carriage reveals his hunger for power. Infact, he speaks and radiates authority. And he knows how to go about it. We have seen some political stunts he displayed to butress the fact he is a candidate for the Imo governorship seat and no one requires a soothsayer to know that he desperately wants to govern the state.
Even his Mbaise kinsmen who will never allow a non Mbaiserian to come so close to him have never made pretenses that the three time lawmaker and one time political errand boy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is desirous to contest. They will tell you in clear simple language that in Emeka Ihedioha, they are well pleased! And he is the gateway to Government House,Owerri come 2015.
Emeka’s aspiration has elicited some sort of frenzy in Mbaise nation. Fanatism has also enveloped his people over his ambition. And this is one factor that is dangerous. I will see discuss this issue in the course of this piece.
I have met Ihedioha once. Sometime last year, I was among select jounalists invited to be part of his visit to an Anglican Church in Njaba LGA where he doled out N2 million cash to aid God’s work. He was acompained on that visit by the Member representingNjaba/Nwangele/ Isu Federal Constitutency, Hon. Jones Onyeriri- an acolyte of the Deputy Speaker who appears to have keyed into the Ihedioha must be governor project.
There was another Federal lawmaker from Bayelsa State who was also part of the trip. From Njaba, we zommed to Orlu where he went to inspect a Federal road project before visiting Hon Eddy Mbadiwe in his country home.
My short encounter with Ihedioha was revealing as I observed that he has a burning passion to capture power. But because I never had the opportunity to interact with him one on one at that trip, I cannot vouch for his much trumpeted political acumen and dexterity. Those who know him, especially his kinsmen say he ranks among those who knows their onion politically. I have no reason to disagree with them. But I cannot be swayed by hearsays and niceties which is the stock in trade of those who benefit from their political paymasters.
They ascribe Emeka’s political prowress to the fact that if he and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of Federal House of Representatives could defy the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan and the national leadership of the PDP and rebel their way to become leaders of the House, then he and co should be credited with some level of political sagacity.
I align myself to the fact that the actions of Emeka and co at the House of Reps should be hailed on the basis that the House of Representatives for once demonstrated a strong will to choose its leaders. And this feat has yeilded dividends when one looks at the vibrancy of the House of Representatives in contrast to the sloppy character of the present senate.
But in a country where the brand of politicking is not in tandem with acceptable norms of mordern democracy, will It be wrong if one alludes that the Deputy Speaker and his co travellers are now entangled in a deadly political cobweb that will affect their political future in 2015?
I believe that Emeka Ihedioha is in political dilenma over his next political move. The dilenma originated from the actions of the past- that rebellious act against the PDP leadership and President Jonathan that wanted Mulikat Akande as Speaker.
When Emeka was reported to have said he should be given time to think of his next political move, I laughed. I did so because the Aboh Mbaise born legislator might be on a voyage that he cannot predict its end. He is at a cross roads, ostensibly waiting for a likely end of the ongoing armageddon that has hit the PDP at the national level.
Events and recent political developments in the PDP compounds his waiting game. We have seen lately how the G7 governors opposed to President Jonathan’s second term bid are branded as rebels and who should not have a place in Bamanga Tukur’s led PDP anymore.
Can one say that Emeka and Tambuwal do not belong to the same category after “rebeling” against the President’s choice for the headship of the House? Or will Tukur’s PDP forgive the duo since it will be a huge political mistake if President Jonathan continues to broaden the size of his enemy camp? Or is it time for Tukur/Jonathan to punish them for truncating their choice for the headship of the House two years ago?
Has Emeka and co atoned for their sins? And if they have, why has Tambuwal whom Emeka tag teamed to halt President Jonathan’s choice for the headship of the House continued to romance with opposition forces in the country? Or is Tambuwal acting alone? Or should we anticipate a political u- turn from the duo before the 2015 elections?. And even if they decide to apologize for the sins of the past, will they be forgiven and trusted in a party where the word reconcilation only exists on the lips? I doubt.
This is one big river the Deputy Speaker has to cross- the river of uncertainty and unpredictability. Call it Emeka Ihedioha’s political River Niger and you will not be mistaken.
Further,the political situation in Imo State viz a viz his perceived governorship ambition is another interesting scenario.
I have told those that care to listen that the power of incumbency remains a strong factor in Imo politics. If Rochas Okorocha decides to seek for a second term as Imo governor, the colouration of the Imo governorship race in 2015 will change. It will up the ante. Okorocha will not just be against an Emeka Ihedioha, but a combination of political forces within and outside the State that are bent for a pound of flesh.
This is why Rochas has embarked on construction of numerous uncompleted projects with the aim of asking for a second term from Imolites to complete such projects. And it is possible that such proposition will be accepted by the people.
I also susbcribe to the opinion in some circles that there is nothing cast on stone to say that Okorocha will easily cruise to office a second time if he desires to contest for the governorship in 2015. I agree that Okorocha’s rating has dropped significantly, but I think there is no total breakdown of an “alliance” between his government and the masses yet. The same “alliance” that got him to power. Will it get to that point only a political prophet can say so.
For now, the political scenario in the State tilts in favour to whoever has the charisma to weave his or her aspiration to Conform with the expectations of the masses. The Imo electorate is the most informed and sophisticated in the country. They cannot be fooled by anybody’s political stunts but will be embraced by anyone who connects strongly to their expectations and desires.
I accept the fact that there are complains and murmurings over Owelle’s tigh fisted style of politics since he assumed power in 2011. But such murmurings has not germinated to discontent. Discontent leads to disconnect and disconnect feuls the clamour for change.
For now, there are murmurings in the land. It may get to the level of discontent. It may not and this depends on how political events unfold from now to 2015 in the State. And even if it gets to that point, has Ihedioha effectively connected his aspiration to the masses of Imolites to drive his ambition to reality? I leave dear readers to make their conclusions.
The last elections in the State revealed that Imolites have become major determinant factors on who governs them. The power of the elites to mould, influence opinion and dictate the political pattern of the State is gradually waning. Ohakim would not have lost power in 2011 if the elites were in firm grip of the local populace and dictate the political direction of the State.
For those who drive Ihedioha’s aspiration, I humbly advise they consider these factors. That Ikedi Ohakim, an incumbent governor lost to Rochas does not imply that another incumbent governor will easily be rooted out of office. The scenario now and then are not the same.They are different and poles apart.
However, Ihedioha has the political nerve and power to contest for the Imo governorship. Infact, I rate him among those who has acquired sufficient political exposure and pedigree to lead the State. Having undergone political tutelage as Chief Whip and later Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, he cannot be said to be a newcomer in the art or business of governance.
If he decides to join the guber race, he should move his aspiration closer to the masses. For now, his support base are the political godfathers and mothers, particularly those who have an axe to grind with Rochas.Those looking for a protective shield and a driving force that will convey them back to the political turf of the State- those who have been politically suffocated and looking for a window to escape from their political “incaceration”. This is dangerous for the Distinguished Deputy Speaker and I urge him to reflect deeply on this.
Infact, Emeka’s perceived governorship ambition has become a rallying point for these category of Imo politicians. And I ask. Do such category of Imolites go to the polling stations, vote and wait to defend their votes or ensure their votes count? I wonder.
Further, the Mbaise coluration of his aspiration is another food for thought. The disadvantages outweighs the advantages. The way the distinguished Deputy Speaker manages the Mbaise colouration of his aspiration is important. The disdavantges outweighs the advantages. I wil resist the urge to go down memory lane to narrate how Mbaise born Prof Fabian Osuji suffered electoral loss in the hands of Evan Enwerem (of blessed memory) in the aborted Third Repbulic.
The Mbaise nation carries Emeka’s aspiration as an Mbaise project. This does not help the cause of the Deputy Speaker whom I know has built bridges of friendship across and beyond the State. The Mbaise nation alone cannot make him Imo State governor. Three out of 27 local Governments in Imo State cannot drive Emeka’s aspiration to Government House, Owerri. If he allows his aspiration to be branded an Mbaise affair, he stands the risk of shortcircuting his ambition.
History has shown that the three geo political zones in the State- Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu, do have serious roles to play to produce the governor of the State. Okorocha’s election remains a casestudy. He got the second largest vote from Owerri Municipality in Owerri Zone after Ideato North (his home local Government). If (Rochas) had Orlunirised his aspiration, it would had been a barrier to the sucess of his aspiration.
I have read countless achivements of the Deputy Speaker as propagated by his loyalists and I am impressed. I give him a passmark, but as he ponders to take up or reject the challenge to dethrone Rochas Okorocha as governor in 2015, I think he really has a lot of thinking to do in that direction . I rest my case.
