Rochas Okorocha. |
It
is no longer rumour that there is established internal political schism in All
Progressives Congress,APC, Imo State following strong resistance against
Governor Rochas Okorocha’s insistence to impose his son-in-law, MR. Uche Nwosu,
on the people of Imo State.
Consequently,
with the emergence of Senator Hope Uzodinma, the political brouhaha has not
only refused to go away but has widened to an unimaginable magnitude as the
political atmosphere continues to get incensed owing to the total rejection of
Senator Hope Uzodinma’s emergence by Governor Okorocha and his son-in-law, Mr.
Nwosu.
It
is from the foregoing that the party faithful situate their fears and factually
so. If the safe-acclaimed founder of APC, Chief Okorocha, has continued to
issue out threats upon threats against the ruling party both at the State level
and at the federal level.
The
party faithful and Imolites at large registered more worries from Okorocha last
Sunday crusade against the APC. At the supposed solemn place of worship,
Okorocha had used it as a platform to unleash his plot to go against Oshiomole,
the National Chairman of APC, while supporting his son-in-law in whatever
political party he might berthing on to continue with his must-be-governor
ambition.
On
that pulpit, Governor Okorocha insisted that Hope Uzodinma must fail in his bid
to win governorship seat of the State, vowing to do anything humanly possible
to ensure that APC is worthless in the State.
Continuing,
Governor Okorocha came down heavily on Oshiomole calling him names for refusing
to crown his son-in-law heir apparent governorship candidate of the ruling
party. He also opened up many battle grounds against those he described as
Abuja people. He alleged that fight against him has to do with 2013
Presidential election, saying he has nonetheless become a threat to certain
individuals.
With
all these relentless and ceaseless tackles against the leadership of the party
backed with threats, can Okorocha be trusted with issue as serious as election,
when Hope Uzodinma is already a celebrated political enemy whose emergence has
continued to irritate Okorocha both for elitist-ego-trip and selfish reasons?
More so, will Okorocha not be the happiest man to ensure that President Buhari
is not returned in Imo and other States of the federation to get back at his
new found sworn enemy, Comrade Oshiomole? How about the man who defiled him,
his estranged friend, associate and Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere? Okorocha’s
unadulterated unforgiving spirit will stop at nothing to ensure he sabotages
APC in so far as his wishes were not upheld.
At
issue is, how would Okorocha according to his entreaties remain in APC and be
supporting and sponsoring his son-in-law in another party? This would certainly
be the highest level of hypocrisy, still, he promises to deliver President
Buhari during the presidential polls, which expectedly will be keenly
contested.
For
Realists in politics, Okorocha should be tagged and most appropriately be
declared an enemy of the party and should be confined to the back seat of the
party where he rightly belongs.
Going
on media tirade against the party on whose platform he became Governor should
not be taken for granted if the Party is truly in contest to win Imo votes for
the governorship and presidential elections.
Few
days back, Okorocha’s first son-in-law putting in appearance on Channels
Television had insisted he remains the standard bearer of Imo All Progressives
Congress, hauling all manner of uncivilized verbal attacks on the leadership of
the party. In his lack of wisdom, he openly accused Oshiomole of witch hunt. In
his misdemeanor, he unleashed tantrums against Oshiomole, describing him as the
father of political dynasty. For a green horn like Mr. Nwosu to be
feeling on top of the world sparring with a man who could be his father
and not only that but also the National Chairman of the party he seeks to
secure ticket from, to say the least, is uncouth, uncultured and most disappointing.
Like
Imolites keep asking in their lamentation; what manner of a leader would Nwosu
be if giving a chance? For Imolites, Oshiomole is God’s instrument sent to
ensure that the young man who is alien to grace did not steal the flag of the
party through the back door.
Again,
if the duo of Okorocha and his son-in-law can jointly attack the leadership of
the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him also as the mastermind of
their political woes is another sad tales that is unbecoming of a party man if
not an affront to the leadership of the party. This is a reckless attitude so
unexpected of a leader.
In
another unruly show of disrespect to the leadership of the party, this time,
Okorocha’s puppet, protégé and son-in-law chose to throw caution to the wind,
calling on the Presidency to call Comrade Oshiomole to order, which most people
have described as gross insolence.
With
these myriad confrontations and threats, it is safer for the leadership of the
party to note that political has not only been declared, there is a raging war
driven by bitter-bile laced with unforgiving-vengeful spirit. Though Okorocha
may appear a political pariah following his total rejection by most political
parties and platforms, including the Action Alliance he helped to form, there
is one thing you can’t take away from Okorocha; and that is the fact that he
may choose to align with any opposition candidate to fight against APC.
Every
discerning could easily uncover this plot going by Okorocha’s Chief Press
Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo’s one of the most recent releases where he mentioned
some of those who can be Governor but vowed that Hope Uzodinma or any other
candidate who went against Governor Okorocha’s unacceptable desire to impose
son-in-law on Imo people will never be Governor.
As
the Governor’s spokesperson, Onwuemodo could not have differed from the
thinking of his principal, Chief Okorocha. Hence, in the said interview
published in his own newsletter, Whitepaper of Wednesday, December 14, 2018
edition, where he mentioned a number of governorship candidates who are of
other opposition parties who could be governor.
With
little intuition, the only acceptable logic from Onwuemeodo’s premise is that
Governor Okorocha has made up his mind to work with any of the standard bearers
who may be willing to keep his part of the bargain, which might hinge on
covering his atrocities against the people of Imo state.
Therefore,
it will be foolhardy and strategically foolish should the leadership of All
Progressives Congress believe that Okorocha would ever stoop to work for the
success of the ruling party in the forthcoming 2019 general election.
A
little insight into the intrigues that threw up Hope Uzodinma as the candidate
of APC for Imo governorship contest would reveal a bitter political battle that
was fought by those Okorocha thought he had conquered their souls and spirits.
For him as the lord if not the god of the manor as modeled in George Owen’s
animal farm. One can imagine a modern day emperor who prides himself as the
Alfa and omega, boasting of how many politicians he has retired and many more
to go. His docile followers, including those who are by far more enlightened
academically and otherwise will hail him hero and shout to the high heavens.
Some called him destiny helper while others will call him the father of new
Imo.
Amid
all these glories, his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere who has been his associate
for over 25 years looked him straight in the eye and said hell no to extreme
nepotism; and of course he led the revolution. The ever vibrant Dr. Theodore
Ekechi, who was his former Information and Strategy Commissioner, rather than join
in the fray of electoral contest dedicated his time and energy for the battle
against Okorocha. Dr. Ekechi operated with other die hard, like Hon Jasper
Azuatalam, fiery Senator Ben Uwajumogu, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume who later got
out for a reason considered wholly considered self-serving. He did his best.
Ichie Mbanaso and many others. The battle was not without its painful side as
Okorocha fought back with instruments of power at his disposal. House members
were suspended, jobs were lost. Impeachment of his deputy was plotted. Threats
were dished out at will with thugs having a field day on Imo common wealth.
It
was also irreconcilable for Okorocha to also discover that Sir Jude Ejiogu
could have the gut to join the coalition forces against him. The Coalition
forces grew in number at the eve of the primary election with Senator Hope
Uzodinma, Commodore Peter Gbujie, Sir Nlemoha among others joining the forces.
If
anyone can ever believe that Okorocha will support APC at any level at all,
such person is surely not of this world and probably may be a humanoid because
he can believe anything. Like igbo proverb will say; “ama agbara agba anaghi
eri nwa opara”. Predictably, it will be the 8th wonder of the world
should Okorocha ever support APC. Should the party wish to make any impact in
the forthcoming general election in Imo State, it must first handle Okorocha
factor who considers this election as his last political battle, which must be
fought with anything at all at his disposal even if means emptying the State
purse before the arm of law catches up with him.
Stephen
Mba writes from Owerri, Imo State.
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