OKOROCHA,
MADUMERE, NWOSU AND THEIR ONGOING POLITICAL ANTICS
The
last time I checked, the heat was conspicuously on in the Imo Political setting
that even the deaf coupled with the blind could respectively hear and see it.
This is currently the case in the state even though the campaign era is yet to
be declared open by the electoral umpire.
I
was duly taught in the past by one of my mentors that politics as a profession
was survival of the fittest. According to the patriotic Nigerian, only those
who had proven to be strong enough could compete fervently and favourably in
any political tussle. I have fully come to realize where the fellow was
actually coming from, thus seen tangible reason to concur with his theory.
Such an assertion could be aligned with the
popular saying “politics is a dirty game”. Of course, for one to belong to the
clique of the fittest, he must in one way or the other indulge himself in a
seemingly nasty game that might deprive him/her the chances of earning a good
name. Such a scenario isn’t fat-fetched in any political terrain across the
globe.
Lest I digress; it’s noteworthy that this
piece is solely informed by the ongoing trending in the Imo State political
sphere as it concerns the state’s number one citizen, his amiable deputy as
well as the leader’s Chief of Staff in the persons of Governor Rochas Okorocha,
Prince Eze Madumere and Chief Uche Nwosu, respectively.
It’s not anymore news that the governor had
publicly indicated his interest to support Chief Nwosu over his apparent
ambition to run for the governorship position in the state come 2019. This
implies that the latter whose aspiration is officially yet unborn, had
ostensibly proven to the former that he possess all it takes to succeed him
during the awaited interregnum.
In
view of the above, some Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state under the
auspices of the purported leadership of the affected councils had boldly and
proudly taken a walk to the Imo Government House otherwise known as the
‘Douglas House’ with a view to informing the sitting governor that they had
unanimously endorsed the said aspirant.
In the aforementioned outings, the
Ogboko born leader appreciated the guests, and therein concurred with them that
Chief Nwosu truly had all it required to move the state forward when he
eventually bows out of the leadership saddle. He further opined that the aide
in question had proven beyond doubts that he had no rival at the election
ground.
It is worthy of note that Prince
Madumere is equally apparently aspiring to succeed Gov. Okorocha. But, as it
stands, it seems the governor is not in support of his second-in-command who
had hitherto proven to be a true loyalist since the commencement of the Rescue
Mission Administration. This difference between the duo has thus far succeeded
in raising tremendous dust cum mixed feelings amid the overall faithful of the
ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Eastern Heartland,
thereby seemingly creating factions among them.
Just recently, a certain group gathered
the members of the APC in Mbaitolu LGA, the area where the Deputy Governor
hails from without disclosing the actual agendum that necessitated the call.
When they were in the hall situated at the council headquarters Nwaorubi, which
was the venue of the abrupt meeting, a notice filtered in that the aim of the
gathering was mainly to endorse Chief Nwosu as the gubernatorial aspirant of
the revered party, contrary to their perception that they were gathered to
discuss some critical issues concerning the party. Against this backdrop, severe
pandemonium reportedly ensued among the attendees.
As if that wasn’t enough, penultimate week,
some groups from Ohaji/Egbema and Oru-West LGAs called on the governor at the
Douglas House, stating that they had thrown their weight behind Chief Nwosu to
vie for the number one seat in the state come 2019. In his response, the Ogboko
born renowned politician having commended the august visit, disclosed to the
guests that he would be vying for the Imo West Senatorial District seat in the
Senate during the forthcoming general elections. In the same vein, he went
further to inform that he would as well conscientize his deputy to consider
running for that of Imo East Senatorial district.
By
the governor’s avowal, it’s obvious that he is seeing Prince Madumere as a
threat to Chief Nwosu’s ambition. In other words, he had made it clear that he
wasn’t in support of the governorship aspiration of the Mbieri-born politician.
This no doubt calls for serious concern when critically examined how the
number-two citizen has ab initio remained explicitly loyal and reliable to the
boss.
On
his part, Prince Madumere who is ostensibly aggrieved over the unfortunate
trending has reportedly insisted that he isn’t deterred by the governor’s
persistent melodramas. This has made the game appear more nasty but comic in
the sight of the teeming viewers of the scene. Sure, Prince Madumere’s
determination to passionately continue with his ambition is enough indication
that he has decided to be an independent thinker rather than allowing his
principal think for him, which his countless fans and allies had apparently
longed to witness.
At this juncture, considering the
antics that have thus far been displayed, one would then wonder what the fate
of the APC entails in the nearest future. The party’s loyalists may at this
point be perturbed with the notion that the ongoing intrigues are likely to
break the existing unity of the platform. Hence, it is pertinent for anyone who
cherishes the governor as well as the party to advise the former the compelling
need to embrace the drawing board towards averting any scene that would mar the
integrity of the latter.
In
my capacity as a stakeholder in Imo, I want to candidly enjoin the governor to
pilot the affairs of the APC as a leader and father, and not like a mere floor
member for his good, that of his teeming followers and the state at large. He
is indisputably in charge of the ruling party in the state, thus expected by
all to handle the family’s issues as such.
Gov. Okorocha ought to note that if
God has destined Prince Madumere to succeed him, there’s absolutely nothing
anyone could do about it, hence the urgent need for the former not to treat the
latter’s aspiration or feelings as that of nobody. Think about it!
Comrade Fred Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
_____________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Follow me: @mediambassador
