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Gov. Hope Uzodinma
Political realities, are different from Political dreams or Political expectations and wishes. And I always subscribe to Political realities. Reason being that, dreams and wishes, have the high tendencies of not becoming realities or becoming mere imaginations. Neither here, nor there.
In Imo politics today, the reality is that, the PDP is strong in the State. And has been strong. Even with Goodluck Jonathan as President, the PDP was stronger in Imo, than it was in Bayelsa State. It didn’t happen in one day. The governments of Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’dua and Goodluck Jonathan empowered a lot of Imo people. And they were able to give the PDP, a very solid foundation in Imo.
And the party has remained strong in the State. Nobody, including Governor Hope Uzodinma, should be deceived with all these smokescreens, called defections, from PDP to APC in the State, by certain Politicians. The main people who had made Imo PDP strong and still making the party thick, are intact. None has left the PDP. And I would begin to believe these defections, when such people begin to defect. The PDP’s sitting Senator and House of Representatives’ members, are still with the Party.
The House of Assembly members of the party’s extraction, who had defected to APC, never knew when or how they became Candidates and could not also give accurate account of how they won their elections. They were served victory on the platters of gold. So, their defections to APC do not count much because, those who ensured that they had the tickets and won their elections, are still in the PDP. I ask, of what values do the defections of such people to APC, when those who produced them, are still in the PDP? Your answer, is as good as mine.
Those who had closely watched or monitored the Local Governments’ visits to Governor Uzodinma at the Government House recently, must have seen that, the habitual or serial or “trans-border” Politicians, were mostly leaders of the delegations. The same folks who pretended to be with Achike Udenwa, Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha, Emeka Ihedioha and today, Hope Uzodinma. They are Political termites.
In Okigwe zone, for instance, it is always very difficult to talk about the politics of that area, without giving good marks to Ifeanyi Araraume and then the PDP. With the combination of Araraume and Okorocha’s factors, they had succeeded in drastically reducing the size of PDP in the zone. Yet, the PDP remains strong there.
So, when APC does not have Araraume and Okorocha’s people in Okigwe zone, what becomes the fate of the Party? I ask. And if not Araraume, the PDP would have won the recently Conducted Senatorial bye-election.
In 2019, the zone was shared between APGA for Araraume and Uche Nwosu’s Action Alliance, AA. In 2015, it was Okorocha’s APC and PDP. Politics has face. In 2019, Araraume produced Six House of Assembly members with APGA. That’s how to measure Political strength. It is not a defection venture or noise making.
In 2011, Imo people, across the Political Parties, came together to elect Okorocha governor. In 2015, he was part of the Merger that gave birth to APC and also won his election on the ticket of the party. It required a man like Okorocha with Political wits, to win election in 2015 on the platform of a new Party like APC, with all the Political and religious blackmails.
Okorocha employed a lot of Strategies that threatened the foundation or the existence of PDP, in all the 305 Wards in the State. That was how Uche Nwosu went to AA for the 2019 guber election and came Second. Got the spread and also produced nine House of Assembly members, on the platform of the party.
In reality, Governor Uzodinma should know that, he does not have any member of the Assembly in APC that can raise his or her fingers to be counted, when the chips are down. He should not believe them. At the appropriate time, they would begin to face the realities on ground. And there will be a lot of Politics that will shape the fate of Imo APC. Let the governor only mark my words, but do not believe me. When the development comes up, these Assembly members would begin to go back to where they had come from.
And the question now is, what would the Imo governor do, to keep Imo APC alive, to the extent of retaining the State in 2023 or 2024? Although, it is getting late. But it is better late, than never.
The governor should look beyond the selfish voices he hears and go for gold. The same people who had had series of summits preaching Owerri Zone man for governor in 2019, are the ones with him today. They have no fixed Political habit. They change, as the pendulum changes. Most Contractors do not play fine politics. They do not make the list of fine Politicians. Check the records of all the Contractors, they had launched themselves into all the governments before Uzodinma. Also check the records of all the media created Politicians or Contractors, they had also been there for governments, before now. You do not plan, based on the presence of such people.
The joint efforts or the Combination of Okorocha, Araraume and Uzodinma’s forces in APC, is the only way to retain the State for APC. Any other strategy or development, would not fly. Do not also believe me, but take note of my assertion. APC has to be made stiff against PDP in the State. And Governor Uzodinma’s own Politics only can not make APC thick or strong, against the PDP. Most of those who have joined him today from other Parties, are mostly those who strongly believe that “man must wack”. Those who have developed disturbing appetite for politically oriented ” three square meals”. Or, who can’t stay out of power.
If they had believed in Uzodinma and his governorship desire, they would have demonstrated that in the 2019 election. They never did that. And what has changed, between 2019 and now? Nothing, to the best of my knowledge.
That, the PDP is very strong in Imo, is the fact on ground. And the ugly Security situation in the State for sometime now, has given the Party added value. You can call it “VAT”. And this is whether, anybody likes to hear that or not. In truth, they could not have been happy over the unfortunate Security Scenario in the State. They have only been Celebrating what their party has gained from the whole development. And you do not blame them. Interests drive Political Parties. And elections are fast approaching.
That is why, governor Uzodinma should make hay while the sun shines. There is no issue in Politics that can not be settled or resolved, with the right approach or the right Spirit. Sincerity of purpose. It does not matter, kills. Forget them, is not the language of achievers.
Uzodinma, Okorocha and Araraume, must begin the process of reconciliation. And the earlier, the better. Iron out or resolve outstanding issues.
What gave politicians of 1999 or 2003 Victory, could not have been what gave the ones of 2007 and 2011 Victory. Ditto, those of 2015 and 2019. Circumstances vary. I hope you are reading my lips Correctly. That is the essence of Insurance Policy. Eventualities. Nobody prays for accident. Yet, you must insure your vehicle. Do you understand? I am talking in tongues. In diverse tongues. Some would say, Sam Onwuemeodo is soliloquizing or murmuring. Or, stammering. Or, all of the above.
The issues in Court over the Executives of the Party in the State, could be resolved amicably. It can be damaging, when not expected. The issues of registration and revalidation of memberships, must also be peacefully resolved. If possible, before the planned Congresses of the Party.
With the mentioned issues pending, I have my doubts over the future of Imo APC. Nti wunka is an Igbo name. Echewudo is also an Igbo name. While we shall Continue to Clap for Jesus.
