The last time I checked, the immediate
past governor of Imo State in the person of Chief Ikedi Ohakim had reportedly
quit active partisan politics, ‘temporarily’ though. Chief Ohakim who announced
the decision to scores of his supporters at his Okohia, Isiala-Mbano Local
Government Area (LGA) country home on Sunday 14th August 2016,
stated that he was too intelligent to be involved in the ongoing ‘brigandage’
taking place in his political party – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Having disclosed that he wanted to go on
‘sabbatical’ and focus on mentoring young people coupled with his
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the staunch Imo politician equally stated
that he was not asking any of his supporters/followers to follow him, but if
anyone chose to do otherwise, he was welcome. The PDP stalwart went further to
express regret that the PDP leaders had been taking deliberate steps to
destabilize it, and the party faithful had as well watched helplessly as the
leaders undermine each other in pursuit of ‘self-serving interests’.
It
is obvious that the reason behind the unceremonious vacation of the former Imo
boss from active politics isn’t unconnected with the lingering crisis befalling
his party – the PDP; it isn’t anymore news that, for quite some time now, the
PDP has been in a parlous state. This was exactly how the former Senate
President, Chief Ken Nnamani, also of the PDP, publicly declared his intent to
retire from active politics few months ago, precisely on 6th
February 2016; till now, his followers are earnestly awaiting his next line of
action since he equally mentioned he was leaving in the interim. However, few
weeks ago, the news went viral that Chief Nnamani had concluded all plans to
join the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Unequivocally,
the news that Chief Ikedi Ohakim had quit active partisan politics is, to say
the least, laughable and ridiculous, just as I perceived that of Chief Nnamani.
Suchlike unpredicted move has succeeded in convincing my person that most
Nigerian politicians have acquired a new style of leaving their various
political parties for another; antics that aren’t only absurd but nauseous.
It is indeed a wake-up call to their
respective teeming fans or guerillas. Such ongoing scenario beats my psyche
intensely because, at the end, or in the long run, their followers stand to
suffer the injury incurred in the process, thereby negatively affecting the
polity in its totality. This is conspicuously the ripe time to intimate the
electorate on what they need to realize regarding leadership and followership,
else failure to do so, the Nigerian society stands to lose. There are no two
ways about it.
Since we aren’t unaware that Chief Ohakim
can only genuinely exit from active politics over his dead body, considering
how talented and gifted he is in the game of politics or whenever the said game
is mentioned, it’s needless to reiterate that the politician in question is
only trying to exercise his notable smart nature by putting up the so-called
French-leave. Our politicians must learn to comprehend that, defection isn’t in
any way wholesome to any socio-political terrain, let alone doing so albeit
deceitfully.
There’s power in opposition. Hence, it’s
not only the ruling party that’s in power as being presumed. We often tend to
misunderstand the fact, thereby making us misinterpret the prime essence of
opposition in a democratic reign. Read my lips; there will never be good
governance in any society whatsoever without viable and sound opposition.
Opposition was originally designed to engineer the implementation of the
policies that would usher in the anticipated governance. But it’s unarguably
pathetic that in this part of the world, particularly Nigeria, our politicians
usually tend to confuse the actual impact of opposition on nation-building.
Besides, why would a party stalwart
resigns his membership owing to an ongoing internal crisis? To me, such
uncalled act isn’t unlike a situation where you are fighting or chasing the
devil with a relative, and the relation in question ends up addressing you as
the devil. We must learn to fight to the end regardless of the enormity of the circumstance;
I want to strongly disabuse us of the notion that, in a given organization,
some are expected to cultivate while others are meant to reap thereafter.
In a union of two or more persons,
misunderstanding or challenges are bound to set in; it’s a natural phenomenon.
It’s not about the challenge; it’s about how the overall members unanimously
try to overcome it. In other words, we shouldn’t absorb any challenge as the
end of the road. Challenges, which mainly lead to fortification, are arguably
consequential if we are interested in moving ahead or unalloyed progression.
So, I candidly put it up to you that Chief Ohakim, among others of like minds,
has derailed. I said so because, they left when the party they have enjoyed its
membership for years needed them most.
As the founding members of the PDP, this
is the time they are required to employ their expertise or fatherly experience
towards resolving the ostensibly unquenchable inferno that is currently
bedeviling the family. We can’t take a leave at a time our services are needed
most. We are aware that dynamism is required of every politician but when
betrayal is involved, it becomes a social deviance. Smartness is undoubtedly
consequential but when it is targeted towards the downfall of your immediate family,
it becomes preposterous and irrational. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-
Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: @mediambassador
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