Owing to his peculiar style of politicking and
obvious impact on the Nigeria’s legislative arm, only a few Nigerians – or
perhaps uninformed ones – are yet to be familiar with the name ‘Senator Hope Uzodinma’
in the country’s political terrain.
The lawmaker who is currently
representing the Imo West Senatorial District assumed office in May 2011 after
the April 2011 general elections having emerged victorious under the aegis of
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Though his victory was challenged on the
grounds that he was not the valid PDP candidate, the Supreme Court consequently
upheld his election into the Red Chamber of the National Assembly (NASS).
Subsequently,
in 2015, he was returned to the NASS by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC). The victory was equally confronted in the court by his major
rival at the polls Chief Osita Izunaso, but the appeal held no water.
On Thursday, 26th April
2018, the state chairmen – excluding those from Borno and Yobe – of the defunct
Alhaji Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP graciously defected to the ruling
All Progressives Congress (APC) in the company of such some sitting senators as
Hope Uzodinma, Abubakar Umar Gada, Gbemi Saraki, Teslim Folarin, and Ahmed
Gulak, among others who remained key supporters of the said faction.
The
defectors who were led to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja by the deputy
national chairman of the faction, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh who said he was there on
behalf of the national chairman Alhaji Sheriff who was yet to return from a
foreign trip, were gladly received by the APC National Chairman and Secretary,
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Mr. Mai Mala Buni, respectively, among other
high-ranking members of the party.
Dr. Ojougboh said the decision was
taken after embracing the manifesto and programmes of the APC-led government.
He also informed he needed to lead the defectors – in the unavoidable absence
of his boss, Sheriff – to enable them join the party in view of its ongoing
membership registration exercise. He further disclosed the formal reception of
the defectors would be held during rallies being “slated for Sokoto, Imo and
Delta states as soon as Sheriff returned to the country”.
Sen. Uzodinma who was one of those that
spoke on behalf of the defectors, stated the visit was to officially announce
the “decision of the PDP faction to collapse into APC” as his counterpart Sen.
Gada, on his part, said they were in the APC to work with the part to “move the
country to the next level”. The former used the medium to ask for equal
participation and opportunity.
However, in the early hours of Friday
being the following day, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji
Abdullahi who reacted to what he called the ‘purported planned defection’ of
Sen. Sheriff and his allies said “While we are aware of such intentions, we
wish to restate our earlier position that anyone who wants to join the party
should do so at the ward level.” He went further to say “We are happy to
welcome new members to our party but membership cards are not issued at the
party National Secretariat.”
Similarly,
in a meeting with the state, LGA and ward officials as well as the state
legislators of the APC held in Owerri on Monday, 30th April 2018,
the Imo State Governor Chief Rochas Okorocha unequivocally described the
defection of Sen. Uzodinma and his likes as an insult. Gov. Okorocha who is
equally the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum stated that “It is insulting
for someone to be talking about joining the party from the window. The
procedure is that the person will start from the ward, LGA and to the state
level, and then the state will inform the national level, and not the reverse.”
Gov.
Okorocha, hence, declared that Sen. Uzodinma was not yet a member of the APC.
According to him, the senator could never be recognized by the state as a
member of the party until he followed the normal method of joining a political
party. He, therefore, asked his colleagues and followers to disregard what he
described as a rumour.
It’s noteworthy that when the news of the
defection filtered into the ears of the teeming supporters of Sen. Uzodinma,
particularly those resident in Imo, the lawmaker confirmed it when asked for
clarifications. He told them that the step was informed by his notion that it
was only the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government that could guarantee the
Igbos’ aspiration to become the country’s president come 2023. He thus urged
the people to support the present administration.
As some
of his followers have reportedly threatened to work against him for taking such
a sensitive decision without consulting them, Sen. Uzodinma who is at the
moment seemingly aspiring to emerge the next governor of Imo State is hell bent
not to have a rethink concerning the defection.
It would interest you to note that,
prior to the Gov. Okorocha’s rejection of the defection, Imolites in some
quarters opined that the governor had eventually succeeded in filing an
agreement with the senator in question.
They were of the view the deal was that
the legislator would be fully supported by the governor to enable him return to
the Red Chamber for the third time via APC ticket since it isn’t clear that he
can still boast of PDP ticket whilst the former, in reciprocation, would
support the latter’s anointed one Chief Uche Nwosu to gain access to the Imo
Government House as the state’s Executive Governor come 2019.
Even though it’s no longer news that
Okorocha who equally hails from Imo West is nurturing interest to be in the
Senate by 2019, there’s a strong indication he could sacrifice such an ambition
for that of Chief Nwosu who’s his Chief of Staff and son-in-law.
But as it stands, it implies the duo aren’t
yet on the same page. This, somehow, sends a message that Sen. Uzodinma is
likely to slug it out with Chief Nwosu during the APC’s gubernatorial primary
election in Imo that would take place soonest, if the former eventually
succeeded in lobbying for his acceptance by the state party officials.
Whatever the case might be, the current
political equation in the Eastern Heartland signifies that the game is gradually
becoming more fascinating to the onlookers’ delight. Think about it!
Comrade Fred Nwaozor
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers
________________________
Twitter: @mediambassador
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