The
last time I checked, it was obvious that even the blind could see that all is
not presently well with the Imo State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC).
It suffices to assert that any member of the
party domiciled in the state, who tries to pretend that all is well, is
definitely deceiving him/herself. And self-deceit, which has claimed millions
of souls than diseases and accidents had, would be the worst thing that would
happen to the chapter’s existence if it lingers.
A-day-old child could boldly testify that
ever since the scheduled congresses took place, or perhaps inconclusively
conducted, in the state, several factions have emanated from the party and are
apparently being harboured by its National Working Committee (NWC).
After the Ward Congress in the state,
it was in the news that the man who was assigned to pilot the affairs of the
political outing was nowhere to be; needless to say that he reportedly vanished
into thin air with the congress materials. On the other hand, in some quarters,
it was gathered that the congress held successfully as planned by the NWC.
The faction of the state’s governor,
Chief Rochas Okorocha that alleged and insisted that no congress took place in
the state was asked by the NWC to appeal their claim, and they did as
instructed. Consequently, the Appeal Committee, probably after every
consequential finding, reportedly concluded the exercise in favour of the other
major faction known as the Allied Forces that the congress held in all the
wards across the state.
Subsequently, the scheduled Local Government
(LG) and State congresses suffered a big challenge even as their outcomes have
been upheld by the NWC’s delegate to the state in spite of the claim from the
governor’s faction that no such events occurred in the state in its entirety.
Moreover, it’s worthy of note that the governor informed the public that a
court injunction was obtained to put the state congress on hold till further
notice.
From the onset, as expected, the
happenings have kept the governor in restless mood even as he has stated
publicly that he is still in charge of the party as far as the Eastern
Heartland is concerned. While the other faction – equally called Imo APC
Restoration Coalition – is claiming that they had succeeded in sidelining
Governor Okorocha’s relevance in the party’s affairs, the governor’s faction
made up of his allies and protégés has been strongly announcing that the number
one citizen “is still in charge” of the day-to-day activity of the party.
It’s noteworthy that currently, there’s an
existing parallel Executive Council (EXCO) in the APC in all the levels in the
Eastern Heartland, ranging from the Ward, LG to the State level. As the
governor has refused to work with the democratically elected State Chairman of
the party Chief Hillary Ekeh alongside his fellow elected officers, he had in
his capacity instituted his own chairman coupled with other officials.
This is to say the least that the heat is
really on. But, I wonder how the chapter intends to participate in the elective
national convention of the party come June 23, 2018 if it harbours a parallel EXCO.
Initially, I chose to remain mute, or act as a
mere onlooker as the melodrama progressed. But having keenly observed that it
has ceased to be a mere melodrama as we earlier perceived, I thought it wise to
break the silence of my humble pen.
This implies that the emergence of this
critique is informed by the compelling need to let the Imo APC stalwarts, and
the members in general, comprehend the dangers inherent in the ongoing uproar
and disagreement among them.
All the factions involved might be
enjoying the anomaly, thinking it is to their advantage, not knowing it blows
none of them any good. Some of the factions may be continually popping
Champagne to their delight with the belief that they have gotten victory and
the people’s support. I want to use this medium to disabuse them of the notion
that victory has been recorded thus far, hence the need not to celebrate in
haste.
I
told the governor sometime last year that if His Excellency failed to put his
house in order, by same time this year, he might be regretting his actions as a
politician, Imolite as well as the leader of the APC; I equally informed him
that some factions would emanate owing to the foreseen failure. At the moment, my
prophecy has come to past, because the number one citizen cannot candidly tell
us that he is enjoying the lingering drama, or happy with what is trending in
the party.
As a leader of the party, I must truly
say that if the governor is really concerned, he should be in a confused state
at the moment. If he really cares about the wellbeing of the party coupled with
his political interest, he ought to currently be nurturing some regrets, even
though he has tried so far to conceal the injury sustained in the process.
Then, if the above observation is right,
I see no reason the governor shouldn’t think of embracing a rethink. If the
gospel truth must be told, the best thing that could happen to Gov. Okorocha is
to have a second thought over his actions, hence the need to consider going
back to the drawing board. I can’t joyfully watch his downfall; that’s the
reason I’m urging him to have a rethink towards making amends where need be.
The injury incurred by the governor and
his camp members thus far is unequivocally self-inflicted because he was busy
communicating to the world that only the person he anoints in the party would
emerge the next governor of the state, forgetting that no one is an Ireland.
I kept reiterating, and will continue
to say, that no individual owns a political party or any association. An
association is generally owned and managed by every member of it, thus it is
very wrong for one to assume that he alone would determine what happens in a
group he belongs simply because he’s involved in its leadership. Without mincing
words, such an ideology is indeed misleading.
The other major factions of the APC
ought to, on their part, endeavour to acknowledge that a divided house cannot
achieve its aim, hence the need for them not to celebrate their purported victory
if they are really ready to be relevant in the electioneering era come 2019.
So, as I enjoin Gov. Okorocha to
swallow his ego with a view to retracing his steps, I enjoin his opponent to
equally be troubled over the division in the family. It’s high time everyone
involved in the altercation detested self-deceit. Think about it!
Comrade Fred Nwaozor
- Policy analyst & Rights activist
-
National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement
_______________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Follow me: @mediambassador
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