The last time I checked, the scheduled general elections across the Nigerian State were conspicuously over, if not a few senatorial districts that are yet to realize their fate.
As many losers from the events – particularly best ones – are variously laying their respective complaints and grievances either in the Tribunal or on the streets, the incumbent cum outgoing governor of Imo State Chief Rochas Okorocha wouldn’t be left out.
Chief Okorocha, in recent times, has inadvertently become one of the most – if not the most – controversial politicians within the shores of Nigeria, perhaps owing to his superiority complex or what have you.
He contested the rescheduled February 9, 2019 National Assembly (NASS) election to represent the Imo West Senatorial District and was reportedly declared the winner of the contest, but the Returning Officer Prof. Innocent Ibeawuchi who made the declaration swiftly informed the public that the pronouncement was done ‘under duress’.
Owing to the report, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – the body imbued with the powers to conduct or nullify elections – vowed never to issue any Certificate of Return to the governor alongside others whose purported victories were announced in controversial circumstance as reported.
Subsequently, the governor’s most preferred candidate for the February 23 Imo gubernatorial election, Mr. Uche Nwosu who ran under the auspices of the Action Alliance (AA) emerged the best loser in the highly competitive outing, following Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who was confirmed the winner of the contest.
Considering that Okorocha cannot currently boast of becoming a member of the NASS come June, 2019 – a position he has longed for – coupled with the fact that the Imo State Government House won’t be occupied by his ‘anointed’ candidate at the expiration of his tenure by 29th May 2019, the governor is publicly crying not unlike a wounded lion.
Ever since the aforementioned elections respectively ended, Okorocha – who has already approached the court to seek for redress over his ordeal – has been doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the Return’s Certificate is issued to him by the INEC led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
On the other hand, the seemingly battered politician equally prays to the Governorship Election Tribunal – by proxy though – to declare his son-in-law Mr. Nwosu as the winner of the guber poll having alleged that Chief Ihedioha’s victory was secured via irregularities.
Two weeks back, precisely on 1st April 2019, he privately met with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, probably towards discussing some personal issues.
Immediately after the meeting, when he was hurriedly approached by the press on the premises of the State House, he lamented profusely over the injustice allegedly meted to his person prior to the 2019 general elections by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
He insinuated that the APC might be headed for a point of extinction before the 2023 general elections if drastic measures weren’t deployed to address the ongoing ‘abnormalities’ taking place in the party, having told the newsmen that Oshiomhole was the architect of the perceived derailment. He, therefore, opined that if the National Chairman wasn’t removed in earnest, the party might be found in a sorry state soonest.
It would be recalled that the Okorocha’s son-in-law couldn’t secure the APC guber ticket prior to the elections as against his desire and frantic efforts, thereby making the latter to defect to the AA in a bid to fulfill his ambition.
In a related development, just after the Presidential poll before the gubernatorial election, the Oshiomhole-led NWC of the APC outrightly suspended Okorocha from the party. Since then, the governor has been apparently standing aloof like a tree in the wilderness. This could be what informed his latest visit to the Aso Rock.
Okorocha’s abrupt u-turn that’s targeted towards ensuring that Oshiomhole is removed is really laughable and unbelievable, to assert the least. Even if our memories are too short, we wouldn’t forget in haste, or so soon, the intrigues and politics that heralded the emergence of the latter as the Chairman of the APC.
Before the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun took a bow, President Buhari wasn’t in support of his foreseen exit because the number one citizen was wisely of the view that scheduling a national convention targeted to produce new leadership of the APC, would negatively affect the party’s success at the polls that were then awaited.
But, contrary to Buhari’s view, Okorocha alongside his likes insisted that Oyegun deserved to go, perhaps because he wasn’t seemingly in support of his (Oyegun’s) leadership. Before this time, Oshiomhole had already been decorated to take over the mantle of leadership, solely by the efforts of Okorocha and his allies who had succeeded in lobbying a national leader of the party, Chief Bola Tinubu to share their sentiments.
Surprisingly, Oshiomhole’s emergence ended up not being in favour of the Imo governor. The former who had accused the latter of planning to build “Okorocha’s dynasty” frantically refused to play along with him having reportedly chosen to embrace neutrality and fairness for the party’s sake rather than that of an individual that’s likely to mar the party’s existence.
Now, the wounded lion whose injury could be tagged self-inflicted is publicly calling for Oshiomhole’s head. Wonders indeed, shall never end. The former ought to have unequivocally faced reality at the moment by jettisoning the fallacy and illusion earlier embraced by his person. But it seems he’s still daydreaming.
It’s baffling that a political leader who had all the chances of producing a successor as well as becoming far more popular after the general elections is now crying foul in every nook and cranny. It’s equally paradoxical that the incumbent Deputy Governor of the State, Prince Eze Madumere whom the governor earlier thought he could easily suppress or enslave is currently the most celebrated politician in Imo.
Okorocha’s case is clearly a big lesson to any leader imbued with superiority complex, which usually result in inconsequential controversies. However, as we continue to watch this drama and await its outright end, isn’t it ideal to insinuate that the governor’s ongoing experience is likened to karma? Think about it!
Comrade Nwaozor, TheMediaAmbassador, is the
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement
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