Analysis I On Madumere's Vigour And Ihedioha's Victory

By Fred Nwaozor

The last time I checked, Imolites have swiftly switched their tentacles and concerns from the current government in the state to the impending one, which isn’t unconnected with the outcome of the just concluded Imo guber poll.

It’s not anymore news that at about 12am on Tuesday, 12th March 2019, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Imo State gubernatorial election held on 9th March, 2019, Prof. Francis Otunta officially declared Chief Emeka Nkem Ihedioha as the Governor-elect of the Eastern Heartland.

It’s noteworthy that the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly’s Green Chamber, Chief Ihedioha who keenly contested under the aegis of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), reportedly polled a total of 273,404 votes to defeat his closest contender Uche Nwosu who competed under the auspices of the Action Alliance (AA) and garnered a total of 190,364 votes.

At the moment, virtually every nook and cranny within the shores of Imo is obviously branded ‘Ihedioha’, meaning literally that the victory of the erstwhile legislator is apparently remarkable and acceptable by almost all residents of the state.

It’s equally worthy of note that Chief Ihedioha had been in the guber race for four years now. He was remarkably there during the 2015 general elections but luck couldn’t smile at his person. This is to say that prior to his victorious emergence last two weeks, he was a popular candidate.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t be misinforming anyone if I assert that his popularity didn’t play the major role towards his election as the next governor of Imo. We cannot finish discussing what truly resulted in Chief Ihedioha’s victory without mentioning the incumbent Deputy Governor of the State, Prince Eze Madumere.

Though Prince Madumere was, and is still, strongly of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his popularity and vigour played a major role towards the victory in question. I would opine that he, advertently or inadvertently, contributed immensely in making the candidature of Chief Ihedioha to be widely acceptable by the electorate. Read my lips.

Let’s swiftly revisit the political history in Imo to enable us fully acknowledge the picture I’m trying to portray herein. We may have forgotten in haste but those who are keen in politics or political trending would invariably recall that Prince Madumere and the state’s sitting governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha recently displayed their muscles to each other owing to the duo’s political differences.

The faceoff wasn’t unconnected with the governor’s insistence on installing his ‘anointed’ son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as his successor. The number one citizen remained resolute and dogmatic in his dream, ignoring the popular call from the Imo People to consider reversing his decision to favour the loyal and pleasant deputy governor who they believed has all it takes to govern the state.

In the long run, the APC’s guber ticket wasn’t grabbed by the governor’s candidate, nor Prince Madumere who had an overwhelming support from the Imo residents. Although the latter candidly, deeply and obviously supported the eventual guber flag-bearer of the party, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, his teeming allies and followers abruptly made a u-turn, defecting to the camp of Chief Ihedioha of the PDP who they believed was the only alternative candidate that could be wholly entrusted with the welfare of the overall Imolites.

According to these countless supporters and lovers of the deputy governor who seemingly meant well for the state, Chief Ihedioha was well qualified compared to any other aspirant and hails from the zone (Imo East) who they were of the view had been marginalized as regards the Imo leadership structure or Charter of Equity since the inception of the state. It’s worth noting that Prince Madumere is equally from the Imo East senatorial district whilst Sen. Uzodinma hails from Imo West.

The above candid analysis implies that what really led to Chief Ihedioha’s victory at the Imo guber poll was devoid of politics, or had no political undertones. Prince Madumere’s outstanding and astonishing acceptance by the Imo People, irrespective of party affiliations, was apparently the main reason for the current season.

It suffices to assert that as Imo is presently awash with celebrations, millions of well-meaning Imolites are equally celebrating the number two citizen of the state, even though the royal prince isn’t of the PDP extraction that secured the mandate.

One might then enthuse that the nature and features of Prince Madumere, of the APC, have succeeded in making the majority of Imo People, both home and in the Diaspora, to bear one indivisible voice regardless of their socio-political and religious inclinations. Politics and humanity undoubtedly have no meeting point.

This is the reason it’s currently opined in various quarters across Imo that, had it been Madumere clinched the APC’s guber ticket, he would have effortlessly emerged successfully at the polls as the Governor-elect of the state.

People are, therefore, predicting that Ihedioha would perform very well when enthroned as the Imo governor come 29th May 2019, since his victory is likened to divinity. According to them, considering that his successful emergence at the poll wasn’t apparently as a result of politics or politicking, but humanity, “he is destined to lead Imo”.

As Madumere’s vigour has eventually yielded Ihedioha’s victory in a grand style, it’s imperative for the victor to acknowledge that power comes from the Creator, or that power is being given by the people, not taken as wrongly opined in most quarters.

Acknowledgement of the above fact would enable him to be so magnanimous in victory. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, is National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement
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