THE RECENT SOCIO-POLITICAL TEMPO IN IMO
The ongoing socio-political tempo in my home state, Imo, popularly known
as ‘the Eastern Heartland’ is not unconnected to the aforementioned scenario,
political rivalry. Regarding the devastating and uncalled phenomenon, initially
I thought it wise to remain a mere observer, but lately the overwhelming nature
of the ‘madness’ angered my humble pen that appeared to be fast asleep.
It is no longer news that since
Governor Okorocha has been at the helm of affairs in Imo State, to the best of
the knowledge of every concerned individual, the masses who were jubilating
when he emerged victorious as the governor of the state, precisely on Thursday
May 6, 2011, are still in their euphoric mood, which has to do with the good
governance they have enjoyed since the emergence of the ‘Rescue Mission’
Administration, ranging from education, to health care delivery,
infrastructure, road network, security, agriculture, prompt payment of workers’
salaries/wages, pension matters, among others.
No wonder when the governor publicly indicated his interest to vie for
the presidential position, the said masses felt like descending on him as if
the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, had spoken an abominable thing. When I
interviewed one of them, he frankly told me that they wanted the governor to
run for a second term in office. According to the interviewee, it wasn’t
because they didn’t want Okorocha to become the President of Nigeria someday,
but on the contrary, simply because they wanted him to consolidate the dividend
of democracy he has ushered to Imolites.
Fortunately for the masses, Governor Okorocha who is popularly regarded
as the ‘Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) and the ‘Commander of Free
Education’, lost the presidential bid. I must tell you; when he was away to
Lagos for the presidential tussle under the aegis of the All Progressives Party
(APC), some of the persons I was opportune to meet on the streets of Imo disclosed
to me without mincing words that they had been frantically praying for Chief
Okorocha’s downfall at the presidential primary election, so that, he would
return to the state and participate in the incoming gubernatorial race. Yes the
narrated incident sounds weird and funny, but the truth of the matter is that
the story was real. Let’s ride on!
Today,
Imo is at it again as usual, just as it was prior to April 26, 2011. During the
2011 race, it was mainly between the then governor of the state, Chief Ikedi
Ohakim of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) having defected from Progressive
Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), and Chief Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA) in which the latter emerged victorious after the
supplementary polls that took place on the 6th of May 2011.
Presently, the gubernatorial race is mainly
between Owelle Rochas Okorocha - the seating governor of the State, of the All
Progressives Congress (APC); Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha - the Deputy Speaker of the
Federal House of Representatives, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP);
Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),
Dr. Osmond Ukanacho of the United Progressives Party (UPP), and Chief Ken of the Accord Party.
No doubt, the heat is really on in Imo State as regards the forthcoming
general elections that are fast approaching. The recent uncalled and ‘crazy’
tempo in Imo, which has negatively affected both the social and political lives
of the residents, has constituted a state of anarchy among the people. Frankly
Imo, likewise any other state in Nigeria, is currently undergoing an
unwarranted torture by the political rivals that parade themselves as gods.
Considering the charismas of the above
mentioned candidates, as a well experienced analyst, I observed that all of
them want to assume duty as the governor of the state, come May 29, 2015, by
all means. Also, by critically looking at the respective manifestoes of the
opposition parties including PDP, APGA, UPP and what have you, they seem to be
repeating one thing; which is, that the present governor has ‘rubbished’ or has
already ‘killed’ Imo State. In retaliation to the accusation, the accused
person Rochas Okorocha, would tell you that his rivals are mere ‘wolves in
sheep clothing’; stating that, they are seeking for a slightest chance to bury
or take the state to a ‘graveyard’ just as they had done in the past before he
resurrected the state.
Which implies; as the opposition parties are accusing
the seating governor who is also an aspirant of having killed the state, the
governor on his part is of the opinion that they are seeking for a medium to
bury the body he (the governor) has murdered. Very funny indeed!
The most devastating side of the scenario is that, presently in Imo
State, you would hardly recognize when the governor is coming because virtually
everyone goes by convoy as well as siren. Honestly, the show has taken a
different dimension, that, even the blind could see.
The funniest part of the ongoing melodrama is that the aspirants in some
parties are of the view that the acclaimed flag bearers of their respective
parties are just mere purported candidates; stating that, they are the
‘rightful flag-bearers’ of the said parties. For instance, Senator Ifeanyi
Ararume and Chief Okey Ezeh of the PDP and APGA respectively have allegedly
declared themselves the winners of their parties’ primaries, and are presently
campaigning vigorously in the state, which has put some of the members of the
affected parties in a state of imbroglio. Believe me, the tempo is excessively
high.
The question now is: who truly do the people want to see emerge as the
governor of the Eastern Heartland, come February 28, 2015? Indeed, it is a
puzzle no one can answer because the arena in question is predominated by fake
as well as opaque homo-sapiens. Think about it!
-The Media Ambassador-
Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist
Founder/Leader , Imo Fans Fortress (IMOFAF)
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frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
