Ahead 2015 general elections, several politicians are warming up for various positions. One of the contestable seats is that of the office of the Executive Governor of Imo State.
At present, the office is occupied by Owelle Rochas Anayo Ethelbert Okorocha, who came into power in 2011 using the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA before defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC. By May 2015, Okorocha would have completed his first tenure in office. But processes leading to who would be in Douglas House, the seat of power of Imo State shall be consummated in February 28, 2015 when the governorship election would have been completed. Since Okorocha is reported to be at crossroad concerning his next political destination despite contrasting calls from his allies requesting him to run for either the president or the governorship elections several persons from different political parties have started oiling their political machineries to succeed Okorocha in 2015.
The armada of governorship aspirants garnering war muscles to outwit each other necessitated the need to consider factors that would determine the next Imo governor.
It is important before I commence the second leg of this analysis to explain that I have no interest in any of those warming up to be the number one citizen of Imo State. In response to questions thrown at me after the first part of this commentary where I considered “public acceptance” as a critical factor in determining the next governor, I used one of the numerous early birds for the race, Barr Humphrey Anumudu as a test case. My decision to showcase Anumudu stems from the fact that he has kick-started subtle public campaigns for the governorship race by not only employing newspaper advertorials which Trumpeta is a beneficiary but also raised a befitting campaign billboard. That I used Anumudu does not mean I have taking sides as other notable aspirants will be considered for examples when the need arises,
From the “acceptance condition”, I will move to another relevant aspect that cannot be ignored in politics. Religion has different definitions Among all the explanations, I am fascinated by the views of a world class icon, philosopher and social economist, Kart Marx who described religion as “opium of the people” and legendary Afrobeat-Music maestro Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in one of his popular songs opined that “religion is politics”. Invariably, religion cannot be divorced from politics and politics of Imo State will not be an exception. Because of political patronage and relevance in the government of the day, religion plays a dominant role in the selection and voting for right candidates to occupy elevated positions.
Imo State is predominantly a Christian state where other forms of worship maintain an infinitesimal posture. It is not in doubt that the Catholics, Anglicans and Pentecostals, are the main groups capable of dictating the pace of events. Political pundits are of the opinion that religious reasons made the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim ,an Anglican to consider Prof (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri, a devout catholic his running mate in 2011 election after experiencing the first four years with a fellow Anglican, Dr (Mrs) Ada Okwuonu as Deputy Governor. In the heat of the election and following unprecedented sentiments that key office holders in the state are of Anglican descent, Ohakim tried a balance to win support of the Catholics that were already angling to have their pound of flesh from him after the ill-fated and controversial convoy incident with a Catholic priest. Apparently relying on uninformed verbiage of suspected blackmailers and political opponents who exploited the convoy incident to malign Ohakim and demean his character in the face of the public, the Catholic Church bore grievances against the ex-governor and his administration.
To get back the soul of the church her headquarters is in Vatican, Rome, after the brickbats, Ohakim scarified Okwuonu to consider the Onwuliris who are not only household names in the Catholic Church but also occupy enviable position as leaders of the prestigious Ancient Order of Knight of St John International (KSJI). Until his death in 2012 during the sad Dana air crash in Lagos, the husband to Ohakim’s 2011 election running mate, Prof Celestine Onwuliri was the Supreme Subordinate President of KSJI in Nigeria, while the wife, Prof Mrs Onwuliri held the treasure Position for the female arm of KSJI, called Ladies Auxiliary (LAUX) of all KSJI Ladies in Nigeria. Ironically, Onwuliri who today acts as Minister for Foreign Affairs (state) has moved from treasurer seat to emerge the Worthy President of KSJI Ladies (LAUX) in Nigeria.
Ohakim’s 2011 action of shoving aside Okwuonu for Onwuliri was borne out of the desire to have religious balancing for the purposes of garnering support from both Anglicans and Catholics.
Anybody wanting to govern Imo State must show enough proof and evidence that he or she is a “man of God” and perhaps what is popularly described as a “Church goer” in local parlance. In line with Karl Marx’s views that religion plays an implicit role in the mental psyche of people, it has also been observed that churches and places of worships are gradually turning to fertile grounds to seek popularity and electoral mandate. Prior to the 2011 election, the various churches turned to campaign grounds with clerics pulling the strings on the pulpit with a view to tilting electoral favour towards any of the anointed candidates. This forum, may not be proper to reel out my experiences in the last election and role of the churches in determining who won the polls. It is obvious that religion will be an integral factor of determining the next Imo governor. I don’t think the supposed person should attend seminary for priestly formation or Bible school to graduate as a pastor, but the person should be seen as a “church goer” with altruistic disposition to uplifting the welfare of any denomination. Some aspirants have already imbibed this procedure with a view to attracting public attention that the belong to a faith in the Christendom. Some months ago, I am aware that one of the rumored persons said to be making consultations with a view to occupying Government House in 2015 Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has been making handsome donations to various churches and during the event mark the mother’s 80 birthday, did a marvelous job for his local church. Same applies to Capt Emma Ihenacho warming up to pick APGA governorship ticket for next election. The Emekuku-born oil and gas guru was present during the last Christian fathers’ award ceremony at Assumpeta Cathedral, Owerri and also a recipient of an honour. It is not also out of public knowledge that one of governorship aspirants, Prof Jude Njoku went deeper to brighten the faith and salvation of younger ones in a Catholic church when he sponsored administering of the sacrament of confirmation on them by the Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna. Anumudu is not left out too, as an Anglican with flair to support other denominations. Apart from playing pivotal roles in the growth of St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Belewa Square Lagos, Anumudu is a house-hold name at the home front; St Patrick’s Anglican Church, Obilubi. The welfare of Okigwe Catholic Diocese cannot be discussed in recent time without mentioning Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who two years ago was initiated into KSJI likewise Barr Ken Njemanze (KSJI) that has been sowing seed through several means in both Catholic and Anglican churches.
