When I was 10 years old, one day, my late father, Dr Hilary Ekpe woke me up in the night that he has something to discus with me as his first child and son. I wondered what the man wanted to tell a little fellow like me. But honestly speaking, that story and day have ever remained fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday.
He told me he has three things his own father told him, which has worked for him. Therefore, he wanted to pass-over the same message to me, and that I should hold them firm because they will work for me since it worked for him too.
One, that I should all my life hold firmly to God, as He remains my last resort at all times, since He does not change.
Secondly, that I should not at any circumstance tell him lies, because apart from God in heaven, he my father is the god I have on earth, who defend me at all times. And that lives forever.
Thirdly, that I should never go after another woman married by my own fellow man, because it is a dangerous venture and wicked.
In 1998 when the military agreed to hand-over power to the civilians, some Imo state born statesmen, including late Senator Echeruo, Dr Nnanna Ukaegbu, Chief Innocent Nwoga and a few others resolved that in order to institute continuity in the administration of Imo state, and facilitate rapid growth of the young state, the Governorship seat should rotate among the three political zones that make up the state; namely Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe zones.
These Sages believed that fighting for power among the zones each election year will create unnecessary squabble that may pitch the zones against one another, and therefore mitigate the development of the state.
Therefore, it was agreed in principle that zoning formula would be practised in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which was also expected would be adopted by other political parties in the state .
In order to follow this road-map that will enhance peaceful hand-over of power, the party’s primaries in 1999 which was won by an Owerri born Aspirant, Chief Humphrey Anumudu, was shelved and rather Chief Achike Udenwa, who hails from Amaifeke in Orlu zone, and came fourth, was handed over the PDP Gubernatorial ticket in 1999. Nnanna Ukaegbu, and Chief Innocent Nwoga, who was the Imo PDP pioneer chairman, are all from Owerri zone, and never manipulated the exercise or even insisted that Anumudu who is of the same zone with them should hoist the party’s flag.
The popular take then was that since Chief Evan Enwerem, a native of Atta in Ikeduru LGA, who was the Governor of Imo state for eighteen months, under the Abacha diarchy, is from Owerri, it would not be proper for another Owerri man to continue on that seat. Therefore, it was assumed that Owerri has done their turn, whether it was for one day was immaterial.
Therefore, Chief Udenwa was elected for two terms of eight years, and the pendulum swung to the other zone, Okigwe even though Dr Sam Mbakwe from that zone had done four years and some months. But that could not count as it was agreed that he ruled the state when the charter of equity had not been enshrined in Imo polity.
Because of Achike Udenwa’s indecision on whom to hand over power to in 2007, there was confusion and the mantle nearly landed on the lap of Chief Martin Agbaso of the APGA, to be the next Governor. The Emekuku born politician was already coasting to victory when some Okigwe sons and daughters stormed Abuja and reminded the powers that be, that based on the PDP rotational formula in Imo state it ought to be Okigwe, after Orlu, and then Owerri in that order.
The powers that be at INEC aborted Agbaso’s election midstream, and an Okigwe son, Dr Ikedi Ohakim then of newly registered Peoples Progressive Alliance PPA was immediately drafted in and adopted by all the political heavy weights in the state, and the Okohia Isiala Mbano born Marketing guru became the fourth elected Governor of Imo state.
In 2011, Ohakim campaigned for a second term to complete the eight year term of Okigwe zone, and made it open that he will in 2015 handover to an Owerri son or daughter to continue, uninterruptedly the rotational agreement that will facilitate not only continuity, but development and peaceful hand-over of power in the state.
However, while the PDP was looking forward to winning the election and hand over to Owerri in 2015, one of their own, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, from Orlu zone dusted the APGA political machinery from Chief Martin Agbaso from Owerri zone, and joined the 2011 Imo Governorship election against the grain of charter of equity proclaimed by the PDP.
Okorocha’s appearance on the scene then shocked many and changed the equation, as his campaign sing-song vibrated in the state, with the business mogul promising the gullible Imo electorate eldorado.
While PDP shouted itself hoarse about an existing zoning formula among the three zones in the state, Chief Okorocha traversed the state telling his supporters that zoning formula cannot be compared to performance, and therefore Imo people should vote him in, and should not mind about zoning, especially when his party, APGA does not believe in such a tale from PDP.
A master of mind-gamer, in order to hush the clarion call of Owerri zone against his guber ambition, which they saw earlier could stop them making the Douglas House in 2015, Okorocha picked Chief Jude Agbaso, Martin Agbaso’s younger brother as his running mate, telling the crowd at each stop that he was on rescue mission to run one term and hand-over to some one else in 2015 for a more serious and higher assignment awaiting him at the federal level.
Many believed Okorocha, even as some people in Owerri zone assumed that the proper person to replace him in 2015 would be his Deputy, Jude Agbaso who hails from Emekuku, Owerri North.
This permutation fitted the imagination of some politicians in Owerri zone who believed it would be good to jettison PDP during the election, and join the APGA train, which may produce the long sought-after Owerri Governor in 2015.
While Okorocha divided Owerri with the Agbaso gamble, Okigwe zone which ought to have stood firm behind their son Ohakim, were also divided with Senator Ifeanyi Araraume hoisting the flag of now defunct ACN, as its Governorship candidate. Orlu zone, which had held power eight years under Udenwa, pretended as if it were not with their son, Okorocha, whom many perceived as having come to disrupt the zoning Charter of Equity.
While this scenario was playing out, it fitted the game plan of Okorocha, who gained followers by the day, following PDP mistakes in its primaries, as those who were denied tickets in the party, and felt disgruntled, joined camp with a willing Okorocha to wage a war against PDP.
Before you know it, the APGA fold had swelled and sentiment began to swing to the favour of the party, seen as the party of the down throdden, who felt the PDP in the state had treated them badly.
As Okorocha continued with his pious posture with a raging propaganda machine of a man being persecuted by the almighty PDP because he has come as the Jesus to rescue Imo people, his acceptance soared by the day, while the PDP continued to make one mistake after another, as the election day approaches.
Surprisingly to the PDP, when Orlu zone weighed what it stands to gain under the PDP/Ohakim Governorship, between that of their son Okorocha, nocturnal meetings began every day and Orlu zone, to the shock of many gave their votes to Okorocha, a native of Ogboko in Ideato South LGA.
Ohakim’s strong hold, Okigwe zone, was decimated by his brother, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who was deceived by Udenwa and Orlu zone that they will vote for him.
Despite the fact that Ohakim won in Okigwe zone over-whelmingly but the thousands of votes given to Araraume in the Area would have counted a lot in favour of PDP and Ohakim at the crucial time.
In Owerri zone, PDP swept the Mbaise clan, but could not do same in the metropolitan Owerri municipality, Owerri North and Owerri West respectively populated by non indigenes.
The Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta axis of Orlu zone still remembered their mutual affiliations with old Owerri county council before Chief RBK Okafor drafted them into “Orlu zone” and therefore voted for PDP, but the forces from above thwarted those votes as they could not count when they were desperately needed.
Therefore, in May 29, 2011 when Okorocha was sworn in as the fifth elected Governor of Imo state, he had destroyed the Charter of Equity. As at then, the Governor never bothered to have a second thought over the serious matter of marginalization; how Orlu who had governed the state for 8 years under Udenwa could grab power just after four years when Okigwe could not complete its second term; while Owerri since Late Evan Enwerem have not produced another Governor after holding the position for just eighteen months.
Today, the chicken is coming home to roost. Today zoning formula, which Governor Okorocha in 2011 said does not exist is rearing its head. Truth as my late father said can not die.
Okorocha’s tale of moving to Abuja to be President or Vice President is gradually becoming a mare conjecture because that tall dream is not realizable now. So, what happens?
The Governor, who had since dumped his original party APGA for APC is beginning to sense danger ahead.
The zoning mantra abhorred by our Governor, is now gaining prominence in his political lexicon as 2015 approaches. Okorcha will run again!
And there is one obstacle he has to clear first before facing the most important ones.
The chairman of his party APC, Chief Marshall Okoroaforanyanwu hails from Oru East, which makes him an Orlu zone man, just like Okorocha.
Therefore, in the normal circumstance, the Governor is not supposed to come from the same zone as the party chairman. But this scenario has prevailed in APGA and APC since Okorocha continued to recircle Okoroforanyanwu, as he himself jumps from one party another.
Therefore election year is here. And party members are bound to ask some salient questions.
However, as the 2015 election approaches, APC members in the state are grumbling that the Governor and the party chairman cannot come from the same political zone.
In a bid to prepare the coast for his adoption as APC’s candidate in 2015, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has sacrificed Okoroforanyanwu over the newly adopted zoning formula in his party.
In Anyanwu’s stead now is one Hilary Eke from Mbaise clan in Owerri zone, a political neophyte, who emerged in a sham congress and whose emergence has already been resisted by youths. Imagine how time flies! Who believed the Governor, Owelle Okorocha could ever speak about zoning, much less adopting it.
The same zoning arrangement he shattered in 2011 that has today put Imo state in political and economic quagmire as the 2015 election approaches!
Usman Danfodio said “Conscience is an open wound which only truth can heal”. May the words of Elders live forever. Truly, truth will ever live forever. Rest in peace, my old man.
