If there is anything significant with the 2015 Imo Governorship election, it is the uncommon posture of Orlu zone towards the exercise. Since the inception of Democratic dispensation in Imo State in 1999, there has never been any time all the three zones that make up Imo State; namely Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri zones did not present Governorship Aspirants in the various political parties.
In 1999 when an Orlu candidate, Chief Achike Udenwa was given the Peoples Democratic Party’s PDP ticket, Aspirants from Owerri and Okigwe zones participated. It was the same thing in All Peoples Party, APP.
After Udenwa’s two terms expired in 2007, Aspirants from Owerri and Okigwe joined the fray in PDP. It was the same in other political parties.
In 2011 election, Owerri and Orlu zone Aspirants also were involved in the election, if not in the PDP but in other political parties.
However, as we approach the 2015 election, no single individual from Orlu zone against old norms and precedents, has yet declared intension for the 2015 Imo Governorship election. Not even in another political party, much more in the PDP.
However, the only politician in the race from Orlu zone now is His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. He is the incumbent Governor and emerged in 2011, against the run of play, by swimming against the tide, working against the perceived equity and justice in sharing Imo Governorship slot among the three political zones, Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe.
Therefore, when Okorocha succeeded Dr Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone in 2011, after he had spent just one term and four years after Udenwa from Orlu zone had left office, not a few Imo people saw it as an aberration which forcefully distorted the chain of power hand-overs among the three political zones.
Therefore, it is disturbing, yet heart warming to many political observers that Orlu, the largest political zone in Imo state has reined in her people against contesting the Imo Governorship election in 2015.
As sweet as that could sound to the ear, yet many people are apprehensive asking many questions. This is because, what Orlu has done so far by not producing a single Aspirant to challenge for the Imo Governorship seat in 2015 under PDP has baffled many political pundits beyond comprehension.
In order words, rather than take the Orlu posture as a good gesture to the smooth hand-over and peaceful contribution of Imo Governor in 2015 devoid of rancor and struggles, pessimists are reading meanings into this Orlu altruism.
Now the questions are; Is Orlu zone exhibiting patriotism and mature politics by not presenting a Governorship Aspirant under PDP in 2015?
Is Orlu zone truly and frankly doing this with all their minds, so as to enthrone a Governorship of other zones, having held power longer than other zones?
Is the zone acting statesmanship here to let other zones know that even though their zone is presently the Governor of Imo state, Okorocha distorted the Charter of Equity in 2011, therefore is not holding brief on behalf of Orlu zone but for himself alone?
Is Orlu zone saying that whoever emerges the candidate of the PDP would be supported by Orlu zones?
Is Orlu zone assuring Okigwe and Owerri zones that in 2015 Imo Governorship election, it will not support her son, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the APC?
Answers to these questions will soon be given within the next few months as the general elections commence.
What Orlu has done in 2015 Imo Governorship has entered into the history books that for the first time in Imo, a particular zone refused to file an Aspirant under the PDP platform, for other zones to enjoy the Charter of Equity introduced into the party in 1999 when an Owerri man Bar Humphrey Anumudu was asked to step down for Achiked Udenwa, for Orlu zone to have sense of belonging.
Ordinarily, one would have commended Orlu for this rare attitude of patriotism and sense of judgement, but in politics nothing is assured until the game is over.
In this case, many people still believe that apart from the PDP option, Orlu zone still has another glaring chance to continue to rule Imo state after 2015 election.
The issue here is that whether anybody likes it or not, Orlu zone has dominated Imo Leadership since 1999.
Governor Okorocha maybe of the APC or APGA stock. That is mere academic. What can not be questioned or changed is that since 1999, Imo state has been ruled by Orlu for twelve good years, with only four years interruption of an Okigwe man, Ikedi Ohakim.
The fear in many quarters is that the Orlu aloofness towards presenting any Aspirant under the PDP in 2015 is part of the well-oiled Orlu Agenda to continue to dominate the Imo political firmament as long as it is practicable.
It follows to say that nothing stops Orlu rallying behind their son, Owelle Okorocha in 2015 Imo Governorship election. Orlu did it in 2011 and can still do it again in 2015. It is on record that despite the number of PDP members in that zone, the party lost woefully in 2011 governorship election, even when some House of Assembly candidates of the PDP retained their seats in an election that took place with that of Governorship same day.
Already, Orlu zone has the power and capacity to influence who becomes the candidate of the PDP in 2015 Imo Governorship. With twelve LGAs, as against Owerri’s nine, and Okigwe’s six, Orlu produces the highest number of Delegates who will determine the fate of who flies PDP’s flag in the election.
This is despite the tacit warning from Orlu that it will support Owerri Governorship, in the spirit of Equity and justice, “provided Owerri zone gives us a good candidate”. This statement is a trap.
In this case, how does Orlu determine a good candidate? And again, is it Owerri that will determine their own good candidate, or Orlu who are just “supporters” to the project?
This challenge posed to Owerri by Orlu, I believe is applicable to Okigwe also. Therefore, what will happen if Orlu decides that the candidate produced by PDP, be he/she from Okigwe or Owerri, is not “a good candidate”?
It therefore means that Orlu will look for “a good candidate” elsewhere, and may not look far, since their son Okorocha is also in the race.
Take it or leave it, no matter the short-comings exhibited by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Orlu zone has not had it so good like the present Government in Imo State.
Okorocha, unlike Udenwa before him, is not pretending to embark on Orlu Agenda, by systematically shipping out those from other zones holding plum positions in Imo state before his arrival.
It is only a fool who will not notice that Orlu zone has taken charge of the entire Imo state since 2011. All the beautiful houses and priced lands are linked to people of Orlu extraction.
Visit Orlu and see what is happening there. Okorocha has turned the entire political zone to a construction site. The Orlu elites may be against the Governor, but not so the poor masses who are jubilating that Okorocha has dealt with their oppressors by decimating their influences.
Therefore, the battle between Okorocha and his Orlu brothers is a class war. Not a political War. When the die is cast in 2015, Orlu may resort to ethnic persuasion and after weighing the options available will embrace the best out of two devils.
Who even says that Okorocha may not have sponsored this political quietness and loud silence from Orlu zone as regards the coveted Governorship Seat. It is still baffling that Orlu did not even fly a kite over the Governorship and use it as a bet and negotiating strategy to squize out a commitment from Owerri and Okigwe zones.
As it stands now, the ultimate beneficiary of the Orlu stance may turn out to be Okorocha. This is because, if an average Orlu electorate refuses to cast his vote for PDP, the second option is Okorocha.
However, had any other Aspirant emerged from any other political party from Orlu zone, there would have been more options than Okorocha only.
For instance in Owerri that has just nine LGAs against Orlu’s twelve, there is Chief Ukanaso from UPP, and Captain Mbamara from ACCORD. And there is a certainty that these two gentle men will emerge their party’s candidates.
In order words, the Owerri zone would have started decimating her votes right from home.
This is a bad omen, which will play into the hands of Owelle Okorocha and against the PDP candidate.
Also APGA is a big stumbling block to whoever PDP will anoint as its candidate. These bobby traps among other factors including the Orlu silence are issues that should challenge the minds of the PDP hierarchy, as nothing good comes easy.
Therefore, while many are clapping over the Orlu’s stance of not presenting an Aspirant for the Imo Governorship under PDP, they should also rationalize what could be the out come if the permutations does not fall into place, because in politics two plus two can give you eight.
