Scholars in the field of politics, with major concern methods of government, should endeavour to include in their curriculum, a subject to be known as “Familiocracy”
Imo State, South East part of Nigeria, can unarguably provide relevant materials for a case study of the latest pattern of government in the country. Familiocracy, in a very subjective interpretation can simply mean a “system of government run by family members, where members of same family are found to be relevant in a political system”
The word, Familiocracy, has become a common word on the lips of many Imolites where the style of incumbent governor, Rochas Anayo Okorocha, is accused of something similar to the terminology. The present administration in Imo State has been under severe criticisms as major stakeholders accuse the governor of perpetuating a regime where the interest of his family members are allegedly considered in the scheme of things.
How the word became dominant may not to be unconnected to certain disturbing observations noticed in the state since Okorocha came into power in 2011. Therefore, it is not surprising that as the governor who has about 24 months to end his stay in Government House Owerri, is being accused of trying to entrench Familiocracy by backing his son in-law to take over from him in 2019.
By the governor’s arrangements, Nwosu, who is also his Chief of Staff and has held several positions since 2011, irrespective of the zone where he hails from and other inherent challenges against his candidature, is the only one qualified to continue from where he stopped after his two terms.
The plot to foist Nwosu has aroused protest from majority of Imolites, especially, leaders of thought and many of his acolytes in APC. Leading the onslaught against Okorocha’s desire to not only have his son in-law as a successor in office, but also see his first daughter as the incoming first lady after his wife was Uche Onyeagocha, a former House of Representatives member. Onyeagocha and Okorocha were soul mates in the field of politics since the formation of APC until their rosy affair turned awry, no thanks to the Nwosu’s guber bid. The former member who represented Owerri Federal Constituency has not failed to tell the public that Nwosu’s ambition is fuelled by Okorocha’s “Familiocratic” tendencies in the governor’s suspected pursuit of a subtle “Third Term” agenda for next year’s general election.
Several other leaders have not relented to kick against the pro-Uche Nwosu stand of the governor as his successor. While, a former governor, Achike Udenwa has joined to show dislike for Okorocha’s desire, a prominent cleric noted for his vocal disapproval to societal ills and anti-people policies, Arch Bishop Anthony Obinna, has also persistently kicked against the candidacy of Uche Nwosu. A fiery Obinna, the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, leads the predominantly Catholic community in the State.
Further signs to show that Okorocha’s proposal to have his in-law as successor hasn’t gone down well with Imolites, emerged when a good number of his followers in the Rescue Mission government and appointees engaged in a minor revolt against the Nwosu project. His Deputy, Eze Madumere, and the former Secretary to the State Government, Jude Ejiogu are said to be willing to challenge his anointed successor for the party’s governorship primaries. They have shown interest for the APC ticket against the governor’s wish. Despite the rate of endorsements trailing Nwosu’s interest, several other groups like the APC Restoration and the Imo APC Stakeholders have further emerged to further join the kick against Nwosu. In a similar scenario, a former commissioner in Okorocha’s cabinet, TOE Ekechi, is leading the APC Restoration group to fight the Nwosu project for 2019. Ekechi who served as Okorocha’s former Commissioner for Information said that foisting his in-law as successor is a big slap on Imo and another possible tenure elongation for the governor. But topping the chart of the battle against Familocracy in Imo state is Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, who no doubt is turbo charged to end the Okorocha hegemony in Imo State.
On gaining control of governance in Imo state, what somewhat became dominant is the promotion of the first family interest. I don’t think this piece has capacity to go into further details of it but it is pertinent to note that while the Chief of Staff is the son in-law to the governor, his younger sister, Ogechi Ololo,( nee Okorocha) occupies the Deputy Chief of Staff position and the recently introduced Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment. The only Minister from Imo State in charge of Ministry of Education (State), Anwuka Anthony, a professor, is Okorocha’s in law too, as the second daughter, is married to the Minister’s son. Reports also have it that when he emerged victorious in 2011, among the first set of Transition Committee Chairmen of the 27 LGAs was Chuks Ololo, of Owerri North. Ololo who was also retained during a shake up before he was facilitated to run for the House of Reps of Owerri Federal Constituency in 2015 using APC ticket is the husband of his younger sister, Ogechi. The media was awash sometime ago when Okorocha vehemently rejected the naming of one of the daughters married to the son of the Minister for Education who was appointed a Board member of Federal College of Education (Omoku) in Rivers State. Stories were also rife in the past where the governor’s wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha was accused of taking charge of the Amnesty programme of people of the oil producing areas of Imo.
I may not go into those behind the execution of juicy contracts that are shrouded in secrecy as well as companies and officials in charge of government agencies entitled to raise monies for the state government. The inability of the state government to employ Due Process in making public, via sign posts, names of companies and individuals involved in the execution of state government contracts begs for more questions than answers. Unlike in the past and in accordance to normal procedure in execution of government contracts, no signboard showed the name of contracts, contractors, supervisors and other details involved in the execution of state projects.
It is for these and other noticeable anomalies in the Okorocha government that numerous aspirants using different party platforms, have declared interest to succeed Okorocha for a possible end to the reign of the prevalent system of government.
In APC where Okorocha is trying hard to ensure Nwosu emerges the party’s candidate, comes Araraume, a seasoned politician who needs no introduction in the political hemisphere of the State and beyond. Araraume represented Okigwe Zone (Imo North), a record two time before seeking the mandate of the people to take charge of the state as governor in 2007 and 2011. In 2015, he was a leading candidate of a party before controversies made a mince meat of the primaries thereby denying him victory.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Araraume Phobia has caught up with Okorocha’s camp. Reports have it that, Okorocha and his followers, otherwise known as Rescue Mission members have been trembling and troubled by the political sagacity of the Mbano born politician since it became obvious that the Agu Isiebu as he is fondly called, will be in the race under APC platform.
Araraume phobia can be found in the body language and expressions of the governor who has not failed to show why the Mbano born politician remains his nightmare in the plan to foist Nwosu on the people of the state. Before now, Okorocha has not ceased to inform his listeners that Araraume cannot succeed him in office adding that the fair skinned politician is among those he will retire in 2019. Known for his continuous boast of claims of retiring aging politicians in the state, like Arthur Nzeribe and Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who are incapacitated by health and age to be active in politics, the governor has added Araraume to his list of “awaiting retirees”. The verbal claims are considered an attempt to verbally demystify the Senator’s growing political prowess, acceptability in Imo society and downplay his renewed bid to govern Imo state has generated in recent times.
Considering the “power of incumbency” and exposure to the use of state resources for the execution of a political project a governor can gain while in office, Araraume is said to possess the required logistics muscle to match governor Okorocha in all ramifications. Watchers of events in the state were not surprised when Okorocha came out with the claims that he will come out with “trailer loads of money if Araraume brings pickup load of cash” for the APC governorship primaries battle. The governor’s claim speaks volume of the senator’s capacity to become his successor in 2019.
Reasons for Okorocha’s worries about Araraume is not far-fetched. After a two-term tenure that is unprecedented in the history of Imo North Senatorial District, the Senator who was a former chairman of Southern Senators Forum at the National Assembly, erased all obstacles to pick the PDP governorship in 2007. Despite the combined forces of the then President and other local forces to deny him a merited ticket, Araraume overcame the challenges to still keep hold of the candidacy, but lost at the eventual polls due to concerted internal sabotage in the PDP. In 2011, he was the unsung hero of the governorship election under defunct ACN after he fought the then incumbent, Achike Udenwa to a standstill. Analysts insist that Okorocha emerged the greatest beneficiary of the Ohakim vs Araraume 2011 debacle as he came from nowhere to steal the show and became the elected governor through APGA.
A recognition of the Araraume’s political prowess manifested in 2015 when Okorocha’s second tenure program was under threat. Opposition forces against his second tenure had fined tuned procedures to stop his reelection bid before he approached the Senator for assistance. Stories again have it that the governor and wife met with Araraume at MCC Road, Owerri where the latter mobilized his flourishing campaign organization members to deliver him.
Apparently aware of Araraume’s rich pedigree in political maneuvering and tactical approaches to party primaries, coupled with an organized campaign outfit, the Destiny Organization, agents of the governor have embarked in mudslinging and pouring of invectives aimed as portraying the senator in bad light before the public.
But as 2019 beckons, Araraume seems to be the savior Imo people are desperately waiting. Though he is yet to officially declare for the governorship contest, all permutations on who shall liberate the state from the shackles and manacles of bad leadership are tilted towards him. Unfolding events in the state shall determine the 2019 game.
