Two weeks ago, Owerri Zone Political Leadership Forum (OZOPOLF) came out smoking echoing for the umpteenth time that in 2015, Owerri zone will not accept anything less than the governorship seat of the State.
The group has unveiled its “Marshal Plan” to ensure the success of its aims and objectives but it has ignored key factors that may mar the quest of the zone to succeed in its latest political adventure. I have this conviction that
Last year on this column, in my piece “My Fears For Owerri Zone” I wrote that the zone will be on a wild goose chase if those factors are not amicably sorted out. 20 months after I authored that piece those factors remain in the front burner. I reproduce verbatim some relevant portions of that piece. Read on:
I have watched with keen interest the wind of change blowing across Owerri Zone. It is a wind that is blowing real good as it has compelled political leaders, stakeholders including jesters to begin to sing the song of unity, oneness for the zone. One factor seems to be bonding the people of Owerri zone together. And that instrument of unity is not far fetched. It is the quest to produce Governor Rochas Okorocha’s successor in 2015.
For a long period, Owerri Zone has been in political wilderness. Ever since Owerri Zone Elders Forum went into oblivion, the zone has been on a wild goose chase. Like a football team without a coach, the zone has lost political direction. It only boasts of political and economic titans but lack the ability to come together to forge the interest of the zone. And I tell those who care to listen, that this is the reason why the zone is always the first to be either marginalized or sidelined from scheme of things in the State.
Owerri zone posses men and women who are dis and dat either in the political or economic arena of the country, yet they always parade the begging bowl of the Imo political family. Our sons and daughters are connected to the low and mighty in the country, nay the globe, yet the zone has not maximized the benefits of such exceptional and high level contacts for the overall benefit of the people of the zone. In otherwords, they have nothing to show for it.
The Onyenakenya mentality has found a taproot in the political tree of Owerri zone. Our leaders relish in the art of politics of individualism, they prefer to segregate against one another rather than congregate to achieve collective interests. The political scenario in the zone is pathetic. It is a case of one house divided against itself. It is a zone where political elephants are always on the war path seeking to undo one another politically.
It is pertinent the new generation of leaders of the zone see these factors as reasons why the zone is witnessing its present political agony. While these factors were prevalent in the past, it was effectively managed when the likes of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, I.D Nwoga, Richard Onyenobi, late Dr. Umezuruike, Ambrose Ejiogu, Nath Onyeukwu, Ubochi Osuigwe, A.U.D Nwosu, I. Aguwa, Duke Njiribeako steered the ship of leadership of the zone.
What we see in the zone now is a war of attrition and desperation for political relevance. If the Agbasos are not fighting the Chikwes and the Ihenachos in Owerri North for political supremacy, the Emeka Ihediohas and co are battling with the Senator Anyanwus for the soul of Mbaise politics. If the Asolukas are not on war path with the Onyenobis, the CY Amakos and Onyeagochas are in for political dominance in Owerri West.
Across the nooks and crannies of the zone, there are verifiable cases of one political cold war or the other taking place amongst political gladiators. And the intensity of these clannish political battles are expected to accentuate to an unprecedented level by the time the whistle blows for 2015 guber race.
However, I salute the courage of Owerri Zone Political Leadership Forum (OZOPOLF) to ensure that the zone takes its rightful place in the scheme of things of the State. OZOPOLF has shown some spark and resilience to ensure the success of an Imo Governor of Owerri Zone extraction come 2015. And to demonstrate its seriousness to achieve its aim, It has put in place an effective machinery to actualize the dream of the people to cruise to Government House, Owerri.
While these initiatives are noble and deserves commendation, one wonders how the group intends to succeed in its mission considering the political diversity of the zone. One is also at a loss how the group intends to knit the zone together and manage the various political interests and complexities of Owerri sons and daughters interested in the 2015 Imo guber diadem. It still remains a mystery how it intends to harmonize the interests of powerful political blocs embedded in the zone.
I have these fears because I remember vividly in 2006 how Owerri Zone governorship hopefuls spurned the roadmap of the I.D Nwoga led Elders Committee. The Committee canvassed for a consensus candidate amongst the litany of governorship aspirants from the zone on the basis that such a candidate will place the zone in a vintage position to grab the governorship seat. The wisdom of the elders was ignored as they (Owerri Zone governorship aspirants) choose to fight to finish. The zone became a battleground for political muscle flexing. It became a theatre for political drama as brother and sister in the zone went for each other’s jugular in a desperate bid to outpace the other. The political war was so fierce and intense and this factor contributed to its loss of the coveted seat to other sister zones.
Owerri zone is a complex and dynamic political arena. Because it has men and women of size and might, it is difficult for everyone to fall in line on a particular issue. OZOPOLF intends to be the clearing house for all governorship candidates from the zone in 2015, but I wonder how Owerri zone governorship aspirants in the ANPP, APGA and labour party will perceive its mission since most of its gatherings are mainly attended by PDP stalwarts alone.
If OZOPOLF wants to be the Afenifere of Owerri zone, it must strive to accommodate Owerri sons who have found political solace in other political parties aside the PDP. It is not enough for the group to say it will adopt a credible candidate from any political party of its choice when most of their gatherings are dominated by PDP henchmen and women.
The PDP, no doubt is the most structured political party in the State. But the last election that catapulted Owelle Rochas Okorocha to power was made possible by a rag tag looking APGA!
OZOPOLF should not put its entire eggs in one basket. As a group willing to take the zone to the land of promise, it is important it is not seen as an interest group that enjoys the comfort offered by the PDP in the State. For a zone desirous to capture political power, it should resist the urge to be hijacked by a particular political party.
It has demonstrated a strong will to realise this noble objective and it will be an act of political naivety if it intends to single out a particular political party as a platform to actualize its purpose. What Owerri zone requires to succeed in its latest political adventure is the instrument of unity. The quest to realize the dream of producing the next governor of the State is beyond mere wishful thinking and talking tough over some bottles of champagne.
The zone ought to bury those instruments that have militated against the realization of the project. Its leaders must be seen to have turned to new leaf and those who intend to carry the mandate of the people must be men and women of exceptional quality who has what it takes the propel the ship of governance of the State. I rest my case.
