Benito Musolini, the Italian World war 11 Prime Minister said war sets the seal of nobility on those who have the courage to face it. Mussolini’s motivational speech became the propelling factor that made his countrymen to give in their all during the war that later shaped the globe.
Mussolini’s views connotes the political situation in Owerri zone. For two years running, the people of Owerri zone have echoed its determination and readiness to produce the governor of Imo State in 2015. They have said it in Emekuku, echoed in Osina and sang in Ihube.
They have even whispered to the angels in heaven that they are the weeping child of the Imo political family and the only consolation is to produce the next occupant of Government House, Owerri
For the first time in the political evolution of Owerri zone, relevant stakeholders of the zone insist that 2015 is the year of political manifestation and any short of it is unacceptable to their people .
Like the North who say they must stop President Goodluck Jonathan from seeking a second term in office in 2015 and are bent on realizing their political desires, the people of Owerri zone have exhibited similar characteristics and tendency. Like a marginalized people feeling the pang of marginalization, only the governorship seat of the State will convince them that they remain part of the eastern heartland.
The case of Owerri zone is reminiscent of a primary school pupil that has failed to pass entrance examinations to gain admission into secondary school, Owerri zone seems have done its home work and have taken sufficient extra mural lessons to ensure it succeeds in the next exams. But are they good to go when those expected to carry the cross of the people are shying away from the contest?
Aside Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho, the former Minister of Interior, who has announced that he wants to take over from Rochas Okorocha in 2015, the ambition of other contenders from the zone exist within the realm of speculation. The ambitions of those interested in the race are still shrouded in secrecy. While they console themselves in the fact that 2015 is far away and time is not ripe for politicking, they forget that such political attitude can be counterproductive. Capt Iheanacho cannot carry the cross of the people alone.
Political procrastination and indecision has been the undoing of the zone. Since1999, what we have seen are reluctant governorship aspirants who wait till thy kingdom come before declaring their aspirations. We have seen eleventh hour guber aspirants that are either waiting for political anointing from the forces at Abuja or anticipating for a “clarion call” from the people before they plunge into the guber race.
This is a defeatist approach and it is unfortunate that such political trait has continued to manifest in the political character of some top politicians of the zone who are whispering to close political associates, family members and allies that they are aspiring to be governor of Imo State in 2015.
I have this conviction that the race for 2015 guber in Imo State will be dicey. It might not have the same colouration with what was obtained in the political dispensations of 1999 and 2003 that were less intense. That of 2015 will be keenly contested, fierce and intense.
In 1999, it was an open race and less competitive as most politicians shied away from the contest unsure if the democratic experiment contrived by the Abdulsalami Abubakar led military administration will be successful.
In 2007, we saw a different scenario, a charged political atmosphere that compelled then Governor Achike Udenwa to lose focus of the political compass of the State. We saw a governor that was unable to install his successor because of the political temperament of the State at that time. It was too hot for comfort for the then governor.
In 2011, we saw an incumbent Governor, Ikedi Ohakim loose to Rochas Okorocha, an old political warhorse who never hid aspiration to govern the State. For the first time in the political evolution of the South East geo political zone, no incumbent governor was defeated in an election. That is how fierce the Imo governorship race can be!
Only the prepared can absorb the heat of the contest or inotherwords, the political rumble in the State. Every political era in Imo State has been fierce and competitive. The governorship race inclusive. Imo State is the only state in the federation where all the three geo political zones produce aspirants for the governorship contest. It is the only State where governorship elections have been conducted more than once to produce a winner. It happened in 2007 and 2011.
