From Okwudiri Echebiri 08122694072
It has to be taken for granted that Imo PDP had been embroiled in deep introspection since the 2011 disaster. There should be intense soul searching ongoing across board at the moment. Especially for the leadership and top notch of the party questions which, if honestly and sincerely answered could provide the seriously needed light out of the dark tunnel of oblivion must be on their lips now. And, it goes without saying that the questions needing answers are indeed, numerous.
Considering that two years have rolled by since that unexpected free fall, it is likely some of these questions have been answered. The problem I think left is whether those whose responsibility it is to put them to work would courageously and committedly do so. It is common knowledge and even now a culture, that our problem in Nigeria is not shortage of ideas, or policies or programmes, but poor implementation or even no implementation. Each day, each year myriad of policies are conceived and brought to life. But, no sooner would the oratorical grandstanding end than the well thought policy consigned to the cupboard to gather dust.
The long and short of my argument is that the problem lies not in providing honest answers by the leadership of the party but on finding the much needed courage to deliberately put it into use. No doubt, coming from the cold which politically had frozen the part these two years so to say, these is little doubt that this season should be one of full throttle action and not halfhearted whimpers.
Certainly, majority of PDP leadership and even membership know the factors that led to the last electoral fiasco. In the main, imposition of candidates was the major causative factor of the disaster. It has been said generally, that the last minute imposition of Dr. Kema Chikwe, ahead of Dr. Chris Asoluka and Senator Chris Anyanwu is solely responsible for the trouncing of the PDP first in the senatorial election and in its wake, the general poll. Most people I have heard recount the experiences of 2011 readily, blame this ill-digested, brazen and myopic decision in Owerri zone for whatever happened to the party. Somebody somewhere woke up one morning imposed his whims and caprices and promptly goes ahead to implement it not minding its deleterious consequences. That was exactly how Ambassador Kema Chikwe joined the fray for Owerri Senatorial race. She was brought in, in the middle of the match when the masses have already freely made their choices. Worse, they proceeded to ram her candidature down the throat of everybody when it was very clear that she was an outsider. To make matters worse, majority of the voters could not link her up with any good deed or antecedent. I recall vividly what reportedly transpired in her Emekuku town with regard to antecedents. It was said that when she was queried why she had not used offices she had headed to provide sucour to her kinsmen she replied that she could not because they were appointive offices. Somebody, the story continued, stood up and pointedly asked: if yours were appointments what was that of Capt Emma Ihenacho? Was his disappointment? Like the global literary icon Prof Achebe would say that question was the augury of PDP’s ruin in Owerri Zone in particular, and state generally.
It must be pointed out that Dr. Chikwe was not the only sole beneficiary of that brazen political madness. We have only given her’s preeminence because of its well documented contribution to the party’s disgraceful showing. Across the 27 state constituencies such impunity also reared its ugly head. It took place in Isiala Mbano, Ahiazu Mbaise, Nkwerre and Owerri Municipal just to mention a few. It was miraculous feat that the party scaled through in majority of these state constituencies. But, a pertinent question is: or how long would miracles continue to lift PDP to victory?
Looking at our rapidly changing political climate, the era of miracles are sure numbered. You can only win electoral contests when you use your best materials and also do your best out there in the field of campaigning. Thereafter, you follow up matching words with action. Anything short of this, would simply mean an open invitation to disaster in future contests.
The PDP leadership and government equally alienated itself from the electorate. And, yet the people have the electoral power and mandate. You could quite easily see the wide gulf in the build up to the poll. It was almost turning into a war of classes and it is common historical fact that war of classes naturally precedes revolution. On the street of Owerri, inside the villages, even inside the churches the general refrain was “we against them”. The animosity was so high and so tense that if you lit … match you would instantly ignite a raging inferno which consequences could better imagined than told.
The opposition wasted no time in tapping into this very apparent discord. The then APGA flag bearer and incumbent helmsman Gov. Rochas Okorocha instantly wormed himself into the heart of the Imo electorate, eating akara and maize on the streets of Owerri. Then to put swag into the whole romance he, accompanied by Senator Chris Anyanwu mounted a keke and drove round Owerri in a procession. That procession a show stopper it was sent his ratings to the sky. And in its aftermath, those who claim to know what tomorrow held politically wasted no time in predicting victory for Gov. Okorocha. And, like they say the rest is now history.
Two years after the election was lost and won the clock has continued to tick. It cannot wait for anyone or group. The magical year is slowly and steadily closing in like a thief in the night. As the year closes in on us, so also are the early warning signals manifesting on daily basis. It must be noted that it is candidates, and parties that do all the needful between now and that time that would triumph at the end of the day.
Talking about early warning signals for the PDP, two of its members recently provided what one can aptly dub perfect early warning signals. What is more these men are also cycling gubernatorial tickets of the party in their respective states of Imo and Ekiti States come 2015 and 2014. Because these men are gubernatorial aspirants, it can be argued and rightly too, that they are major stakeholders in the party. This position, no doubt, means that on each occasion that they talk or act it must be with the best of intentions for the party. They would always want the best for their party. The men in question are Captain Emma Iheanacho and Mr. Ayo Fayose. Recently in different fora the two chieftains echoed each other almost as if on telepathy concerning the party in 2015. For Captain Iheanacho the visit of some media men in Owerri provided him the platform to warn against fresh impositions ahead of 2015. Similarly, Mr. Fayose one time governor of Ekiti State in a different event in Ekiti sounded it loud and clear that he will work against the party if a candidate is imposed on them in next year’s guber election.
Clearly, the message of these two political gladiators is very apparent: let there be a level playing field and let the people choose. Without doubt, this sentiment is not exclusive to these two gentlemen alone. It is widespread in the party. The fact that it is widespread, is indicative that it holds the key to the success or failure of PDP in that years election. If the leadership of the party at the state and federal level can muster the courage to stamp their feet on the ground and insist on free, fair and transparent primaries, you can be sure it would tremendously boost the fortunes of the party. On the other hand, capitulating to the influence of money bags which would automatically mean manipulation would spell doom for all and sundry.
One priceless benefit of democratic emergence of candidates is that it produces credible candidates. Of course, it goes without saying that going into electoral battle with highly marketable persons is an added advantage to parties parading such persons. Majority of voters these days do not want to cast their votes for just anybody. They are sick and tired of the “grab-grab” mentality of the political class. On this basis, they look out for those whose past histories could give a glimpse into the future. Though, it must be pointed out that this style of measurement may not be the best, however, for now it remains the major index for assessing candidates by the voters.
If you ask me I would say that 2015 is the year that would make or mar PDP. Already, it seems the opposition have come to term with that reality and therefore, deployed all arsenal to shoot it down. By 2015, the party would have spent fifteen uninterrupted years in power at the national level. And also in most states. Those fifteen years equally mean fifteen years of consolidation and strengthening. Now, grabbing victory in 2015 would extend the lead to almost twenty years. Surely, with such lengthy hold on to power it would become practically difficult if not impossible to dislodge it from power in the years ahead. At this juncture, having fully entrenched itself, winning elections would become as easy as ABC. That is if the parties maintains absolute fidelity in providing democracy dividends to the electorate. Although, this seems a tall order, for the party adhering to the timely advice of the stakeholders mentioned earlier would give this dream an unprecedented push to reality.
More than any other chapter of PDP, Imo chapter of the party need this timely admonition. It must decide to breakaway from its old ways of doing things if it hopes to return to the top in the state. The major secret to achieving this dream is the unfettered and unmanipulated emergence of its flag bearer. There is absolutely no question that the party is still a force in the state. At least the fact that its teeming leaders and members have kept faith these two years a big plus. One had thought that members of the party would move in their numbers to the ruling government party after the polis. But, this has not happened. Rather, the party seems to have grown in leaps and bounds a healthy development one may say.
Besides, the legion of aspirants on its platform for 2015 is also a positive sign. So far, we have men like Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, Engr. Emma Ojinere, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, Barr Humphrey Anumudu and Hon. Bethel Arnadi on the line. Surely, the number is encouraging. Definitely, subjecting them to a transparent process of selecting the flag bearer of the party would strengthen the 2015 guber quest of the party in the state.
What should even be more heartening to the party is that 2015 could be anybody’s game. I say this because the present government has not sufficiently demonstrated the kind of leadership that could place it out of reach of other parties in 2015. It has become very apparent that Gov. Rochas Okorocha is not a magician. He is not the messiah everybody believed he was prior to 2011 elections. He is ordinary mortal subject to the foibles and hubris of mankind. So, having left his guards down, whoever or whichever party is able to convince the electorate of the state can run away with the trophy.
With its solid structure, the PDP can stun the ruling party in 2015. But this must be with a caveat: doing the right things no matter whose ox is gored. With its ugly past looming large, there is every hope lessons have been learnt. Yet it cannot ruled out that those that precipitated this fall are still around the corner ready to unleash mayhem again. Is it not said that the leopard does not change its.
