A fortnight ago, I began a foray into who carries Mbaitoli/Ikeduru (Mbaike) flag in 2015 Imo Governorship candidate. As political uncertainties become the trademark of electoral contest, many aspirants are warming up to try their luck for the number one position of the state in the next two years. Despite the rumoured second term bid of incumbent Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, prominent political gladiators are warming up from different camps.
In view of the heightened clamour by people of Owerri Zone that it should be their turn to govern the state by 2015, politicians from various blocks that make Owerri Zone are leading the pack to succeed Okorocha.
In the past, I took a look at the Mbaise Clan where I mentioned some front runners. Two weeks ago, I shifted to Mbaitoli/Ikeduru block otherwise known as Mbaike, a major stakeholder in Owerri Senatorial divide, where the possibilities or otherwise of some shinning lights in the fourth coming guber race were discussed.
In the second and concluding part of the commentary, I will focus on the interest of Barr Humphrey Anumudu, Chief Chika Odom, Excel Ochiama and Captain David Mbamara. The aforementioned politicians are from Mbaike Block. Latest reports indicate that their desire is to continue from where Okorocha will stop in making “Imo Better” after 2015 if does not succeed in his second term bid.
Undoubtedly, Anumudu needs no introduction in Imo State politics except for neophytes and “late arrivals” to politics of the state. The Lagos-based business mogul from Obazu-Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA of the state has a date with governorship race. Anumudu was at the verge of emerging PDP candidate for Governor during the 1998/99 election but missed it by hairs’ breath. At the return of democracy, Anumudu was coasting home with victory until underground political schemings and maneuverings changed the course after PDP primaries. There is no need to over stretch the gist but it is a popular belief in several quarters that the old-war horse was “chanced” to favour another candidate. Several schools of thoughts have continued to trail the 1998/99 PDP governorship exercise. It was widely believed that after Anumudu, Okorocha and Chief Greg Mbadiwe followed before the eventual candidate of the party and winner Achike Udenwa. Whether the story is true or false, the matter should be left for active players of that era to unravel what transpired and not my stake in this commentary.
Desperate to be at the “Douglas House”, the seat of power in Imo State, Anumudu renewed his desire in 2002/03 after the 1998/99 debacle. After attempts to secure PDP ticket held firmly by incumbent Governor, Udenwa failed, Anumudu changed camp and sought Governorship ticket from ANPP. It would be recalled that apart from the dominant PDP, ANPP was the next popular and crowd-pulling party in the state during that era. Those who failed to secure a comfortable shade in PDP’s umbrella quickly sought refuge in ANPP. However, it was dramatic in ANPP when Anumudu moved in. Prior to Anumudu’s ANPP interest in 2002, Hon Emeka Nwajiuba was popular and destined to pick the party’s guber ticket. What transpired among ANPP Chieftains and how Anumudu braced the odds to get the party’s ticket will also be better explained by the key players of the party. One of the politicians I have great respect for in Imo politics, Dr E J K Onyewuchi from Obowo who was ANPP Chairman during that interesting episode would be positioned to tell a better story of the ANPP 2002 Guber primaries than this write up.
After years of sabbatical in the political field, Anumudu is said to be back to the scene. Having realized that it would be wasteful angling for the guber election each year, the business mogul took a tactical exit from competitive election and decided to play from the background.
Anumudu’s renewed interest for governorship position could have been regarded as premature permutations if there are no empirical evidences to expose his desire.
As a smooth operator and seasoned guber aspirant, Anumudu began with consultations and indirect approach to stakeholders and PDP stalwarts. What appeared as rumours became manifest during the recent burial of the brother at Obilubi, Obazu Mbieri, when political associates and would be campaign structure rallied round him for the burial. The mourning ceremony turned to a political show piece with allies indicating that the humble-looking politician is another big fish to watch out for in 2015. The burial was more of a dress rehearsal for what to expect in Anumudu’s camp in the coming months.
With PDP searching for a credible candidate without blemish to match others in the party’s desperate bid to retake power in Imo, the likes of Anumudu may be opportune to pull surprises. Coupled with the fact that he hails from Owerri Zone that is desperately angling to produce Governor in 2015. Anumudu may also receive sympathy having started the struggle to become Imo Governor since 1998/99.
One of the factors working against Anumudu is inconsistency in his quest for the race. Since he lost out in 2003 guber election, the Lagos-based business tycoon retreated and went into political hibernation only to re-appear now. Pundits are of the view that the successes he recorded in the past would have diminished during the sabbatical leave. Therefore, he would start a fresh to raise structures and awareness for the coming election. In line with the popular axiom of “he who fights and runs away lives to fight another date”, Anumudu is back to face the hurdles he could not scale in the past in his desire to became Governor of Imo State. The “hurdle” will still continue to an obstacle to the lawyer turned politician. As a Lagos-based business mogul, who makes occasional visits to the home front, improper knowledge of the local political terrain and the significant changes at the grassroots level since 2003 may be his greatest albatross.
Chuka Odom is from Okwu, Ikeduru LGA. Odom was more of Abia politics than Imo politics until Ohakim came into power in 2007. Using the PPA connection, since Odom came into prominence during the Chief Orji Uzor Kalu era in Abia, Odom was made a Commissioner incharge of Housing before he was nominated to fill Imo State gap as a Minister. Prior to that period, the typical “Abia boy” was an appointee and later Commissioner of Special Duties to Orji Uzor Kalu. As Secretary of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo State Chapter, was part of the executive committee that received Odom at our Rotibi street office, Owerri, when he started making in roads into Imo politics in 2005. It was even rumoured that Orji Uzor Kalu was backing him to vie for the Governorship in 2007. When Ohakim emerged victorious as Governor using PPA platform of Orji Kalu, Odom relocated to his state of origin for further political venture which paid off handsomely with a Commissioner and later Ministerial appointment.
With 2015 fast approaching, Odom is among Mbaike politicians eyeing the guber title. A quintessential gentleman and astute politician with the needed clout to run for the position, Odom may be relying on the luck that has seen him make appreciable success in his political carrier. Said to be loaded with the necessary logistics to prosecute a Governorship title, Odom is exposed, well connected and may harness his numerous contacts at national level to grab any party’s ticket. Odom is also from Owerri Zone and has made significant efforts towards the realization of the “Owerri Zone man for Douglas House”, come 2015.
However, Odom will also make some sacrifices before his ambition is achieved. If the disappointments of Anumudu would be considered, Odom’s 2015 guber dreams may be another “Political waka pass”. Except he begins now to raise structures and machineries for the struggle, he may not gather a reasonable number of political juggernauts to sway victory to his side. Moreover his “newcomer status” to Imo politics may work against him since the Abia roots and another Orji Uzor Kalu influence could be an obstacle.
Despite the fact that they have the constitutional rights to vie for the Guber positions, David Mbamara and Excel Ochiama may spring surprises as dark horse in the race. Mbamara from Ikeduru was the pioneer Commandant of the Imo Orientation Corps. A strong figure in Mbaike politics, Mbamara is a grassroots politician with strong hold of his locality. He has the tendency to turn tables if his contacts and mobilization strategies are anything to go by. Having being around and involved in partisan politics in the state, Mbamara is turbo-charged for the battle ahead. Though popularity and available financial muscle to prosecute a guber election are the snags against him.
For Ochiama, he will be relying on the footnotes of his father who was a renowned politician that represented Mbaike people in the past. His youthful age and intellect is an added advantage to seek the masses support even as acceptability and other inherit factors may also work against his interest.
