LASTLINE
By Henry Ekpe(08036695810)
Imo Guber 2028: Where are the Aspirants?(1)
The election to produce the next Governor of Imo State to succeed the incumbent Senator Hope Uzodinma will be in 2027 around November or December.
And the handover and Swearing in will be in January 2028.
Many observers still think it is too far away.But it is not.
To execute a project of such magnitude like as Governorship takes a lot of time, planning and heavy funds.
One American President said that three things are required in Politics.
One,Money, two Money and three Money.
Even though Nigerian Democracy is yet to develop to the the level of America, the money theory also applies here in Nigeria,if not more.
Therefore this brings us to the question: where are the Aspirants warming up to take over from Gov Uzodimma come January 2028?
The Political atmosphere in Imo today is still very quiet and dull because of the Governorship election which fell off the Election calendar that is coming up early January.
However, apart from this development the Imo Massess ought to by now feeling the “Vibration” of Activities from the Governorship hopefuls.
Unfortunately, apart from Opposition Political Parties whose Aspirants(Emeka Ihedioha, Samuel Anyanwu,and Chima Amadi)are bold enough to speak up,the ruling party in the State which ought to set the pace rolling is completely silent and docile in this case.
Even at that,the section of the State which the Governor had promised his successor,through what he described as Charter of Equity, is too scared and mum to come out about the Governorship seat.
According to Grapevine it is said that Governor Uzodimma has agreed to hand over power to Owerri Zone in 2028.
This was arrived at, following the Marginalization of Owerri in this matter.
While Orlu has tenacious clung to the position via Udenwa(8years) Okorocha(8years) Uzodimma(6 years and counting) Okigwe had done 4 years through Ohakim,and Owerri 7months under the Ihedioha short-lived era.
But ironically, the echo of becoming Governor under All Progressive Congress,APC in 2028 is practically only coming out from Orlu and Okigwe Zones who were not promised the proverbial slot by the APC Charter of Equity arrangement.
Instead, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe Zone and Chief Charles Orie from Orlu Zone are the people in APC dominating the air waves with their ambitions.
If not for them and the likes of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha,Senator Anyanwu and Dr Chima Amadi,Imo political environment is comatose.
Now,you ask: why is it that under Imo APC only Okigwe and Orlu are shooting and shouting, while Owerri is quiet,undecided and waiting?
There is no where in the world Power is served you on a platter. You work for it.
Even our President Bola Tinubu said if you have the opportunity “Grab and run with it”.
Ohakim and Orie have kept the Imo APC Political System vibrating with their activities and constant Media presence.
This would have gulped them millions of Naira already, while those of Owerri descents are still watching and furtively looking over their Shoulders as if they owe any one their Political freedom.
Now,assuming in the event Uzodimma and Imo APC decide to hand over Power to Owerri Zone,what will they do with Ohakim and Orie that have been spending their millions of Naira keeping Imo APC Political space running?
Won’t they be Compensated?
And how would that be?
Will they agree to go home empty handed after holding forth and making Imo APC alive?
This is Politics, where nothing goes for nothing!
Another serious observation is that both Ohakim and Orie are very close Friends of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Did they ever consult him before embarking on their Governorship journey?
If they did,what did the Governor tell them?
Did their friend not tell that the Slot is reserved for Owerri Zone?
What emboldened them to continue their vibrant projects these past months, while their Owerri Cousins kept waiting for Godot?
The people of Owerri were doused with this same story of Charter of Equity during the last Governorship election in 2023 and they stood behind Uzodimma and jettisoned their brothers and Sisters who ran under other Political Platforms.
Indeed,Uzodimma has continued that strategy to keep Owerri Zone APC quiet as each of the Owerri APC Big Men believe he may be the anointed one.
Therefore they remain mute but continue traversing Okigwe and Orlu in the name of Consultations without individual Politcal Structures,while Orie and Ohakim are on the street canvassing.
In Politics, if you don’t say I am here,no body will see you there.
If Owerri APC Governorship hopefuls think they can act “Good Boys” and assum that Uzodimma will hand over to any of them by personal proclamation, it is a Lie.
That has not happened since the creation of Imo.
The State is sophisticated and rises up defiantly at the last hour. Ask Govs Udenwa and Okorocha.
When former Governor Rochas Okorocha plotted to hand over power to his Son Inlaw, Uche Nwosu,the Young Man still set up his own Structure,Ugwu Mba Movement,outside the core structure of Okorocha and APC and later Action Alliance AA.
Uzodinma has his own Structure called “Camp Hope” which is still intact and would be used to execute his Senatorial election in January.
Are the Owerri APC Aspirants believing that Uzodimma will lend them his “Camp Hope” Structure to deliver them in their LGAs in Owerri Zone?
Can you be a Governor without your own Political Structure, moulded in your own Image?
Did Tinubu use Buhari’s Political Structure to ascend to Presidency since they are friends and of same party?
A future Governor should not be a puppet to the extent of waiting for direction, directive and fund from another structure to get to office.
You must begin from some where first before being helped.
It means when such fellow is foisted into Office as Governor he won’t have a Mind of his own.He cannot wake up without calling his predecessor every morning.
It is said from APC sources that many Aspirants are coming out from Owerri Zone but still waiting for Signal from Governor Uzodimma.
They are many, though have not publicly declared their ambitions except one Chief Reginald Amadi from Emekuku, Owerri North LGA.
Those said to be waiting for go ahead include:Chief Dr Henry Njoku(Harritex) Macdonald Ebere PhD,Chief Jerry Chukwueke,Sir Jude Ejiogu, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Hon Ikenna Elezieanya,Chief Akagburuonye,Chief Amuchie and Hon Alex Emeziem.
Apart from Elezieany, Amuchie, Akagburuonye, Ebere and Emeziem, the rest are from Owerri North LGA.
Next edition we shall deal with Aspirants from Owerri Zone who have no Godfathers but are their own Godfathers and have since rolled off their Governorship Projects,and not waiting for any anointing from any source.
They are His Excellency,Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha(African Democratic Congress,ADC)
Senator Samuel Anyanwu(Peoples Democratic Party,PDP)
Chief Martin Agbaso (National Democratic Congress, NDC)
Dr Sam Amadi(National Democratic Congress, NDC) and
Dr Chima Amad
i(Alliance Peoples Party,APP).
See you next week.
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