Everest Ezihe || Governor Rochas Okorocha is a known political strategist with courage and will, however, now is not the best of time for him. The pressure and stress are manifesting daily in his physical well being.
The Governor’s ambition to handpick and install his successor in 2019 general polls is already pitching him with his strong political allies, but my People! My People!! Governor seems undeterred, just as some of his close strong political confidants have vowed to resist any imposition of a candidate by him. Herein lies the political battle line.
Okorocha from his body language is seriously positioning his son in law Ugwu Mba Uche Nwosu to succeed him in 2019. Nwosu who married Okorocha’s first daughter about four years ago is the current Chief of Staff to the Government House. In Imo State, due to the backing of the Governor and his family, people perceived him as the de facto Governor as the Governor shifts critical responsibilities to him.
He is the envy of every political appointee in the present Rescue Mission Administration. To be honest with you, it is not as if Ugwumba Nwosu is exceptional in intelligence and performances but the positioning as leveraged by his father in law makes the fear of Uche Nwosu in Imo State APC and Okorocha’s political circle as the beginning of wisdom.
Certainly, youthful Nwosu has been financially fortified for the battle ahead, but amidst all these, Governor Okorocha’s known political pillars in 2011 and 2015 general elections have vowed to resist the Governor endorsing his son in law to succeed him, to them “This is another third term”.
These are political icons who played prominent roles to enthrone Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the Governor of Eastern Heartland in 2011 and 2015 respectively.
Ironically, they know Governor Okorocha’s political gimmicks and tactics, but they have laid landmines that may even consume the Governor future political career if he insists in foisting Chief Nwosu on Imo citizens come 2019.
These men are Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Ararume, Barr. Uche Onyeagocha, Senator Osita Izunaso, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, Dr. Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe, Hon. Bethel Nzimako, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, Chief Allan B Onyemaechi and the masses.
These men of caliber used to be political men Friday for Owelle Okorocha until recently, the issue of successor and interest is tearing them apart. These men have vowed to vehemently resist the Governor’s succession plans, using all legitimate means. They are fortifying themselves in one accord. To them, the political project is no retreat no surrender until uncompromised victory is assured. They are seriously recruiting like minds.
The masses are inclusive in this battle of political survival, ego and relevance because Governor Okorocha is deep rooted with the masses; The masses and his followers are his greatest political asset but the alleged succession interest have caused the Governor to lose, so much of their loyalty, cooperation, and support.
The governance of these men and some of the masses against the Governor with regards to the succession plan is that Comrade Uche Nwosu who hails from Eziama Obiere in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Orlu senatorial zone is of the same senatorial zone with Governor Okorocha whose 8-year tenure terminates on 29th May 2019.
They equally cited that in the current political dispensation, between 1999-2007 Chief Achike Udenwa of Amaifeke in Orlu L.G.A of Orlu Senatorial Zone was an Executive Governor of the State for 8 years.
They canvassed that the state under its political charter of equity is withheld on a tripod of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe Senatorial zones. To them, therefore, it will amount to injustice and political slavery to allow another Orlu man to saddle on top of the state power at the detriment of other zones, as Orlu Senatorial Zone having been Executive Governor of the State for 16 years. They are of the view that power must rotate within the tripod.
They also accused Governor Okorocha as one man who does not believe in zoning system even though he has been a beneficiary of zoning arrangement. The Governor sees zoning as encouraging mediocrity and acts of cowardice, while politics to him is the survival of the fittest. Secondly, he is a man that hates his will and guts being challenged, though he could be lily livered when the political battle becomes too hot.
It is pertinent to do a critical analysis of each of these men, the role they played in Governor Okorocha’s political camp and why they are having personal grudges against their one-time political field marshal.
SENATOR GODWIN IFEANYI ARARUME
This business mogul turned astute politician hails from Isibu in Isiala Mbano Council Area of Imo State, between 1999-2007, he was in the Senate and represented Okigwe Senatorial Zone efficiently and effectively. Ararume and Okorocha in Imo State political structure and calculation have never been in the same political camp, but this Jinx was broken in 2015 gubernatorial election. Prior to the general elections, Ararume was in PDP and ran for the Governorship primary of the party. It was alleged that he won the primary but PDP allegedly manipulated the result to favour Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, then the Deputy Speaker, House of Representative, Abuja. Ararume as a dogged politician went to court with PDP asking the party to restore the ticket the party delegates gave to him. Then too, Owelle Okorocha was governor of Imo State and was desperate for the renewal of his second term constitutional mandate under the auspices of APC. Okorocha then was popular among the masses due to his massive infrastructural transformation and developmental initiatives, but the people hated his party – APC with passion describing it as Northern Islamic party. Ararume in order to slight PDP for denying him ticket entered into an alliance with Owelle Rochas Okorocha and delivered entire Okigwe Senatorial Zone to APC. Though it was rumoured that Ararume collected several millions of Naira from the Governor before the delivery.
The Governor also later made Ararume’s first Son Commissioner for Commerce and Industries which Senior Ararume publicly disassociated himself claiming that the Governor never consulted him for the appointment and alleged pitching him with his son.
Ararume further told members of his Destiny Organization that part of the windfall for helping Governor Okorocha Second term bid to Douglas House is a mutual agreement that the Governor will hand over power to him in 2019. Though Governor Okorocha have denied this in several forays rather insisting that he has adequately compensated Senator Ararume for his anti-party activities then in favour of APC.
Subsequently following the imbroglio between Ararume and PDP, the Distinguished Senator Carpet crossed to APC and his eyes are in the party’s gubernatorial ticket come 2019. This is how the cookie crumbled. The Governor as a matter of ego and continuity has vowed to produce his successor who must be below 50 years old.
The Governor has equally severally sworn that over his dead body will Senator Goddy Ararume succeed him. The battle Line is drawn, each of them wore heavy financial war chest and with intimidating followers. During APC last state, local government and ward congresses, Ararume group gave the Governor’s Rescue Mission group upper cut by ensuring they get the majority of the nationally certified delegates.
BARR. UCHE ONYEAGOCHA
Is a legal luminary, social crusader turned politician. He hails from Obinze in Owerri West Local Government Area. Hon. Onyeagocha was in the House of Representative and represented Owerri Federal Constituency between 2003-2007 under the platform of APGA. Since then, he has remained politically relevant. In 2015, following the Governor’s assistance and support Onyeagocha won Owerri Senatorial Primary of APC and failed during the general election to Hon. Sam Daddy Anyanwu of PDP. Since the 2015 general election Onyeagocha has been hanging around the Government House building hope that Governor Rochas Okorocha will settle him with one meaningful political appointment, but to no avail, until four months ago Onyeagocha like a wounded lion started supporting the clarion call for Governorship of Owerri Zone extraction come 2019. This irked the governor. They engaged in Media Vitriolic war that made the Governor to sponsor Onyeagocha’s kinsmen include his traditional ruler to publicly disown him as a prodigal son and this was done. Onyeagocha carried his followers and entered political trenches with volcanic resistance of Orlu man ascending the throne.
He facilitated the formation of two socio-political pressure groups Odinma Owerri Zone and Imo Equity Movement to achieve his mission. The groups are seriously galvanizing consciousness of having Owerri Zone man or woman to succeed Governor Okorocha. They are equally sensitizing people against Governor Okorocha endorsement of his son in law or any other person outside Owerri Senatorial Zone.
SENATOR OSITA IZUNASO
Senator Izunaso hails from Oru West and presently the National Organizing Secretary of APC, he is among the political pillars of Governor Okorocha but both became political enemies after the 2015 general election as Izunaso accused the Governor of circumvented his efforts to win the Orlu Senatorial Seat. Secondly, he sees it as an aberration for the Governor to contemplate using his in law to succeed him. Thus, Izunaso is in the boat of political like minds for the “Operation Stop-Uche Nwosu on slut”. He equally accused the Governor of neglecting him in political activities of the state and he is eager to dwindle the Governor’s political profile.
He hails from Egbuoma in Oguta Local Area of Imo State currently he is the junior Minister in the Federal Ministry of Education. He was Governor Okorocha’s Campaign Director General, in 2011, the Governor made him the Secretary to Imo State Government, to tie his family bond with Owelle Rochas Okorocha, one of his sons got married to Governor Okorocha’s second daughter. However, Prof. Anwuka is known as no nonsense man, he has made it a media issue that he will fight Okorocha dirty if he tries to impose any candidate on the party. He is a Democrat and an activist that firmly believed in due process. He recently accused the Governor of sending him to Abuja and only to abandon him. He has joined other Patriots in the Vanguard of check mating Governor Okorocha’s perceived political impunity and excesses ahead of 2011.
DR. VITALIS ORIKAEZE AJUMBE
A renowned social crusader turned politician. He hails from Ikeduru LGA and has worked with Governor Rochas Okorocha as Chairman of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Management Committee, later Commissioner for Internal Revenue and Pension Matters and Chairman Imo State Investment and Trade Centre. He is a man that firmly believes in due process, Probity, Planning, and accountability; this brought him in conflict with Governor Okorocha, who thinks otherwise. The way and manner Governor Okorocha sidelined him in scheme of things made him to be frustrated and aggrieved. He has seriously pitched tent with Senator Ararume ahead of 2019. His identification with Senator Ararume is causing serious ripples in Governor Okorocha’s political camp. He is privileged to a lot of the Government dirty secrets.
BARR. SORONNADI NJOKU (SAN)
He hails from Ngor Okpuala and was Governor Okorocha’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. He talks badly of Governor Okorocha’s system of governance and violation of rule of law. He is presently a board member of Senator Ararume’s Destiny Organization. His commitment in ensuring that Rochas Okorocha is humiliated out of office is not in doubt. He feels injured, insulted and neglected by Governor Okorocha and he feels 2019 is a payback time.
PROF. UKACHUKWU AWUZIE
Prof. Awuzie was a one time President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), he later, became a substantive Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Owerri. Governor Okorocha abruptly removed him without allowing him to complete his tenure and install his niece Prof. Adaobi Obasi. He took the State Governor to court. He is still aggrieved and against the Governor. He is now a point man in the fight against Governor Okorocha’s succession plans.
IMO MASSES
Governor Okorocha is one politician that grew through the popular love of the masses. He knows how to galvanized and mobilized the masses. In 2011 and 2015 general polls, the masses were ready to die for the Governor. He so endeared himself to them that the shout of Owelle! Owelle!! Owelle!!! became an in-thing just as my Governor! My Governor!! Then Governor Okorocha greatest happiness is waving back at the masses who always hail him and his entourage as they traversed the nooks and crannies of the state.
Unfortunately, as at today, Governor Okorocha’s popularity rating has nose dived to less than 40%. The people no longer wave nor hail him, they rather boo him. The reason is due to some unpopular decisions of the Government against their interests, like demolition exercise under Imo My Pride master plan, relocation of Eke Ukwu Owerre Market, poverty in the land which has necessitated hunger and criminal activities.
The majority of the masses are poised to reject and work against any candidate endorsed by the Governor and even APC.
It is certain that Barr. Bethel Nzimako, Chief Allan B. Onyemachi and so many others who were political pillars in the Governor’s political calculations and camp have abandoned the Rescue Mission. They are currently on vendetta war pact with the Governor. They have vowed to resist the Governor from producing any successor of his choice. They are now strong back bones to Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Ararume in another political battle coded “Operation Stop Owelle Rochas Anayochukwu Okorocha from Imposing a Successor on Imolites”
Obviously, most of Okorocha’s recent past political allies are in trenches, battle ready for the Governor’s ambition to produce his youthful son in law- Danzaki Uche Nwosu as his successor in 2019, will they succeed? Okorocha is one man known to enjoy political war, moreso, he has amassed so much wealth that he can even buy over his political detractors. The time is ticking and the political gladiators are strategically oiling their Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles to outwit each other, Who wins? Time will tell.