Imo: Udenwa As a Factor
With Governor Achike Udenwa's two terms, Orlu zone is not expected to be a contender in 2007. This leaves the battle between Okigwe and Owerri, that is, if consideration is given to power rotation. Whichever way it turns out, the contest for the Imo State Government House in 2007 will bear the imprint of Udenwa, writes Christopher Isiguzo in Owerri
Looking at the tumultuous political history of Imo State, that prides itself as the Eastern Heartland, the contest which will determine who succeeds Governor Achike Udenwa will be an ardous one, even though it is almost three years away.
It is tasky because whoever that plans to step into the shoes of Dr. Udenwa must have to navigate his way, safely through several mindsets. Already, calculations have begun with the issue of zoning arrangement topping the list.
At the very centre of this tensed political atmosphere is the Governor, who many believe, has a serious role to play in ensuring who takes over from him by 2007.
Given the situation on ground now, each of the three senatorial zones, of Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe has started making underground moves towards clinching the coveted position.
Okigwe zone which is obviously in the minority with only six local governments, appeared to be more favoured considering the fact that the zone has not produced a governor since the carving out of Abia State from it.
It only produced the first civilian governor, Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe of blessed memory between 1979 and 1983. So, for this zone to really make serious impact in the forthcoming polls, it has to do extra-work by reaching out to other two zones, that are also not leaving anything to chance. Chief Mbakwe ruled the state for about four and half years while the incumbent Deputy Governor, Chief Ebere Udeagu is also from the zone.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the zone, Chief Sylvester Nwankwo told THISDAY that it has taken long since the zone ruled the state, stressing that it will be unfair and an injustice of the highest order if the governorship was denied them by 2007.
Already many of their sons have started strategising on how to realize the project, but their greatest fear is that should the race be thrown open to all the zones, then they may likely not make any impact with only six councils, whereas the other two zones of Owerri and Orlu have nine and 12 councils respectively.
For the Orlu zone where the incumbent governor hails from, serious politicking has also started as they are sounding it loud and clear that there is no written agreement that power must rotate among the three zones. To them power should be grabbed by the highest bidder, moreso, now that the governorship seat has gone round with Udenwa in his second term.
They also have a veritable case which seems to be working in their favour. Neither the 1999 nor the 2003 elections was restricted to Orlu zone. In 2003, the three zones fielded candidates for the gubernatorial election. For instance, the PDP had candidate from Orlu, Chief Achike Udenwa, the governor, Alliance for Democracy (AD) also has candidate from Orlu zone, Chief Hope Uzodimma from Oru East Local Government Area, the All Nigeria peoples Party (ANPP) had her candidate, Chief Humphery Anumudu from Mbaitoli council in Owerri zone, National Democratic Party (NDP), Chief Emeka Nwajiuba is from Ehime Mbano LGA of Okigwe zone, while Chief Ezekiel Izuogu of APGA is from Ideato in Orlu zone also.
"If not for the doggedness, determination and commitment of the incumbent governor, any of these people could have grabbed it in 2003. That automatically closes the issue of zoning" a top aide of the governor, who preferred not to be named told our correspondent.
With 12 councils, if Orlu zone puts it acts together and succeeds in getting may be three or four councils from the other two zones, the coast will be clear for it to continue to win the governorship seat until it gets tired.
The Owerri zone on their part is also making efforts to make impact in the 2007 gubernatorial election. The leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and a National Trustee of the party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanuanwu is in this zone and wields a lot of influence that cuts across senatorial districts. Even though, he is said to have stepped on a lot of toes, the proprietor of Champion Newspapers and the south-east coordinator of the Obasanjo/Atiku campaign in 2003 still has the state in his control.
Outside that, they also have a calculation that the zone has not produced any governor in a democratic setting. Former governor, Evan Enwerem who was the governor for less than two years, served under General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, who was the then Head of State.
"It can't be said that Owerri zone has taken her turn democratically, besides, Chief Enwerem could not serve out one term, which automatically made our case a perculiar one. Mbakwe of Okigwe zone served out one term and went into second term, Udenwa is already in his second term, therefore it will be our turn by 2007" a political analyst, Mr. Christian Nwokocha told THISDAY in Owerri.
With her nine local government areas, the zone appears highly favoured to grab the opportunity when the time comes.
However, despite all this rhetorics of zoning, and even with Udenwa factor, the race may not be predictable. This is because those whose names have been mentioned with the 2007 project in Imo are heavy-weights in their own right and as such cannot be easily pushed aside.
The list though a growing one, has on it the incumbent Deputy Governor, Chief Ebere Udeagu, the senator representing Okigwe zone, Chief Ifeanyi Ararume, Chief Alex Mbakwe, the son of the former Governor of old Imo State, Late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, from Okigwe zone; former speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Noel Agwuocha, the state Chairman of PDP, Dr. Alex Obi, Hon. Stanford Onyirimba. Majority leader emeritus, Imo Assembly, Computer wizard and Chairman of Assurance Bank, Dr. Leo Stan Eke, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, multi-millionaire businessman, Chief Humphrey Anumudu (for Owerri zone) and Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, 2003, governorship candidate of AD, Chief Hope Uzodinma, for Orlu zone.
It is pertinent to note that the trio of the ruling party PDP, ANPP and APGA have not zoned the gubernatorial ticket for now. It is only natural that this politicking and calculations that are the precusor of the race for 2007 would breed several questions, one of which is, what does the future hold for the aspirations of these politicians?
Engr. Ebere Udeagu is the incumbent Deputy governor of the state and hails from Ihube in Okigwe council. Since he came in as Udenwa's running mate and subsequently deputy governor, their relationship has been so cordial. Should it remain the same till the end of their second term, then, he may as well get the governor's nod, especially with the fact that he's from the minority zone. He is intellectually sound and is said to have accumulated so much wealth which may stand him in good stead to finance his campaign when he so declares.
The senator representing Okigwe zone Senator Ifeanyi Ararume is not hiding his determination and readiness to succeed Governor Udenwa come 2007. Since, all his effort to get the senate presidency position has failed, he's said to have decided to invest all he has in his governorship project. At a function in Umuna near his Isiala Mbano Council, the senator urged the people to use performance as a major criteria for measuring who becomes the next governor. As a two time senator, Ararume has attracted many projects to his zone, inclucing rural electrification, road reconstruction and provision of portable water. He also enjoys a cordial relationship with the state governor.
The defeated NDP candidate in the April 19, 2003 gubernatorial election and former member of the House of Representatives Emeka Nwajuiba was highly favoured to win last year election. He was said to have won the ANPP primaries against Anumudu, but the mandate, according to him was "stolen". Nwajiuba, a multi-millionarie businessman is said to have returned to his former ANPP, this time to pick the party's ticket for the 2007 polls.
Chief Alex Mbakwe the son of the governor of the old Imo State, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, contested the 2003 governorship but lost to Udenwa. He is said to be nursing the same ambition, with the intention of using his fathers high political profile as spring-board. However, his major obstacle may be lack of funds which also affected his electoral campaign in 2003.
Former speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and presently the commissioner for public utilities in Imo State, Chief Noel Agwuocha- Chukwukadibia is said to be eyeing the number one position in the state. He hails from Ahiazu Mbaise and is said to be working seriously to realize his dream.
Chief Stanford Onyirimba, Emeritus majority leader and still the member representing Ehime Mbano in the Imo State House of Assembly. He's said to have started strategising on to clinch the coveted seat. He has acquired some wealth and is also said to be higly influential in his local government, but his major set back could be his readiness to convince the other zones to support his aspiriation.
Leo Stan Ekeh hails from Ubomiri in Mbaitoli local government area. He is also the man behind the zinox computer and Assurance Bank family. Eke is said to be under pressure from several highly placed and well connected Imo indigenes to run for the 2007 governorship slot. But, there are strong feelers that although the IT guru ,may seriously be considering the option of going into full time politics. He still maintains a cautious stance on which of the elective positions to vie for.
He lost the governorship last year to Udenwa, having contested as the ANPP candidate Chief Humphery Anumudu hails from Mbaitoli LGA and is also the brother of the Multi-millionarie business magnet and the Chief Executive of Globe Motors, Chief Willian Anumudu. If he decides to try his luck again, it will certainly make Imo the state to watch by 2007.
As APGA candidate in the 2003 polls, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu lost the election by whyskers. He also tried his luck in 1999, but the Ideato born politician would need extra convincing power to woo anybody to support anybody from Orlu zone, especiallly, (by then) Udenwa will be serving out his eight year in office.
Highly influential and multi-millionaire. Chief Hope Uzodinma left PDP before the least election to join AD. He really gave the governor a challenge but lost apparently because of his political party which was almost unknown in the state. During his return to PDP, earlier in the year, he pulled the national leadership of the party to his Oru east local government, even though both the PDP in Imo State and the government boycotted it.
Alex Obi is the current chairman of PDP in Imo State. He is also in the good books of Udenwa. Obi was instrumental to the re-election of Udenwa who may wish to reward the party chairman when the 2007 gubernatorial election begins. Obi is also a team player who has been able to hold the ruling party together since he assumed the postion.
However, inspite of all the political permutations, except the electoral system is radically re-organized by 2007, Udenwa, not the electorate would decide who succeeds him. For now, the identity of the heir apparent is still Udenwa's guided secret that only time will unfold.
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