Waiting for PDP on zoning for equity in Imo State

By Cyril Aririguzo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have scored high points politically with the way it handled its National Convention in Port Harcourt Rivers State, despite being engulfed in all sorts of crisis, court cases, melodrama arising from internal party conflicts at all the levels, a situation that has made many in the party to pitch tent against one another. With the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) the party has taken a bold step to reconcile and accommodate everybody irrespective of their grievances, is a right step to the right direction. The postponement of the scheduled election by the party stakeholders and the appointment of a new seven-man Caretaker committee headed by Senator Ahmed Markarfi as its Chairman and Senator Ben Obi as the Secretary, has raised hopes that PDP is alive again and sensitive to the yearning of members as well as issues on ground. The motion to sack the national officers of the party which was moved by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Austin Opara, and was seconded by another former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha has laid to rest all the noise and hullabaloo that PDP is not capable of handling its affairs. With the motion to set up the new Caretaker Committee moved by former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio and was seconded by Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, the governor of Gombe state equally added radiance to the development. The arrangement is for the new Caretaker Committee to organize a convention for the party within 90 days, with a mandate to reconcile the entire feuding groups in the party. Importantly also, the party did not fail to address the issue of zoning for equity and justice in Nigeria by boldly zoning its presidential slot for 2019 general elections to the North. With such strategy it will be obvious that the wobbling APC government of President Buhari, knows for sure that PDP is capable of taking over power with ease by all ramifications. Those in attendance which include a long list of serving PDP governors, former governors, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, members of the state and National Assembly, Chairmen of LGAs and party stalwarts turned out to give their support with the affirmation of ‘ayes, ayes’ and ‘nay, nay’ to concretize the party decisions.

To me the Port Harcourt Convention was a huge success by all ramifications given that most of the leaders who form the nucleus of the party were present in their large numbers. The decisions reached were thoroughly and carefully done to give everybody a sense of belonging and to ensure the party is made cohesive to win the 2019 election. We learnt also that the aggrieved chieftains of the party under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders running a parallel convention in Abuja are now happy and willing to return to work with the new Caretaker Committee. This sign shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel. PDP is alive once more and will continue to live above mediocrity and ensure respect for one another politically. As an advocate of equity, justice and fairness in the distribution of political office, it interests me to note that PDP as a political party can be taken seriously as a party with difference, poised to set the records rights by implication, with the zoning of its presidential slot for 2019 general election to the North. This will definitely help PDP a lot because contending for power without adequate planning and good strategy on how to achieve it especially when a group lacks synergy, direction, unity and deep sense of collectivism which is a prerequisite credential for durable political achievement will make the task unrealistic and impossible. With this kind of strategy, PDP will give APC a battle of their life come 2019. Leadership by zoning enshrined on the principle of equity, justice and fairness like the Imo Charter of Equity will always serve as a cardinal point to simplify and address the issue of Imo political equation which has always raised concern in the party. The principle of power rotation has not been observed in the spirit of equitable distribution of political position for a long time now in Imo State. The development has been the reason for the dwindling fortune of our state where mediocrity and high handedness have reigned supreme. Marginalization and shortchanging of Owerri Zone by some strange elements in PDP has become a re-occurring decimal and pathetic issue begging for solutions, and the earlier PDP resolves the matter the better for them. Come to think of it, and for anybody or group no matter how highly placed to deliberately strangle the principle of justice, equity and fairness with the mindset to usurp power and shortchange Owerri Zone will definitely boomerang at the end of the day with the level of awareness in Imo at the present. The emerging development in PDP at the national level can be copied by Imo PDP and tailored to suit equity and fairness by zoning the governorship to Owerri zone. This is the only way to deliver a credible opposition that can win APC in 2019.

We all know that PDP lost in Imo state, not because the people did not vote for Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha the PDP candidate, but because our courts refused to listen to the glaring case of fraud perpetuated by INEC and APC government that shortchanged PDP during the election. The Courts decided to shut the doors and never want to listen to facts in the petition before them for reasons best known to them. It is a fact and I stand to be corrected as I will continue to say it that Rt. Hon Ihedioha’s campaign Organization was simply superb by all standards, be it in the media, ideology, organizational structure it was splendid and the best in the history of the state. Rt. Hon Ihedioha was widely accepted by political, traditional and religious leaders in the state. His campaign train in the 27 LGAs visited, youths, students, market women, church leaders of all denomination threw their weight behind him. Political timber and caliber, the organized private sector, trade union and artisans were in total support and voted him massively. We all know about what transpired in INEC, the fraud that took place with all the evidence that were not listened to in the courts. No doubt, if the courts had taken the boldness to listen to the merits of the petitions and not to have decided otherwise, Ihedioha would have floored Okorocha and become the governor. Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha was the ultimate choice of the people and his chances then of winning a non performing Governor Okorocha was very high without prejudice. Many believed the prevailing poverty, insensitivity of plights of Imolites coupled with the societal decadence permeating Imo state can only be stopped by the likes of Hon Ihedioha who everybody know was a no match to Okorocha intellectually. Having been groomed politically as a parliamentarian with vast knowledge in political education, his capacity and mentoring in the green chambers was giving him an edge and pedigree over Okorocha as one that can enforce positive changes in the state. With the adoption of 27 LGA chairmen whose names were published by the National Convention Committee and other stakeholders from Imo, I wish to congratulate, Chief Charles Ogaziechi, Innocent Offurm, Njoku Maurison, Solomon Onwuegbuchulam, Azuatalam Uzochukwu, Okechukwu Opara, Chineemerem Madu, Richard Iwu, Obinna Onuama, Onyeoma Cy Obichendu, Kingsley Anayo, Paul Uche, Arc. Iwuoha Mac Athony, Ofoegbu Jude, Anyanwu Emmanuel, Fred Opia, Kenneth Akunnakwe, Eugene Okorie, Charles Nnorom, Anayo Uduchukwu, A. Obodosha, Nze Lawrence Nwadike, Marcel Amadioha, Isaac Duruoha, Ifeanyi Oru, Uchenna Osuigwe and Chukwuemeka Ikeaka for making the list and to see the task before them as call to service. They must ensure they carry everybody along in the scheme of thing at their wards and local government areas. This is because it is only in Imo state where things are never done with utmost sensitivity, every state in the South East apart from Imo state have been observing equity and rotation in the sharing of political office to give all groups a sense of belonging. For instance, in Enugu State the present Governor, Ugwanyi is from Enugu North, his predecessor Sullivan Chime is from Enugu West while Nnamani who was before him came for Enugu East. In Abia State present Governor Ikpeazu is from Abia South his predecessor Theodore Orji is from Abia Central while Orji Uzor Kalu is from Abia North. Governor Obiano of Anambra State is from Anambra North his predecessor Peter Obi is from Anambra Central while Chinwike Mbadinuju is from Anambra South. In Ebonyi State, the present Governor Umahi is from Ebonyi South Martin Elechi who was before him, came from Ebonyi Central while Sam Egwu came from Ebonyi North. This rotation of political office should be done for every zone to taste power at the center, and this can help our state to grow in political stability.