Behind the scene: how Obiano emerged. When the going was good between Obi and Umeh, Peter Obi confided in Umeh that he would want Obiano to succeed him in office. He gave Umeh his reasons and both kept it as their secret. But as political events continue to unfold, Umeh fell out with Obi and both went into political cold war for about 2 years. During this period, which was preceding Anambra state guber election of 2013, Obi had changed his mind on Obiano succeeding him on reasons best known to him. While Umeh started shopping for his own candidate. Umeh started with Ifeanyi Ubah, and later dumped him after Ubah was alleged to have spent over 700 million naira in sustaining the Umeh group. He however ran to Soludo and promised him APGA ticket. Obi on his own side, who had made up his mind to take power to Anambra north senatorial zone asked the stakeholders especially the traditional rulers and PGs from the zone to come up with a consensus candidate. The stakeholders came up with Dr Obidigbo, as the most qualified, most acceptable and most competent of all their sons and daughters aspiring to govern the state. While this political horse trading was going on between Umeh and Obi, the Appeal court, Enugu division on July 15, 2013 gave a favourable judgement to Umeh, and dismissed the judgement of Enugu high court brought before it by ichie Jude Okuli. The Appeal court judgement however became a hypocritical reconciliation platform upon which Umeh and Obi were seen at govt house Awka kissing each other. After the much celebrated kiss, Umeh and Obi went back to intense horse trading again. Umeh knew that Obi will not accept Soludo, whom he has promised ticket, and sensing that Obi had also dropped the idea of supporting Obiano for the race, he travelled to USA where Obiano was living and met with him. Obiano was aware that Obi had dropped the idea of supporting him for the guber race so his meeting with Umeh was on how to outwit Obi. Umeh then had agreement with Obiano on how to share the political fortunes of APGA and Anambra should they succeed in outwitting Obi. Their major agreement is that Obiano will rule for 8yrs while Umeh goes to senate. After Obianos 8yrs, Umeh will come down from senate and contest governorship and Obiano will handover power to him. Armed with this pact, Umeh returned to Nigeria and smartly started pushing for Obi to accept Soludo as APGA candidate. When Obi refused the candidature of Soludo, Umeh pointedly told him that the only option left is Obiano whom he had earlier introduced to him. All Obis effort to use his preferred candidate was blocked by Umeh who reminded Obi that it is only him who is constitutionally empowered to sign and submit candidates name to INEC. Obi left with no other choice, accepted Obiano without knowing he has had a pact with Umeh. Today, both Umeh and Obiano have started executing their agreement while Obi watches from afar. The best Obi did was to wash off his hands in both Obianos govt and Umeh APGA. And this was part of the reason he resigned as Umehs BOT chairman.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 07:17:41 +0000
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