Is for former imo state governor, chief ikedi ohakim really coming back come 2015 election in imo state??? Read this: As the Prof. Attahiru Jega- led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares to blow the whistle to officially announce the commencement of political activities ahead of 2015 general elections, political gladiators and elective office seekers have already returned to the drawing board apparently re-strategizing towards retaining or dislodging those already in power. Many political parties have equally begun to marshal out strategies as well as put certain mechanism in place to ensure that equity, justice and fairness prevail while marching towards nominating credible and acceptable candidates for elective positions. Party administrators are also not unmindful of the unhealthy rivalry and internal wrangling that always tend to weaken political parties that mismanage its internal businesses as regards to primary elections. In Imo state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be facing an unusual challenge associated with the nomination its governorship candidate whose choice would be largely justified by the tripod of equity, justice and fairness. This becomes more challenging as the party cannot easily discard the Charter of Equity which has remained a deciding factor in the governorship of the state since 1999. The journey of Imo Charter of Equity began on sound note with Chief Achike Udenwa who governed eight years uninterrupted for Orlu zone. In 2007, this equitable and rotational plan was threatened owing to internal wrangling and power play that engulfed the PDP. However, Imo leaders and electorate acted and voted wisely to retain the Charter of Equity as Chief Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone was voted into power as Udenwas successor. Unfortunately, Ohakim whose vision for holistic socio- economic emancipation of Imo state as conceptualized in the New Face of Imo and tailored to run for eight years under the spirit of Imo Charter of Equity became a victim of blackmail, destructive politics and pull- him- down activities overtly sponsored by Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume and his infamous Imo Alliance for Good Governance. As Ohakim committed enormous resources to rebuild the demoralized and abandoned PDP, Sen. Ararume was busy recruiting some agents of darkness like Dr. Alex Obi to pull the party down. They advanced some hi- tech technologies to blackmail and tarnished Ohakims image for the purpose of scuttling his 2011 re- election project. They also went as far as deceiving Rev. Fr. Mbaka into believing that Ohakim assaulted a catholic priest. Unfortunately again, Fr. Mbaka overreacted and composed a damaging song which raised strong opposition against Ohakim who hitherto enjoyed a very cordial and blossomed relationship with the catholic community in the state. But today, the same Ararume after destroying PDP in 2011 is busy junketing all over the state in his desperation to contest the 2015 governorship election under the same PDP platform. Ararumes ambition is not only nauseating but morally unjustifiable as such will remain unacceptable to the PDP. It is obviously not an easy task to manage the diverse interests of about twenty aspirants who have keenly shown interest to take over governance from Governor Rochas Okorocha and his wobbling APC. The people of Owerri and Okigwe have legitimately laid claims anchored on the Charter of Equity while others advocate for the abrogation of that gentleman agreement. Those demanding that Imo Charter of Equity otherwise known as zoning be relaxed, equally argued that an open primary devoid of manipulation will guarantee the emergence of a strong PDP governorship candidate with enormous capacity to defeat Okorocha who equally seeks for re- election. With several options on the political chessboard, the PDP should better give attention to Ohakims claims who presently remains the leader of the party in Imo. Though not his apologist, the former governor has reasonably raised critical issues that bother on equity, justice and fairness. The four years that would have been eaten by the locusts by 2015 should be completely erased out of the present political calculation to avoid denying Okigwe zone their remaining four years. This because all of us in one way or the other are guilty of Okorochas election in 2011. My instinct, for sure, has always alerted me that God deliberately allowed Okorocha to have his way for Imolites including Ohakim to learn some lessons as well as change approach to issues relating to governance. Nobody should be punished or crucified for the 2011 accident as all that happened was ultimately designed for a purpose. That essentially accounts to the reason why before power finally returns to Owerri zone, the people of Okigwe should be graciously allowed to complete their remaining four years with Ohakim as the only constitutionally qualified aspirant to do only one term of four years. Any other aspirant from Okigwe zone stands to shift the goalpost at the detriment of Owerri zone. Besides, this calculation will provide another opportunity for Ohakim to fully implement his well articulated programmes expected to return Imo back on the path of glory. There is no gainsaying that Okorocha who never prepared for governance has ended up destroying the state and its economy with his clueless and inept administration. Today, Imo as a state is presently run as an offshoot of Rochas Foundation with his siblings and in-laws visibly milking the state dry with impunity. This unfortunate but sad development has made Imolites to realize the need to re- introduce Ohakims vision that obviously led to massive job creation, youth and women empowerment, industrialization, solid road construction project, rural development driven by democratically elected local government system and environmental cleanliness that made Owerri the cleanest state capital in Nigeria during his time . Finally, the recent revelation by Fr. Mbaka that exonerated Ohakim from the widespread allegation that he assaulted a catholic priest and also having established that he was indeed a victim of malicious blackmail should be practically acknowledged by the PDP. Hence he still stands as PDP candidate after the 2011 elections, the party should formally revalidate the ticket to enable him run again on its platform come 2015. After listening to Fr. Mbakas revelation, I was compelled to completely agree with the former governor on his earlier submission that he never lost the 2011 election. Though I disagreed with him on the second leg of that submission which suggested that he lost to miscalculation, Ohakim for me simply lost to the divine wish of Almighty God who decided to expose Okorocha having paraded himself for long as a philanthropist and man of the people. That one term he asked for was what God needed to truly unmask his real person. Today, Imolites are happy that governance has exposed the man called Owelle Rochas Okorocha whom many believed was on rescue mission. His deceit, greed, wickedness and uncontrollable appetite for wealth and landed property are now well known by Imo people. Therefore, to ensure a more united and formidable PDP ahead of 2015 general elections, the national leadership and stakeholders of the party should treat Imo specially considering the peculiarity of its political terrain to ensure that justice, equity and fairness prevail as Ohakim emerges its governorship candidate ahead of the general elections. The post Imo 2015: Why PDP Should Consider Ohakim Now appeared first on Pointblank News .
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 21:12:57 +0000
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