My Fears For Owerri Zone.
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| Amadi |
One
factor seems to be bonding the people of the zone together. And that
instrument of unity is not far fetched. It is the quest and resolve
to produce Governor Rochas Okorocha’s successor in 2015.
For
a long period, Owerri Zone has been in political wilderness. Ever
since Owerri Zone Elders Forum went into oblivion, the zone has been
on a wild goose chase. Like a football team without a coach, the zone
has lost political direction. It only boasts of political and
economic titans but lack the ability to come together to forge the
interest of the zone. And I tell those who care to listen, that this
is why the zone is always the first to be either marginalized or
sidelined from scheme of things in the State.
Owerri
zone posses men and women who are dis and dat either in the
political or economic stage of the country, yet they always parade
the begging bowl of the Imo political family. Our sons and daughters
are connected to the low and mighty in the country, nay the globe,
yet the zone has not maximized the benefits of such exceptional and
high level contacts for the overall benefit of the people of the
zone. In otherwords, they have nothing to show for it.
The
Onyenakenya mentality has found a taproot in the political
tree of the zone. Our leaders relish in the art of politics of
individualism, they prefer to segregate against one another rather
than congregate to achieve collective interests. The political
scenario in the zone is pathetic. It is a case of one house divided
against itself. It is a zone where elephants are always on the war
path seeking to undo one another politically.
It
is pertinent the new generation of leaders of the zone see these
factors as reasons why the zone is witnessing political agony. While
these factors were prevalent in the past, it was effectively managed
when the likes of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, I.D Nwoga, Richard Onyenobi,
late Dr. Umezuruike, Ambrose Ejiogu, Nath Onyeukwu, Ubochi Osuigwe,
A.U.D Nwosu, I. Aguwa, Duke Njiribeako steered the ship of leadership
of the zone.
What
we see in the zone now is a war of attrition and desperation for
political relevance. If the Agbasos are not fighting the Chikwes and
the Ihenachos in Owerri North for political supremacy, the Emeka
Ihediohas and co are battling with the senator Anyanwus for the soul
of Mbaise politics. The story is the same in Owerri West where the
Asolukas are not on war path with the Onyenobis, the CY Amakos and
Onyeagochas for political relevance.
Across
the nooks and crannies of the zone, there are verifiable cases of one
political cold war or the other taking place amongst political
gladiators. And the intensity of these clannish political battles
are expected to accentuate to an unprecedented level by the time the
whistle blows for 2015 guber race.
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| Ihedioha |
While
these initiatives are noble and deserves commendation, one wonders
how the group intends to succeed in its mission considering the
political plurality of the zone. One is also at a loss how the group
intends to knit the zone together and manage the various political
interests and complexities of Owerri sons and daughters interested in
the 2015 Imo guber diadem. It still remains a mystery how it intends
to harmonize the interests of powerful political blocs embedded in
the zone.
I
have these fears because I remember vividly in 2006 how Owerri Zone
governorship hopefuls spurned the roadmap of the I.D Nwoga led Elders
Committee. The Committee canvassed for a consensus candidate amongst
the litany of governorship aspirants from the zone on the basis that
such a candidate will place the zone in a vintage position to grab
the governorship seat. The wisdom of the elders was ignored as they
(Owerri Zone governorship aspirants) choose to fight to finish. The
zone became a battleground for political muscle flexing. It became a
theatre of political drama as brother and sister in the zone went for
each other’s jugular in a desperate bid to outpace the other. The
political war was so fierce and intense and this factor contributed
to its loss of the coveted seat to other sister zones.
Owerri
zone is a complex and dynamic political arena. Because it has men and
women of size and might, it is difficult for everyone to fall in line
on a particular issue. OZOPOLF intends to be the clearing house for
all governorship candidates from the zone in 2015, but I wonder how
Owerri zone governorship aspirants in the ANPP, APGA and labour party
will perceive its mission since most of its gatherings are mainly
attended by PDP stalwarts. If OZOPOLF wants to be the Afenifere
of Owerri zone, it must strive to accommodate Owerri sons who have
found political solace in other political parties aside the PDP. It
is not enough for the group to say it will adopt a credible candidate
from any political party of its choice when most of their gatherings
are dominated by PDP henchmen and women.
The
PDP, no doubt is the most structured political party in the State.
But the last election that catapulted Owelle Rochas Okorocha to power
was made possible by a rag tag looking APGA! OZOPOLF should not put
its entire eggs in one basket. As a group willing to take the zone to
the land of promise, it is important it is not seen as an interest
group that enjoys the comfort offered by the PDP in the State. For a
zone desirous to capture political power, it should resist the urge
to be hijacked by a particular political party.
It
has demonstrated a strong will to realise this noble objective and it
will be an act of political naivety if it intends to single out a
particular political party as a platform to actualize its purpose.
What
Owerri zone requires to succeed in its latest political adventure is
the instrument of unity. The quest to realize the dream of producing
the next governor of the State is beyond mere wishful thinking and
talking tough. It is beyond
The
zone ought to bury those instruments that have militated against the
realization of the project. Its leaders must be seen to have turned
to new leaf and those who intend to carry the mandate of the people
must be men and women of exceptional quality who has what it takes
the propel the ship of governance of the State. I rest my case.
From
My Inbox
Tnx
f ur beautiful article today. …. If u watch d public debate@
assumpta b4 d election, Owelle said he had a master in law, how com a
lawyer.(even if a student lawyer) does nt know n respect rule of law.
From 2348037408289
Good
day. Saw ur comment on today’s trumpeta: Flies In Okorocha’s
Ointment. U weren’t partisan dat is good journalism. Hwever u wl do
well to advice PDP stalwarts to stop creating unnecessary tension in
Imo and wait d outcome of d supreme court verdict being d final
arbiter. 4rm Chris- A youth leader, Nneato Nweafor Auto Comm.
Isiala Mbano
Kudos
on a well thought out and well delivered Harvest. From
2348037262774
Who
gave u the permission to call my name in ya Harvest? From
07045039858
Dear
Onyeukwu, How I wish I have money. Ur write up in today’s trumpeta:
Governance In Imo: In Search of A Lionel Messi, deserves reward. U
have toed the line of Sam Onwumemedo of x ray in being objective and
unbiased in ur judgement. Keep it up. From Ifeanyi Njoku, Centre
For Youth Development And Peace Initiative.
Who
told u dat Ohakim was a dribbler, who fired shots from any position
he was. U were nt fair to him in your article. From 0809564122
I
know u and your trumpeta people do nt like Rochas, so I wil neva
believe any of dose trash u write abt him. From 08187344240
I
have followed almost all your write ups in the trumpeta. Keep it up
onyeukwu, the sky is not even yr limit. Frm 08188423909
U
re bold to say the things u want to say, bt I disagree wit wat u
wrote abt Udenwa in your article Good Governance In Imo: In Search of
a Lionel Messi. U said he was spineless, u were not correct in your
assertion. Udenwa gave imo good leadership and govanace. Check d
records. Frm08038883876
Why
do u take pride in deceiving ua esteemed readers by not completing ua
harvest stories. This is d second time u refer readers to pages this
and that 4 continuation. But when u go d page, u see nothing. Example
is ua article today. Frm DOP
Dear
Onyeukwu, I read your column of today. Honestly, your tabloid has
never published anything good about our governor. I am not a govt
appointee but the negative reports you keep making about him are so
irritating that I ve started considerin your tabloid a junk..
Barr. Paul Duru, Okwudor, Njaba LGA
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