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| R:L; SENATE PRESIDENT, DAVID MARK, A BISHOP, DEPUTY SPEAKER, FED HOUSE OF REPS, RT HON EMEKA IHEDIOHA, SENATE PRESIDENT, DAVID MARK, IMO STATE GOVERNOR, OWELLE ROCHAS OKOROCHA AND OTHER CLEGYMEN AT THE BIRTHDAY EVENT OF IHEDIOHA'S MUM, DAME DOROTHY HELD RECENTLY IN ABOH MBAISE RECENTLY |
Two major events of note and of great significance
that took place in Imo State forced me to pause and ponder.
There are social events in the State that shook the
eastern heartland to its foundation. If I must borrow the words of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was an owambe(party) of extraordinary size and
proportion.
The Ota farmer had during his 8 year reign as
President described the birthday bash of Nigeria’ big boy in the UK, Terry Waya
as owambe. The then President was
furious that over 10 State Governors and distinguished senators that left the
country under the pretext of searching
for foreign investment for their various States ended up in Waya’s London expansive mansion frolicking with women of
easy virtue.
However, what
took place in the State cannot be likened to Obasanjo’s definition of a birthday
bash. It was a celebration of life and there was cause for merriment.
The first birthday that took place in the State was
the 80th birthday ceremony of the mother of the Deputy Speaker of
the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha. As number six
citizen of the country, no one expected Lilliputians or nonentities to grace
Ihedioha’s mother’s birthday. That who
is who in Nigeria graced the epoch making ceremony is no news, what is the gist
is that the event had serious political undertones which a good political seer
will readily provide an answer.
A curious
political observer who witnessed the Ihedioha’s mum’s event quickly said it was
beyond a mere birthday. According to him, Ihedioha used the event to send some
political signals. It was a signal of
what to expect in 2015. I tried to decipher from his analysis how a birthday
could be likened to a political signal, I could not. Rather what flicked through my medulla
oblongata was that the deputy Speaker, as a good and vibrant politician used
the event to show his political strength and clout.
The other
event of great significant importance was the 50th birthday
celebration of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. A colleague of mine
who writes for the Lagos- Ibadan press who came into the State to witness
Okorocha’s birthday said it was a well deserved celebration. Not done yet, he painted our dear Owelle in glowing
colours, describing him as a charismatic leader cut out for the onerous task
and responsibility associated with governance. From his postulations, I
concluded that he is among the many Imolites outside the shores of the State
who sees the Governor as a messiah.
I tried to explain to my colleague the different
colouration in the two events. The other was attended by who is who in the
country drawn from the political, economic and social class while the other was
mainly attended by local politicians and foot soldiers of the celebrant. The
only similarities in the events were that it afforded the duo the platform to
make one or two internal assessments, politically. And because both can be said to harbour
political ambitions in the near future, the birthday ceremonies was a good
platform to score some political points.
For those who have followed the political train in
the State, the two events came at a time Imo State is in political limbo. In other
words, at a time so much fuss has been made over several issues. A time political despondency has enveloped the
political landscape. It was an event that afforded the elite class in the State
the opportunity to exchange banters and pop champagne. It was a time for celebration, a break from
political hustle and bustle, a break from legislative and executive work load.
The two events came at a period, legal or political
fireworks are gradually overheating the political temperature of the State. It
was a time for ceasefire from political hostilities from several political
fronts. If the Local Government Chairmen were not firing on all cylinders,
accusing the Governor of one wrong doing or the other, the law Courts in Owerri
were busy trashing out the legal war launched by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume
against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging the
validity of the Supplementary election that catapulted Owelle Rochas Okorocha
as Governor, Imo State.
Therefore, the
birthdays offered a relief and a temporary relieve not only to political
gladiators in the State, but stakeholders including journalists who have
something anew to write on. For a long
time, our pen have flowed ceaselessly writing on one political face off or the
other in the State. If we are not reporting on APGA’s alarm that the presidency
wants Okorocha out of office, we will be reporting on PDP’s allegation that the
State Government wants to divert funds embedded in bonds handed over to it by
the Ikedi Ohakim Administration.
That has been the scenario obtained in the State. It
is a place where week in, week out, politicians are exhibiting one political
show or drama. Imo State is a big political stage made up of interesting and
exciting political actors, actresses and comedians alike. It is a State where
politicians never go to sleep. They are always awake, alert and ready to kick.
This is why the two major events (special events) in
the State is a good omen. It calmed the frayed nerves of our politicians and
for the first time it provided a window of opportunity for Imo politicians to
unwind a bit- I mean it gave them that needed opportunity to click glasses and
pop champagne.
However, I had wished that it would have been of
immense significance to the people of the State if the calibre and quality of
eminent Nigerians that graced the two events had come to the State for either
an economic or development summit- a summit that will assist us chart the way
forward for the development of our dear State. Or simply put a summit that will
offer Imo politicians to meet and brainstorm on the way forward for the State. What
I will call an All Imo Politicians summit where issues that have torn the State
apart will be amicably resolved- a conference of men and women in the State
that will put aside their political grievances and leanings and come together
for the good of the State. If only wishes could be bed of roses!
Published by Imo Trumpeta
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