2019: Ten Politicians To Watch In Imo State

 BY INNOCENT ONYEUKWU

  

With the next political dispensation approaching at a rapid pace in Imo State, some politicians have begun to show spark and resilience which signpost their readiness to be key factors and players that will shape the 2019 polls in the State.

I conducted an in-depth investigation recently which clearly reveals that ten politicians in the State for now have shown visible signs to be active political players in 2019.   This conclusion was made based on their present political disposition. At the same time, this does not in any way limit the possibility of another set of political gladiators that will spring up in the political arena of the State between now and 2019 since the electoral contest is three years away.

It is instructive to note that aside the active players that form the focus of this write- up, there are those who constitute the bulk of influence peddlers whose political actions from now to 2019 will also influence the political direction of the State.

.ROCHAS OKOROCHA

He is the governor of Imo State. Despite stiff opposition, he has equaled former Governor Achike Udenwa’s record of governing the State for two terms.  Okorocha is one of the few governors in the country to have successfully defeated an incumbent having “dethroned” Ikedi Ohakim as governor in the 2011 governorship election.

Believe it or not, like him or hate him, Okorocha’s political image looms so large in the political mirror of Imo State. Aside dismantling the PDP in 2011 and succeeded in entrenching the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the governing party in Imo State (the only APC Controlled State in the South East), Okorocha remains a big factor in Imo politics.

Like a recurring decimal, he is one of the top politicians to watch in 2019 as he either aims for the presidency or retire to his Imo West Senatorial zone to represent the area in the Senate as speculated.

What he has lost in terms of goodwill and dwindling popularity from majority of Imo populace because of his “unconventional” style of governance that has led to a drop in his acceptance rating by the people, Okorocha holds the ace and will significantly determine the political direction of the eastern heartland in 2019.

EMEKA IHEDIOHA

Ihedioha is a former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. How he successfully navigated his way out of the stormy political climate in the House when the then Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal defected from the PDP to the APC makes him a political schemer.

He went ahead to pick the PDP governorship ticket in 2015 in Imo State. Like a game of chess, he outsmarted other heavy contenders such as Senator Ifeanyi Arararume and former Governor Ikedi Ohakim to emerge winner of the fierce contest.  Though he lost to incumbent Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Congress, APC at the governorship election, he has received so much kudos for dragging the governor to a supplementary election.  That was a minus for Okorocha who rode on the overwhelming mandate of the people to be elected governor in 2011.

That singular political stunt was a huge political capital for Ihedioha which he is presently harnessing the gains to remain on the frontline of few politicians in the State who are warming up and prepared for the next electoral contest in 2019.

 Ihedioha has shown renewed zeal to be a major contender in 2019 which underscores his determination and political flexibility to succeed after losing his first governorship contest barely a year ago. He has shown doggedness and is alleged to be deeply involved in taking charge of the PDP behemoth in the State as a major step to oil his perceived governorship ambition.

He has also proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the ruling APC in Imo State and is bent on driving his ambition to a successful end considering his new found love with the grassroots in the State.

HOPE UZODINMA

He is a die- hard politician having withstood every political storm that has blown his way and the political landscape of the State.

Despite being a senator who represents Imo West Senatorial district, he has elevated himself to be the man to watch in the political arena of the State between now and election year.

Like an anaconda that shows no mercy on its predators, Uzodinma has become the dreaded politician who has the nerve and willpower to tame his political adversaries at any time and succeed in any political adventure he undertakes no matter the odds on his way.

He also has to his credit an impressive political report card which shows proven records of how he outplayed former Achike Udenwa and Senator Osita Izunaso for Imo West Senatorial seat in 2011 and 2015 respectively. Such a political character cannot be underestimated and can be described as a political tactician.  

Senator Uzodinma till date remains on the frontline of few politicians in Imo State with a cutting edge. He was a key factor that shaped the outcome of the PDP governorship primary in Imo State in 2015 when used his senatorial zone that has 12 local governments as a strong bargaining power.  That elevated him to the status of a real or imaginary political oracle that predicted the fate of others, albeit rightly or wrongly.

He has also created a niche for himself and has always been in the picture determining who gets what in the political arena of the State. He has also stretched his political tentacles to snatch the entire PDP structure in Imo State ahead of the 2019 titanic guber battle.

A huge factor in Imo politics, his political forays between now and 2019 will shape who goes in and out of Government House, Owerri.

EZE MADUMERE

 Riding on the back of his political mentor, Governor Rochas Okorocha,  Madumere, the Deputy Governor of Imo State,  may not posses so much political clout to bulldoze his way to the top.  What he lacks in political dexterity, he makes up with a loyal disposition that has earned him several political promotions from his boss and political mentor.

His loyalty to Okorocha has enhanced his chances to be one of those who may benefit from his (Okorocha’s) political benevolence now or in the future.  Such loyalty had earned him the position of Chief of Staff in Okorocha’s first tenure and elevation to be the State Deputy Governor.

Just like former President Good-luck Jonathan who rose to become President of Nigeria on the benevolence of late Diepreye Alaemesigha, Olusegun Obasanjo and perharps conspiracy of forces of nature, Madumere may be walking on a similar path as he has joined the queue of those who wants to have a full dose of political power.

Only time will tell if that element of luck and dose of political loyalty will take him thus far in the coming political dispensation.

 CHIKE OKAFOR

Okafor is a Federal lawmaker having served as Commissioner of Finance in Okorocha’s government.

He has shown a burning desire to grow beyond his present political status having being in the race to be nominated as a principal officer of the Federal House of Representatives before President Muhammadu  Buhari quashed the arrangement which edged him out.

Okafor has shown political resilience since he went to the green chamber. Before then, he had also demonstrated a strong passion to be among the league of key political players in Imo State.

Riding on the benevolence of Governor Okorocha, he has successfully assumed the status of one of the strong disciples of the present administration in Imo State. He recently declared that Okorocha is his political party.

While some political observers say such statement is a clear exhibition of political sycophancy and a cheap political stunt on the part of Okafor, those who know how it works in Okorocha’s camp disagree on the basis Okafor’s infantile comments is strategic and is “part of the game” in the political enclave of the Imo State Governor.

Okafor’s body language shows he is interested in a higher political office having being assumed to be likely running mate to anyone Okorocha nominates to be his successor.  But his political naivety and exhibition of “tom boy” politics may force him out of the league when the men are separated from the boys.

 IFEANYI ARARAUME

 Senator Ifeanyi Araraume is a well known political titan in Imo State having served as a two time senator and serial governorship aspirant in the State. He shaped the outcome of the last political dispensation in the State in 2015 by strongly aiding Rochas Okorocha to win the governorship election for a second term.

That feat reinforced the fact that he is a political force in the State and a no pushover.  He has not hidden his interest in the number one seat of the State in 2019 which automatically makes him a fierce contender.

Araraume is also said to be riding on the strength of a rumoured “agreement” with Okorocha that the incumbent governor will give power to him in 2019 based on the (Araraume’s) support he gave Okorocha in 2015 to be re- elected. How such “agreement” translates to reality is a like a camel passing through the eye of the needle considering the fact that the latter has a notorious record of not keeping political promises.

 However, Araraume is known to have inelastic ability to wage relentless political battles. He has fought real political wars in the State that left both himself and his political opponents so bruised.   And if such scenario presents itself again in 2019, Araraume’s reaction can be predicted. 

Barring unforeseen circumstances from now to when the scramble for power begins in the State, he will be one of the major political actors that will dictate and shape the political direction of Imo State.    

 BENJAMIN UWAJUMUOGU

 The former Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajumuogu is struggling to be a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  He has not hidden his passion for his dream and ambition.

He is the APC senatorial candidate for Imo North Senatorial zone and is one step close to become the first APC senator from the South East if he wins the senatorial re run polls.  

The attendant benefits inherent from his probable victory at the polls will catapult him to the leadership cadre of the Senate and the ruling party, APC. It will also elevate him to be a huge political factor not just in Imo State but the entire South East if he succeeds in his latest political mission.

With the re run election still lurking around the corner, political providence can still smile on the ex Speaker if he can wrestle down this PDP opponent, a diehard politician, Senator Athan Nneji Achonu in the re run polls. That is Uwajumuogu’s biggest political ordeal for now and how he overcomes is a monumental task considering the army of political opponents in the PDP that are bent on ensuring he does not go to the senate. But if he succeeds, his political might and size will make him a factor in Imo politics.

SAMUEL ANYANWU

Senator Samuel Anyanwu is one of the rising political stars from the State. He is a first time senator who rose to become Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. A rare accomplishment for a first time senator!  

He has maintained a strong political character when one considers how he successfully managed the affairs of the committee during the controversy that trailed the screening of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and other Ministerial nominees.

Anyanwu has started well on the large political field of Imo State. If he maintains the pace and not outplayed, he cannot afford to hide on the sideline but be on the frontline of emerging new political gladiators in the State. The former Imo Assembly lawmaker is an inch close to become  a huge factor in the next political dispensation in Imo State having shown visible signs of taking a shot for a higher political office if the need arise.

There is however a general consensus that he should consolidate by seeking for a second term as senator. Anyanwu will be a visible face in 2019 having shown good and impressive political charisma.

IKEDI OHAKIM.

The political impresario has maintained a never give up mentality after he lost two attempts to return as Imo State governor in 2011 when he lost to Rochas Okorocha at the general elections and in 2015 when he lost the PDP governorship primary.

He has consistently resurfaced on the political turf of the State indicating that he will not be an onlooker but a partaker when the chips are down again.

Ohakim has maintained a strong resolve to ride back to political stardom and whatever challenges he has encountered on that path has made him more resolute towards 2019. His body language already shows he is bent on going back to Government House, Owerri soon and this entails a lot of hard-work and political scheming on his part.

Certainly, he is a politician to watch in an unpredictable political terrain in Imo State where nothing is politically certain. With the entrance of new faces in the politics of Imo State and a stormy political climate that always gets foggy by the day, Ohakim has a tough task to reinvent himself and push so hard to remain on the frontline as a former governor who has the spark and venom to overcome and journey to success again. How he navigates his way on the slippery terrain to advance his political cause is left for time to tell.    

KEN OJIRI.

Ken Ojiri stormed the Imo political scene in 2014 and made a bold attempt to become Imo State Governor. He came with so much adrenaline that he became a talking point among the sophisticated Imo electorate and a subtle threat to those that matter in Imo politics.

Ojiri was tagged a greenhorn politician then but his charisma and impressive economic roadmap for the State kept tongues wagging and heads nodding as many watched with awe the deft political moves of the young politician who exhibited a strong desire to succeed on his debut in politics.

Widely seen as a bridge between the old guard politicians and the new generation of upcoming political turks in Imo State, Ojiri surged on like a ferocious volcano emitting a molten magma. Despite the presence of top heavyweights in the PDP, he ran an aggressive campaign and took part in the PDP governorship primary which he lost.

He marched on to the Accord Party and came on the ballot but was not so lucky to post a good performance. He is rated as a man who represents a new generation of young leaders in Imo State at a time political power and leadership positions in civilized climes are occupied by young men and women of stellar character.

2019 may be Ojiri’s finest moment and how he aligns his aspiration to the people will certainly make him a huge factor in the coming political dispensation.

Onyeukwu Is The Publisher/CEO,  Imo State based, INNONEWS.COM