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2007 Imo Governorship Palaver: Mbano indigenes in USA lay claim
ACHO ORABUCHI Dallas, Texas, USA
Thursday, June 30, 2005
While some potential Imo State gubernatorial candidates and or their representatives, such as Chief Sam Uwandu and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, were shoring up support and jostling for an advantage for 2007 at the recent Mbano National Assembly (MNA) National Convention in Maryland, USA, others like Hon. Ike Ibe and representatives of Chief Ebere Udeagu, the incumbent deputy governor, were in Dallas, the center of Nigerian politics, canvassing for support—directly or indirectly—among Orlu indigenes.
Ahead of 2007 elections and emerging from the national convention of Mbano National Assembly (MNA) in Maryland concluded on May 29, 2005, Mbano indigenes in the United States of America are keenly united in their resolve to clinch the governorship of Imo State. The Mbano indigenes in America are claiming that it is their turn to rule Imo State since the Imo State governorship is zoned to Okigwe Senatorial Zone.
In a nine-point communiqué signed by MNA USA president, Mr. Emmanuel Egbuziem and Secretary, Mr. Clement Ezeh, and released to Champion Newspapers, the organization is steadfast in its quest to have a son of Mbano move in to the Imo State Governor’s House come 2007. MNA endorsed an intensified effort to produce Imo State Governor of Mbano extraction. Among other objectives, it adopted, “To unite and present a common front in pursuit of Nwa Mbano as the next Governor of Imo State, using our enormous economic endowments, geopolitical spread and social structure to achieve this goal.”
“Calls on all Mbano people to be resolute in their demand for good governance, to abide by the laws of the Federal republic of Nigeria, to live peacefully with fellow Mbano indigents, avoid acts subversive to the unity of Mbano local governments and, to avail themselves of all legitimate means of free political expression,” MNA USA endorsed.
The chairman of the Political Action Committee of MNA USA, Atty. Uzoma A. Ofodu, expressed that the “electioneering campaign for the Imo State governorship election is in full swing,” they would work relentlessly to ensure that the son of Mbano occupies the governor’s mansion. He warned, “MNA presently seeks for the deliverance and would expend in no uncertain terms the resources required to have the goods of democracy to the grassroots.”
Among the potential Imo State gubernatorial candidates from Mbano, Senator Ararume, Chief Sam Uwandu, and Hon. Stanford Onyirimba, there is a mystery candidate not mentioned, Chief Ikedi Ohakem. Chief Ohakem will be a candidate to watch when the time comes.
Interestingly, people of Mbano are more united in their claim to have Mbano son occupy the governor’s mansion than to have a consensus candidate. Individually, they are pitching tent with different candidates. As a result, the candidates are working feverishly to emerge as a consensus choice.
The chief launcher of the fundraiser banquet and Imo State gubernatorial candidate, Chief Sam Uwandu, used the occasion to present himself as the favorite son of Mbano. He donated a substantial sum of money to MNA and encouraged everyone to do the same.
On the other hand, Secretary General of Senator Ararume Solidarity Forum (SASFO), Dr. Chidi Collins was on hand to prop up his candidate among Mbano people. He held series of mini meetings with some key individuals to avail Senator Ararume.
Hon. Stanford Onyirimba, another Mbano son running for the Imo State governorship, did not bring his campaign to the MNA convention in USA.
However, the campaign for Imo State governor is not limited to Mbano extraction. It is pertinent to note that there is a Dallas-based group in place for Chief Ebere Udeagu, the incumbent Deputy Governor. The group is not public at this juncture as it is getting organized.
Also, the head of Imo State Trade Representative office in Washington, D.C., Hon. Ike Ibe of Amuzi, Obowo in Obowo Local Government Area, spoke to Champion Newspapers recently about his candidacy for the Imo State governor. He expressed and touted his qualifications to lead Imo State. He said, “I’m able and capable to be the governor of Imo State. I did not wake up overnight to run for the governorship of Imo State. I’m not only depending on my qualifications and experience, but also on my sustained contributions to the development of the State over the years.” He stated that as the head of Imo State Trade Representative office in Washington, D.C. he has been working hard in helping Governor Udenwa to improve Imo State in various aspects.
It appears the fight for the governorship of Imo State governor is being waged in America, thousands of miles away from the shores of Nigeria. Political pundits are seriously watching how this would play out. My take is this: the candidate with the most effective structure on the ground would have better chances of prevailing.
Most importantly, let’s watch how Mbano people would sustain the quest down the stretch; especially, in the absence of a consensus candidate from Mbano. The question then is: Will Mbano community in the USA unite behind one candidate to weather the storm arising from the partial incumbency of the Deputy Governor, Chief Ebere Udeagu or will Mbano people capitulate in fear of the silent giant, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, who may be nursing the ambition in silence?
Though Okigwe Zone is claiming that it is their turn, with Mbano leading the charge, Owerri and Orlu zones have copiousness reasons to lay the same claim.
A public affairs analyst from Umuezeala-Ama, Mbano in Imo State, Innocent Ehirim, postulated three theories, Justice, Compensation, and Relevance, in which each zone, Okigwe, Owerri, and Orlu, lays claim to the plum office, Imo State governorship. Without arguing the merit or the validity of his suppositions, I am going to lift his theory of relevance. According to Ehirim, “The relevance theory is championed by Orlu zone, which by 2007 shall have been in office for two full terms of eight years. The zone seeks to retain the office or in the minimum re-contest for the post. This position is hinged on the fact that even though the Governorship seat was zoned to Orlu, both Owerri and Okigwe zones fiercely contested for the seat against the incumbent in 1999 and 2003 by Chief Humphrey Anumudu and Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba respectively. Political pundits have pinned down this agitation to quest for relevance of Orlu zone in the power calculus of the state beyond 2007.” In addition, the zoning may be limited to the PDP platform. Other parties may field candidates of their choice for the governorship of Imo State regardless of candidates’ respective senatorial zones.
Based on these factors, others zones, Owerri and Orlu, equally have legitimate claims to the governorship of Imo State.
In any case, considering that the political landscape in Imo State is a tenuous one, who says that PDP will win in Imo State in 2007? Do not address this question grimly. |