I am not a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) nor do I belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party. In fact, I am non-partisan.
Sometimes, we react to important issues that appear to have been relegated to the abyss of absurdity for the purpose of correcting societal ills.
Arguably, the PDP used to be a political party that people admired a lot. In those days when the Nigerian economy was booming, if you paid a visit to a member of the party holding a political appointment, you would surely come out with a heavy pocket.
It was a party to be reckoned with in terms of unity of purpose among its members and its strength was commendable.
The PDP believed in “giving”. That was what made this party to hold power for 16 years before the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won the 2015 presidential election during which the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, fondly called Samdaddy, are both PDP chieftains that I respect so much. The duo have contributed meaningfully to the party at the national level. It would therefore be an anomally if they dragged the platform (PDP) that made them what they are today in the mud.
Former Governor Ihedioha has built and sustained the party in Imo State, while forming alliances with relevant stakeholders in the party. He is a good party man and a competent administrator who understands leadership, followership and mentorship. Ihedioha has a high market value due to his outstanding performance as Governor of the state for seven (7) months. His performance in office still speaks volumes.
Also Anyanwu, who is the National Secretary of the party, is not a greenhorn in politics. Having once been the Chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area, he represented the State Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly and that shows he is not a pushover in the system. He also represented Owerri Zone in the Senate.
Samdaddy and the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha have funded the PDP and made it a formidable platform in the state. Therefore seeing the former Governor and the PDP National secretary at loggerheads over who controls the party in Imo is uncalled for. This does not require them to dance naked in the market square over a governorship election that is still far away in 2023/2024.
Imo PDP has overcome the challenges of choosing its candidates in the presidential and national assembly elections. Uche Onyeaguocha (Imo West), Emmanuel Okewulonu (Okigwe Zone) and Jones Onyereri (Orlu) are the three senatorial candidates of Imo PDP.
Members of the party and its stakeholders should always think of ways to develop the state. The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Subsequently, he became Speaker and Governor before he was removed from office by the Supreme Court, while Sen. Samuel Anyanwu had held various elective positions in the party since 1999.
The rural areas in Imo are crying out for good roads, quality and affordable health service, rehabilitation of markets and school buildings, job opportunities for their unemployed University graduates, elimination of hunger and economic sabotage and others. These are the things that should occupy the mind of a selfless leader who really wants to make a laudable impact if elected as Governor of the state. Politics of visionary leadership goes beyond knocking horns over big positions.
As a matter of fact, the PDP, Imo chapter, was a party for all before it was allowed to be hijacked by the forces that have torn it apart. The overall interests of the people of the state should ever be the priority of any governorship aspirant that wants the people’s mandate.
It would amount to comic relief if the “soul” of one political party is being battled for by two big heads of same political units (Imo East Senatorial District) for the seat of Governorship in 2024. Despite the fact that power is not given, but taken; there are supposed to be orderliness and a high sense of responsibility considering the class of people involved.The stand-alone Imo Governorship poll is counting down. But it appears many aspirants are likely to eye the forthcoming poll because the party has thrown its Guber ticket open jettisoning the conventional zoning formula.
Indeed, Ihedioha and Samdaddy are known to be the most tactical politicians in Imo PDP. The duo talk a little, but plan big.They are strategists. Instead of shooting each other on the leg, they should package their grievances and move their party forward.
The horrible battle between these men visibly played out in the May 26, 2022 National Assembly primaries that took place at the Aladinma Shopping Mall, Owerri, where aspirants alleged that the results were manipulated. Samdaddy had projected his preferred candidates, while Ihedioha pushed for his men to be given tickets to seats in the state and national assemblies.
Imo PDP must put its house in order. The party has been rocked by an avoidable crisis that could have been amicably resolved by the leadership and the aggrieved members. The State Chairman of the party, Charles Ugwu, has never called spade a spade, as far as his position is concerned. Many members of the party have complained of not being carried along in the affairs of the party.
The die is cast. Other political parties are strategising and re-strategising to take over power from the ruling APC in the state. The political parties participating in the forthcoming polls are expected to remain formidable in their bid to be in the corridor of power.
*** Sampson Uhuegbu is an Owerri based journalist.
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