Nwangele 2023: Johnbosco Nkpadobi, Pasolo, Others Jostle For PDP Ticket Ahead Of Primary Election

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA

Nwangele Local Government area is very strategic both by formation and design; given the cream of towering personalities, industrialists, scholars, technocrats, religious leaders and other national figures that came from this part of the world.

It is on record that this Local Government area in Imo State had repeatedly produced Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the Imo State House of Assembly; Rt. Hon. Amaechi Nwaoha, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo and Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, respectively; including a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the person of Prof. Walter Ofornagoro. And as such, it  cannot be taken for granted in the political scheme of things by any reasonable and responsive government in power.

Suffice it to say that a lot is expected from anyone who wishes to represent the good people of Nwangele LGA, where the likes of High Chief Johnbosco Ozigbu PhD, Prof. Francis Dike, SAN, Prof. Moses Iwuala, Prof. Walter Ofornagoro, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Chukwudi  Ihenetu, Chief Uche Obi, SAN, Hon. Justice K.K. Ojiako, Nze Obinna Akwiwu (Oshimiri lll of Abba), Chief Jeff Uju, Chief Chris Onwuzurike, Chief Michael Onuoha, Chief Celestine Opurum, Amb. Emma Obasi, Dr. Oby Nwaogu, among other prominent sons and daughters of the Local Government area not mentioned here for want of space, hail from.

In other words, “You must be a CEO of your own company, and not an applicant, before throwing yourself up for public service in Nwangele LGA – (Maka iga akwo ose karaka)”.

Therefore, as the quest for the flag  bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in tomorrow’s primary election for Nwangele State Constitutency rages on, four aspirants, who had reportedly  obtained the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms, had also been cleared for the election on  Wednesday, May 25, 2022, it was gathered.

While these four aspirants;  Johnbosco Nkpadobi, PhD,  Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka, Ms. Edith Nwosu and Comr. Chukwuebuka Osuala, have been criss-crossing the length and breadth of the 11 Wards that made up Nwangele LGA, consulting with stakeholders, party leaders, LGA and Ward executives, particularly expected delegates for the primary election; statutory or ad-hoc delegates.

One major issue that has elicited a lot of debate online among the various media handlers of these aspirants is, who among them is more credible, acceptable, capable and popular?  While all of them are credible and qualified to contest the election, not all are acceptable, capable and popular if we must be frank and honest with our analysis.

However, as one who has been around for sometime now and had also been meticulously following the political trajectory and leadership transition of Nwangele LGA, the Federal Constituency and across Imo West Senatorial District, I am better placed to make some  appraisal and analysis leaving my teeming audience to be the judge.

And if truth must be told, the two major contenders for the Peoples Democratic Party’s primary election tomorrow are;  Chief Johnbosco Nkpadobi, PhD,  and Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka. The other two could be best described as political neophytes, who are just testing the waters, not necessarily pretenders.

Granted, Johnbosco Nkpadobi and Solomon Chinonso Ucheka are now party men unlike during the 2019 elections; where the latter contested under the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.  It is however,  expected that they should play by the rules of the game and be willing to accept the outcome of the exercise and congratulate anyone who emerges winner in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Nevertheless, while putting side by side what could serve as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the two major contenders through objective SWOT Analysis, as they jostle for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  in tomorrow’s primary election, I make bold to share my opinion and submit this report after hearing from respected leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nwangele LGA, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity.

✓ Solomon Chinonso Ucheka, popularly known as Pasolo, is an Abajah- Nwangele born Malaysian based businessman. Founder and President, Pasolo Foundation; a non-profit humanitarian organisation dedicated to empowering the youths through skills acquisition and also helping the needy in Nwangele LGA.

Humble, accessible, not materialistic,  loyal, popular with the youths and a good team player. He contested for Nwangele State Constitutency in the 2019 elections under a relative unpopular political party in the South East, Social Democratic Party, SDP, and was denied ticket both in the All Progressives Congress, APC, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. 

In the build up to the 2023 general elections, Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka, after diligent consultations with his political structure, party leaders and stakeholders joined the Peoples Democratic Party for the soul of Nwangele Constitutency in the Imo State House of Assembly.

Having the former Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and a serving Federal lawamker, Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo, as his political mentor and backbone, Pasolo wants to fly on the political wings of OZB’s goodwill and popularity to win the election especially, as the embattled Federal lawmaker had  defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party from the rulling All Progressives Congress, APC;  where the State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, was said to have concluded plans to replace him with someone either from Isu or Njaba LGAs, for the interest of equity, fairness and justice in the largest Federal constituency.

Meanwhile, one of the major obstacles toward realising the 2023  Imo State House of Assembly political ambition of Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka, Pasolo, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is his conservative disposition, apart from being a new member in the party. A source also disclosed to us on condition of anonymity, that he may not have the needed financial muscle to throw at top party officials and other critical stakeholders in Nwangele LGA; having buried his beloved parents a few months ago, which gulped millions of Naira for such befitting burial.

Pasolo seems not to be a free giver unlike Johnbosco Nkpadobi, who understands the political body language of the leaders and also speaks the language of the youths.

While Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka  may be titiling towards the Imo West  Senatorial ambition of Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri and the second term bid of Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo, as his preferred choice and political leaders in PDP, it will create some erosion of doubt in the minds of other party leaders and faithful who are supporting Rt. Hon. Jerry Alagbaso since politics is a jealous game.

With less controversy and endearing humble personality, Pasolo is loved by his supporters and youths who have been following him in the last 5 or 6 years ago;  even when there is no evidence that he has practically empowered any of these army of young men and women.

If his supporters are the party delegates, they will surely vote for him. Unfortunately, this goes beyond shouting online as the 3 man Ad-hoc delegates and one national delegate will determine the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party tomorrow.

✓ Johnbosco  Nkpadobi PhD:
Sound, proactive, cerebral , jovial and accessible. Johnbosco Nkpadobi, PhD, is one of the rallying points and avowed financiers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nwangele LGA especially, as the party under whose platform he contested the 2019 Imo State House of Assembly election lost the seat of power through a rather controversial Supreme Court judgement in January 14, 2020. 

A Malaysian trained Geologist and Google certified Scholar, Nkpadobi has remained a constant factor in the political leadership discuss of Nwangele LGA and across the state; where he has  maintained cordial relationship with a number of PDP chieftains and members of the State Working Committee.

Although, with no traceable record of family controversy, the Umuakaku Umuode-Amaigbo Nwangele born oil and gas expert is the Managing Director|CEO of Great Dobis Heritage Resources Ltd; an indigenous oil and gas services company in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Warri, Delta State; where he channels most of his productive time and energy outside politics as a professional.

Nkpadobi, no doubt, represents an important bridge between the business and political world. His liberal political leaning and free spirit as a good giver facilitated the COVID-19 stimulus package distributed to select sons and daughters of Nwangele LGA across the various communities. His role in boldly  breaking the leadership logjam and controversy that trailed aftermath of the 2019 general elections as leaders who worked against the party got the sledge hammer also sells him out as a courageous and doddged leader unlike Solomon Chinonso Ucheka, who may play the good boy script were he in the shoes of Johnbosco Nkpadobi. No doubt, that suspension thoroughly brought some sanity within Nwangele LGA Peoples Democratic Party as the writer engaged a number of the leaders allegedly involved in the anti-party political saga to know their roles.

While many youths may prefer that Solomon Chinonso Ucheka- Pasolo be given the party ticket in tomorrow’s primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party judging by his sense of humility, accessibility, popularity, the conservatives and PDP critical stakeholders in Nwangele LGA have some doubt over his financial capacity and ruggedity to match Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, the serving member representating Nwangele Constitutency, Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and consensus candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

On the contrary, the political permutations of PDP leaders and a good number of the delegates tilt towards Johnbosco Nkpadobi, who had stood by the party in thick and thin, waded through stormy political season with them. For the party leadership and others, it is time to reward Nkpadobi while encouraging Pasolo to stay put and strengthen the party if truly he is with them.

Finally, some leaders have also opined that comparatively, outside sentiments, Solomon Chinonso Ucheka is the best bet for Nwangele Peoples Democratic Party having made an impressive outing in the last election and was said to be the only candidate who didn’t collect the millions allegedly given to others to withdraw their Court case against the incumbent member representating Nwangele Constitutency in the Imo State House of Assembly during the last election.

The question remains, will the  delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party sheild their individual interests and remove sentiments ahead of tomorrow’s primary election and vote the right man for the task given the capacity, reach and weight of the incumbent state legislator, who is on his decisive second missionary journey?

– Njoku Macdonald Obinna, who holds media brief for the largest Federal constituency in Nigeria, is a Media Consultant, PR-Expert and Publisher of 4th Estate Reporters.