Nkwerre/Isu Federal Constituency: Ozurigbo & Echendu Jostle For PDP Ticket Ahead Of 2023 General Elections

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA

Baring any unforseeable delay, anytime from now, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, shall commence the accreditation of all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s delegates assigned to elect the party’s candidates in today’s primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.

While Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri; a former House of Representatives member for Nkwerre|Isu Federal Constituency, slugs it out with the duo of Asiwaju Jerry Alagbaso; a third term Federal legislator representing Orlu/Orsu /Oru East in the House of Representatives and Dr. Thankgod Ezeani; who once represented Ideato North|Ideato South in the House of Representatives, between 1999-2023,  for the soul of Imo West Senatorial District in today’s PDP primary elections.

In Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency, it is a two-horse contest between a serving Federal lawamker, Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo; who had joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Hon. Kingsley Echendu, who can best be described as the proverbial patient dog that is waiting to eat the fattest bone, having stood by the party in thick and thin through its stormy political season. Echendu, no doubt, became a household in the Federal constituecy with his highly impressive outing in the 2019 National Assembly elections even as a first timer in the Imo State political space.

Expectedly, the two fine gentlemen; Ozurigbo and Echendu, in the last two months, had been criss-crossing the length and breadth of the 43 INEC Wards across Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency; consulting with leaders, critical stakeholders, opinion moulders, the youths, LGA and Ward executives especially, expected delegates for the party primaries.

With the disturbing rate of insecurity across the country; with particular emphasis in Orlu area of Imo State, I am highly impressed with the level of  maturity, issue-based and people centred brand of politics and campaign stunt put up by the media handlers of both Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo and Hon. Kingsely Echendu,  unlike the noisy disposition of the social media warriors engaged by Rt. Hon. Jerry Alagbaso, who seem to feast more on name-calling and classified propaganda to outrun their opponents without taking into cognizance the enlightened minds, who read their posts. Atleast, the noise will be drastically reduced today after the exercise. And I hope the both camps will accept the outcome of the result. I don’t hold anything against anybody, but must present issues ‘how they are and not how they appear.’

Given the foregoing, I have read a litany of prayers, best wishes and goodwill messages emanting from differnt whatsApp platforms and Facebook pages by avowed lovers and supporters of Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo and his closet rival in today’s PDP primary election; Hon. Kingsely Echendu. However, as one who have been following up on the political trajectory, leadership transitions, manuvering of the gladiators and other state actors within the largest Federal constituency and across Imo West Senatorial District, methinks, I owe it as a duty to my teeming reading public and targeted audience to make some critical analysis and draw comparisons  between the two contenders who are jostling for the soul of Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency in the upcoming 10 National Assembly; House of Representatives.

✓ UGONNA OZURIGBO (OZB):

Apart from the God-factor in politics, other things that will be speaking in favour of Ozurigbo in today’s primary election are his relative good performance,  popularity, goodwill and money as a number of Isu and Njaba leaders who ordinarily should champion the good cause of the most marginalized clan in the federal constituency seem to have been completely bought over by a rather benevolent spirit; OZB.

Accessible, youth-friendly, grassroots- oriented, humble and a bridge builder. Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo, no doubt, has maintained a constant endearing and impressive political outing over the years and hasn’t allowed his current political status to get into his head as he easily picks up people’s calls and returns same unlike most of his contemporaries who are in the habit of ignoring calls or even snubbing the poor as they see every caller as a burden calling for financial assistance or rescue.

Nevertheless, in terms of effective representation and service delivery, Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo has done fairly well as his projects’ imprint can be felt across the four LGAs within the Federal constituecy. 
Young, ruthless and also calm. OZB , arguably, is the richest Federal lawmaker in Imo State. And it will take a lot of political manuvering, state sponsored candidate and national political scheming strategy to win him in any free and fair election.

Ironically, “as human beings do not come in their full packages”, one of the major weaknesses or lapses of the Federal lawmaker is in not keeping to political pact entereed with others. We gathered that OZB entered an agreement with Isu and Njaba leaders to go for only one tenure and support them in the next dispensation. If that was true, most sane minds don’t think he can be trusted with power! While some may call it being smart, but the conservatives believe that integrity should be the core value in leadership.

However, with growing sentiments thrilling from Isu and Njaba over being the most marginalized clan in the Federal constituecy, other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and stakeholders are carefully watching how a new entrant like OZB will be handed over the party ticket leaving Hon. Kingsley Echendu, who had sacrificed a lot for the party, demonstrated loyalty and commitment by standing by the Peoples Democratic Party in thick and thin.

While OZB had been tipped by close observers of the PDP to win the primaries, having allegedly sealed a deal with the rank and file of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party before ever joining the party, the major challenge he is going to face is the Imo State Governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma, who’s tilting towards an Isu or Njaba son or daughter as a better replacement of a political deviant, who abandoned his political party for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. They said, ”Oga must teach OZB a lesson”. Whatever that means, it is best known to them. I hope it is not a transferred aggression!

✓ *KINGSLEY ECHENDU*:
Hon. Kingsely Echendu, just like Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri, has made tremendous and remarkable impacts in Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency, in terms of grassroots spread, mass appeal, youths mobilization and and dedication to his core values as a trusted political leader.

Very sound, proactive, calm, calculated, youthful and useful. The Amaju-Isu born businessman and technocrat, Echendu, has remained a rallying point for the PDP in Isu LGA.

As a first timer into the murky political waters of the largest Federal constituency, Kingsely Echendu put up a highly impressive outing against OZB, who was at the  time Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly and also  enjoyed  💯 % backing of the state government under Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

As fate may have it, Echendu eventually won the 2019 election and was issued a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, through a favourable High Court judgement in a petition instituted against OZB by Hon. Barr. Harrison Nwadike of the All Progressives Congress for alleged double -membership registration in both AA and APC.

That particular eventful outing, no doubt, raised the bar for social awareness and recognition of Kingsely Echendu as a political factor in Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency. OZB cannot thank enough the House of Representatives’ Speaker,  Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for playing a major role in denying Echendu of his swearing in as the electoral umpire eventually invalidated his INEC Certificate of Return. The rest is now history.

As PDP delegates determine their party’s candidates in today’s primaries, Hon. Kingsely Echendu, who has been a major advocate against the marginalization of Isu|Njaba people, may not be coming with a stronger point and meliu this time to convince Isu and Njaba leaders who should throw support behind their own, but seem to be singing a different song like *Femi Fani -Kayode*;  having been fed fat by Chief Ozurigbo Ugonna. To these leaders, their personal interest is placed above collective interest  before anyone comes with a sermon against marginalization.

A good fighter, Hon. Kingsely Echendu has made his mark and written his name in the sands of history. I trust  posterity will remember him and also judge him well for his contributions.

Finally, if OZB eventually wins the primaries as being tipped by background PDP leaders and his numerous supporters, he will have to face a major task of wrestling with the APC Isu or Njaba candidate at the main election in 2023.

Njoku Macdonald Obinna, a Media Consultant and PR-Expert, holds media brief for the largest Federal Constituency in Nigeria.