2023 Orlu PDP Line-Up: Onyereri, Ozurigbo, Uju, Ugochinyere, Ucheka, Osakwe, The Choices Before The Party Delegates And Why They Won Their Primaries

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA

For those in the business world or marketing field, until recently, consumers take anything thrown at them by service providers or manufacturers of goods due to lack of knowledge about their rights and contents of these products. But that has changed now! As the ever dynamic and competitve market grows with different brand owners jostling for space, it becomes necessary for handlers of competing brands to come out with innovations that would increase patronage and even retain same.

Just like today’s well informed and decisive buyers of cell phones, clothings, perfumes, automobiles, etc, have better knowledge about the different products-lines,their peculiarities and singularities, in the same vein, today’s electorates, party faithful and supporters are well informed and politically conscious of how they are being led, governed or represented by the army of aspiring public office holders, who come to them in every electioneering season with bogus claims and misleading promises of what they can do if elected, mosttimes, very far from the reality.

With the done and dusted primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country that had produced its candidates for the various elective positions ahead of the 2023 general elections; State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and now the Presidency, many supporters of these politicians, while basking in the euphoria of their acclaimed victory, may not have taken time to critically and objectively analyse the intrigues, melodrama, boardroom politicking and compromises that  ensured this victory.

In Imo West Senatorial District, popularly known as Orlu Zone, the popular candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party who emerged winners for the various positions included, but not limited to:

• Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri – Imo West Senatorial District.

• Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo – Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency.

• Hon. Kingsley Chima Uju – Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency

• Comr. Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo – Ideato North|Ideato South Federal Constituency.

• Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka – Nwangele State Constitutency.

• Hon. Modestus Osakwe- Isu State Constituency.

Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri, the immediate past House Committee Chairman on Banking and Currency, House of Representatives member for Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency; was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2019 elections for Imo West Senatorial District against the incumbent Governor of Imo State and APC candidate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. 

Before the primaries that produced Jones Onyereri last week, for the second time, as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2023  general elections. Across board on the political turf, there seems to be a conscious reconciliation of deep seated animosity and conspiracy among key political players on the other side of the camp who had vowed to stop him, given where he pitched his political tent before the primary elections; Gov. Nyesom Wike|Sen. Samuel Anyanwu’s faction of the Imo PDP.

Notwithstanding the gang-up and conspiracy theory against the aspiration of the Missionary Parliamentarian, Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri, his early preparation, goodwill, strong presence, reach, grassroots campaign, committed media group, human centred and issue-based politicking delivered him against the fiery darts of the political gang-up of the likes of Hon.Gerald Irona and his camp. 

With a discharming look, friendly disposition, trustworthiness and mass appeal, Jones Onyereri understands human relations and social capital investments, as he is often seen attending burials of the poor and rich alike, wedding ceremonies, child dedications, house warmings, hospital visitations and other humanitarian outreaches, apart from taking care of the needs of his core supporters, loyalists and political structure. Not too many elites or politicians who have been out of power can do this especially, when the elections are still very far.

In terms of preparations and effective planning, he is a master strategist, who started planning ahead of time given his impressive outing in the 2019 elections, which he narrowly lost to the then incumbent Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, under a rather controversial circumstance.

To Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri, the ending is everything. He planned all the way to take it, while taking into cognizance all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse his hard work and give the victory to a less prepared contender.

With a landslide victory of 228 votes against Dr. Thankgod Ezeani with 118 votes and Rt. Hon. Jerry Alagbaso with a paltry 57 votes, it was a reward for  hard work, dedication, sacrifices and loyalty to the party by the delegates; majority of whom Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri had contributed meaningfully to their lives even when he was no longer in power.

Apart from Dr. Thankgod Ezeani, who had a relative organised Media Team, regrettably, Rt. Hon. Jerry Alagbaso assembled a rather gorilla and noisy media team, which in their vain attempts to apply law of attrition against Jones Onyereri by constantly attacking him;  ended up demarketing their principal while giving unsolicited free publicity to Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri.

The electorates, as I earlier stated, are more politically conscious and well informed now than before. You must relate with them and know how they are coping with the present challenges of life under President Muhammadu Buhari APC led Administration, not coming to seek their votes and support with bogus promises because elections are drawing closer. The electorates are wiser now! 

Admittedly, while Rt. Hon. Jerry Alagbaso has done well as a Federal legislator in terms of human capital development, massive youths employement enrollments and spread of  infrastructural development; he  completely played down on his acheivements and by the time he could start talking about them with the army of untrained media warriors, it was already late! It is quite embarrassing that a performing third term Federal legislator could score as low as 57 votes with all the money he doled out and exotic cars he donated to party leaders and targeted delegates.

The reason is not far fetched. He is not seen as one who relates with the masses at the grassroots just like Sen. Osita Izunaso, who has been accused of playing elitist politics. If you must contest an election, start on time, plan ahead, accomodate people, empower as many as your strength can carry, come down from your high horse, align with your party members “from top to bottom according to Muhammadu Buhari”. 

A well deserved victory by Jones Onyereri, who planned to the end and was not overwhelmed by circumstances and late hours political gang-up.

On the other hand, however, the trio of Ugonna Ozurigbo, Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo and Kingsley Uju, also had impressive outings in their primary elections. Apart from throwing themselves up for elective positions, Kingsley Uju and Ozurigbo in particular,  have been able to warm their ways into the hearts of their supporters and admirers, for showing leadership direction and empowering the youths, mostly, with motorcycles, Keke buses, vechicles and food relief materials. Beyond this, they are seen as being accessible and relate with the people in a most cordial manner despite their position.

Unlike Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo and Hon.  Kingsely Uju: Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo, an activist, a lawyer, social crusader and the Spokesman of Coalition of Political Parties (CUPP), who dusted Hon. Dr. Paschal Obi, the current House of Representatives member for Ideato North|Ideato South Federal Constituency during the PDP’s primaries,  demonstrated courage, resilence and power of convinctions when he challenged the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, over the controversial alleged  botched election of the 3-man delegates and got Court injunction. That singular bold outing sold him out as a man of strong character and personal convinctions. As an activist and known voice, Ikenga Imo has demonstrated self -transcendence and openness to change values and the status quo, especially to unviseralism and conventionalism with a rather independent mind and autonomy of thoughts. 

From the foregoing, while it’s obvious that Sam Daddy Anyanwu may not be  receptive and attuned to the candidacy  of an Ikenga Imo; who had earlier called for his replacement or immediate removal as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), given his alleged role and involvement in the hijacking of the electoral materials meant for the conduct of the 3- man delegate elections in Imo State, the  Ideato born activist, Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo, applied ‘Political Defensive War Approach.’ Because for him, to fight in a defensive manner is not a sign of weakness; but the height of strategic wisdom, a powerful style of waging war against a known political enemy.

NWANGELE|ISU STATE CONSTITUENCIES:

At the state House of Assembly level, we have two different contenders and candidates who are making attempts for the second time: Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka (Pasolo) from Nwangele LGA and Hon. Modestus Osakwe, from Isu LGA. Both were candidates of their political parties in the 2019 Imo State House of Assembly elections: Solomon Chinonso Ucheka Pasolo, contested under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and lost to Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Modestus Osakwe contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and lost to the incumbent occupant, Rt. Hon.Mrs. Ngozi Obiefule, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Nevertheless, while many had attributed Pasolo’s emergence as the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Nwangele State Constitutency over Dr. Johnbosco Nkpadobi, during the party’s  primaries last week, as a result of his popularity, humility, accessibility, youths friendliness and grassroots brand of politics. A respected community leader and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nwangele LGA,  who spoke to the writer on the condition of anonymity, shared a contrary opinion. 

In his own words, “The rejuvenated Amaigbo political bloc is the fear of every other bloc in Nwangele LGA and across the Federal constituecy; who are sacred of an Amaigbo son as he stands to enjoy 100% bloc votes”. 

He maintained that; “Pasolo is seen as a walk-over to Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu than Johnbosco Nkpadobi as Pasolo couldn’t have won Nkpadobi without an  external influence”. 

To them, Pasolo, who is flying on the back and goodwill of OZB to win his election, will be disappointed when the chips are down as OZB will fight to save his own head than carrying his political godson and mentee on his back while running for political survival, especially with the formidable political structure in Isu, Njaba and across Nwangele APC who are realigning with Barr. Harrison Nwadike to deliver him come 2023.

The PDP Chieftain was of the candid opinion that a Johnbosco Nkpadobi’s ticket would have given the party an edge and political footing to fight the incumbent occupant and Deputy Speaker, especially with the new wave of Amaigbo political renaissance raising its awareness home and abroad for a space to occupy her place of pride in Nwangele LGA,  as to produce the next state legislator.

To the PDP Chiefian, Pasolo, who came from the same Ofeiyi divide with the Deputy Speaker, can’t win him as majority of Nwangele critical leaders and stakeholders wouldn’t game with the office of the Deputy Speaker occupied by Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu for a new comer who wants to taste the waters.

On the Isu Mandate, granted that Modestus Osakwe is loved by Isu PDP members, and has continued to enjoy the avowed support of Sir Martins Ejiogu, Deputy Chairman of Imo PDP and other leaders, his major challenge is in his  capacity  to voraciously protect his votes or victory after winning the primaries.

Modestus Osakwe is a young successful businessman, calm, calculated,  intelligent and austere. Unfortunately, he  doesn’t seem to posses the dogged and rougish disposition known with the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Despite his impressive outing in the last election, he was still being defeated by a woman in the Isu political turf. Another opportunity to change the narrative has come as Rt. Hon. Mrs. Ngozi Obiefule rounds off her second term in office next year.

Judging by the zoning arrangement in Isu LGA, Amuri Autonomous Community, where Modestus Osakwe came from, should produce the next House of Assembly member after the outgoing  state legislator, Ngozi Obiefule, who came from Isuokporo Autonomous Community in the Isu Local Government area.

Ironically, the APC state -sponsored candidate, Hon. Barr. Kingsely Ozurumba, is from the same village, kindred, ward and community with Modestus Osakwe; making the contest a heavy political fisticuff of 50-50 chances.

Finally, Modetus Osakwe should make good use of his popularity and social capital investment to take the day. By now, he should know his source of power and that of his major rival.

In political warfare and strategy, you must look at your rival or opponent, search below the surface for his source of power, the center of gravity that holds his  entire structure together. That centre could be his wealth, contacts, campaign DG, popularity, a key position in government, EFCC alleged criminal case, or a winning strategy. Hitting him there will inflict disproportionate pain and make him lose focus. Find what your opponent cherises and protects most- that is where you should strike to put him offbalance in the race.

Njoku Macdonald Obinna is a Media Consultant, PR-Expert and the publisher of 4th Estate Reporters, a widely read online newspaper.