MAZI EJIMOFOR OPARA
Once upon a time, the Imo State politics have dared great odds by pushing aside the big political parties to install a government of choice. In 2007, it was Chief Ikedi Ohakim and the PPA, and a quick repeat of similar process with Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha and APGA. In all this, the Imo political space has always been uncomfortable with secterian political parties and the wilderness status it confers on the people. It was for this reason that Ohakim fled back into the PDP almost immediately he was sworn into office as the State Governor. Owelle on his own appears too Nationalistic to be cordoned into secterian politics, which is the hallmark of APGA’s fledging ideology. Hence, his swift move to coalesce with like minded Progressives to form a formidable National party – the All Progressives Congress.
APGA and her original owners – Ndi Anambra – have not minced words or actions in asserting their ownership of the party. First, both the past and present National Chairmen are from Anambra State, and all that concerns the party revolves around the supremacist posturing of the average Anambra politician. While the Anambra person has deep longing for National political relevance, the mundane precepts of APGA preys on the emotions of gullible electorates. Yet, many of these APGA diehards are now persons like Mr Peter Obi, who is currently on a frantic chase for National relevance. Meanwhile, there was a time in our National politics when Senator Andy Ubah was the De facto vice president to President Obasanjo. It was at this time promising sons and daughters of the State kissed National glory and made global impact; see Prof Chukwuma Soludo, Prof ABC Nwosu, Late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Dr Oby Ezekwesili (Minister of Education) and so many others.
Victory intoxicates, no doubt, and the current wave of APGA in Imo State is part of the 21/21 inebriation of some Anambra politicians who are back to Imo State to attempt the macabre dance of 2011. As a party, Imo had no business with APGA if there was a plausible National alternative to the PDP in 2011. We needed salvation from the trajectories of Ohakim-PDP conundrum, in the absence of the preferable, we settled for the available. Today, Ndi Imo are hooked up to the National grid of political power, and there is no manifest reason why it shouldn’t remain that way. Even the owners of APGA are making conscientious effort to return back to the centre, either through the PDP or with the current APC.
The mercantile nature of APGA is making it very difficult for them to have an inlet into the mainstream Imo State politics. From the Grassroot to the National leadership of APGA in Imo State, all you find are political “job men”. The current, only APGA governor is sitting on a time bomb because of the promises he made to certain persons who made the 21/21 victory possible. Like a man hitting orgasm, Governor Obiano made conflicting promises to ends that are irreconcilable, the immanent implosion can only be imagined.
Recently, a post was made about Barr. Patrice Akwara declaring to contest for the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of APGA. I doubted the authenticity of the post, only for my doubts to be confirmed today by sources close to the learned gentleman. There are rumours about a possible complicity, of certain unscrupulous elements, in peddling the false stories of defection against the legal silk. Barr. Patrice Akwara remains a card carrying member of the PDP and has declared to vie for the party’s ticket for the Ngor Okpala /Aboh Mbaise Federal Constituency seat. There are many more who would have reckoned with APGA, but bemoan their absence at the Grassroot of Imo State politics.
The hope is thus bleak for APGA in Imo State. But, as a business entity that deals on buying political scraps, they are patiently waiting for cut-outs from either the PDP or APC. However, it has become difficult to get cut outs as many Imo politicians have rather chosen to be servants in heaven than Kings in hell. We need not be told that APGA from the way it is couched, is nothing but the business interest of a few Anambra politicians. These are people who are simply into mercantile politicking; and trust the Anambra person with business, it is a sphere they know too well. Apart from the ethnic tensions, fuelled by these pockets of secterian parties (APGA inclusive), there is nothing really desirable about a secterian party. Lagos after so many years saw the folly in their action. This only reinforces the call for political reforms, where Nigeria will become a 2-party State with a proviso for independent candidacy. For Imo, APGA is only hoping in the wrong direction.