Imo Politics Of Jumpology, Weakening Opposition And Dramatic Gale Of Defections

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA

 One of the challenges to the sustainability of modern democracy and the evolution of a robust, effective, pragmatic and functional political system and process in Nigeria, Imo State as my emphasis, is the gale of defections in recent times.

The above, has to a large extent, produced a lean political base in the country that are consistent in the political philosophies, beliefs, values, convictions and social idiosyncrasies of the various political parties.

In saner climes and developed democracies like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Israel, etc, they have politicians of over 30 years of experience in politics without wavering in party affiliations and ideologies, but certainly not in a country like Nigeria where it is about the stomach and personal aggrandisement.Men of straw, who have no convictions, who cannot endure hunger or temporary hardships; whose resolutions fluctuate on the wind and changeful billows of human opinion.

In Imo State, unlike Anambra State,  where majority of our politicians depend on the monthly allocations that come from the federation account, political defection is as easy as A.B.C. Men, who are like the Reed, tossed to and fro by every little wind of political doctrine, inconsistent as the wave of the sea.

Funny enough, this crop of leaders had remained within the political circle for over 3 decades. The same people, who shouted Owelle!!! Hero the Hero!!!, during the Rescue Mission Government, were also spotted shouting Omenkeahuru Anya!!!, during the Rebuild Imo Administration under the green cap short-lived tenure of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON. They are now shouting Onwa!!! in this Shared Prosperity Administration under Governor Hope Uzodimma! Indeed, wonders shall never end in Imo State as our army of unemployed youths have resorted to the social media to be clapping hands for all the good and bad reasons.

However, the recent resignation of the Publicity Secretary of Imo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ogu Bundu Nwadike and his immediate defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), without throwing caution to the wind, has proven that politics is one roughest games where integrity is the last word in the dictionary of many of the players. Suffice it to say: “Nigerian politicians no get shame”.

As many Imo people were taken aback,  and are still in doubt about the news making the rounds in the cyberspace about Ogubundu Nwadike’s political jumpology to the ruling All Progressives Congress, his resignation letter and pictures of his visit to the State party’s  Excos and warm reception at the official lodge of Imo Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, have put to rest the streams of lingering doubts flowing from different angles.

While the Amaigbo – Nwangele born pen pusher; a former Senior Special Assistant on Research and Development  to ousted Governor, Emeka Ihedioha  and Spokesman of the major opposition party in the state, PDP,  had remained adamant in his objective criticism and political carricature of the Shared Prosperity Administration under Sen. Hope Uzodimma; puncturng a number of the administrative lapses, putting up  daring fights through robust criticsims  against the government and her functionaries with his daily submissions of Short Essays, close sources disclosed to yours sincerely that he was not truly appreciated by Chief Emeka Ihedioha and other PDP stalwarts, whose major interest is to hold very firmly the party structure in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

A dispassionate and critical analysis from background findings about the man, Ogubundu Nwadike, shows a man who truly loved his former party, the PDP, believed in the vision of its founding fathers and also shared in their ideologies. Unfortunately, he was not supported, not taken good care of and completely starved of funds while the big men pursue their business interests and tall political ambitions.

Of a truth, if there is any reasonable politicians or strong opposition voice in Imo State that people expected not to defect to the APC, it is certainly Ogubundu Nwadike. Unfortunately, he needed the money to give his late father a befitting burial, pay outstanding over bloated bills and settle his children in school. 

But do you blame the Septugenrian? He also deserves a good life like Chief Emeka Ihedioha and other big men in the party, who care little or nothing about their boys, loyalists and supporters. As if they don’t know that: “Anaghi Eme Opposition Politics With Empty Stomach” and that “Loyalty is also serviceable”.

Recall that at the inception of the current Shared Prosperity Administration, over 18 elected House of Assembly members from both All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) abandoned their former political parties to join the new Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, while the sacked Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was left alone to lick his own wounds. 

While Ogubundu Nwadike barely has followers on his Facebook handle, as one can see very scanty comments on the thread and no likes to his numerous chronicles online, but he commands attention and relative wide range of followership on the various WhatsApp groups, where his submissions sound strong like the Rock of Gibraltar. Nevertheless, he was wildly celebrated by top government functionaries in the state unlike Jones Fcc Onwuasoanya and Chief Barr. William Amadi, who were not given such warm reception when they toed the same path of defection; Onwuasoanya an AA member while  Chief Willie Amadi from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party was the immediate past Federal Commissioner that represented Imo State at the Public Complaint Service Commission.

A random online opinion sampling among PDP members in Imo State shows a party that is as quiet as those in mourning mood having lost one of her  resourceful and useful members, Ogubundu Nwadike. Who dealt the opposition with this big political blow? It is no less personality than the maverick political wizkid of Imo State, the youngest House of Assembly Deputy Speaker in Nigeria, the Honourable Member representing Nwangele Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly,  Rt. Hon. Amarachi Iwuanyanwu, online, proactive, dynamic, cerebral and a goal getter- boardroom political strategist, who doesn’t make noise in the political firmaments of Imo.

Outside and beyond the discourse of Ogubundu Nwadike’s seeming embarrassing defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the huge disappointments expressed by Imo people, his followers and PDP members, apart from being lampooned by his critics, no one should take it away from him that he made a great impact during his days as PDP scribe and virile opposition voice in the state.

From the above therefore, you can agree with this writer that diversity is the spice of life. And that is why life is governed by choices of political affiliation and association.
Ogubundu Nwadike has made his choice, let us allow him some space in his new found party.

– Njoku MacDonald Obinna, Media Consultant|PR-Expert, Publisher, 4th Estate Reporters.