SAM OBINNA IBE examines the chances of Col Austin Akobundu, (retd), immediate past minister of state for Defence, former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, South-east now gunning for the position of National Organising Secretary of the party zoned to Abia state
Come Wednesday, 17th August, 2016 Abia state chapter of PDP would join the rest of their members from across Nigeria to Port Harcourt, Rivers state, venue of the re scheduled National Convention.
Expectedly, Sir Johnson Onuigbo led state party Exco is putting finishing touches for the Abia delegation to be well represented at the convention that has become subject of controversy given the division in the party between the care taker committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarafi where the parallel faction headed by Senator Ali modu Sherrif.
At the South East Zonal level, positions have been shared within the states that make up the zone comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo state respectively.
As it were, Blueprint gathered that the position of national organising secretary was ceded to Abia state chapter of the party and at the last count, three aspirants are said to be jostling for the plum office.
They include: Col Austin Akobundu, the immediate past National Vice Chairman of the party, South East, Senator Emma Nwaka, the immediate past State Chairman and Dr Solomon Ogunji, the former state Secretary of the party between (2007-2010) respectively.
The aspirants are said to have intensified campaigns reaching out to party leaders and delegates in order to get their votes at end of day.
Granted that the three aspirants at different levels of service are said to have distinguished themselves but the leaders were also said to have met to ensure that they present the very best among the three vying for the post from Abia, so that the state would have a quality representation at the national level.
In a telephone interview with Blueprint, Senator Nwaka confirmed that he is in the race. He however expressed confidence that he is the candidate to beat, stressing that both in terms of zoning and merit, that he is most favoured for the job.
Similarly, Dr Solomon Ogunji told our Correspondent that he is aspiring, adding that they are on the field campaigning and perfecting strategies. But there are strong indications that the Ukwa East born politician, Ogunji may be persuaded to step down for Akobundu widely tipped to clinch the position ahead of Nwaka. In fact, he was reported to have settled for the National EX officio position representing South East, this however narrowed the race between two contestants: Akobundu and Nwaka, with the former touted to likely smile home at the end of voting at the convention.
Meanwhile, associates of Akokundu at the weekend said he has what it takes to clinch the position, as some politicians in Abia state interviewed also tipped the retired army colonel based on what the described as his inspiring antecedents which he garnered from positions held in the past both in government and at party levels.
Speaking on the chances of Akobundu, Hon Sam Onuigbo, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency said that he is completely in support of his candidacy. He further said that without fear of contradiction, that Akobundu is best suited for the job when you look at positions he has held in the past. “You discovered that he is prepared and most equipped for the job and that he will not disappoint”, he said.
Hon Onuigbo who hails from the same Ikwuano area of the state as Akobundu maintained that the former minister is a man of excellence, a man who had performed outstandingly in any position he has held in the past stating that he has no doubt that he will do his best as the organizing secretary of PDP.
Asked what he thinks is the unique selling point of retired colonel, he said ,” Igbo proverb says a good market sells itself “while liken Akobundu to that good market that will sell itself when the chips are down at the convention venue.
“You are talking of a man with exceptional humility, a very loyal, focused, hardworking man who has being in party administration for a very long time and has been able to do well, as a former Minister of State for Defence of Federal Republic of Nigeria and he also performed exceedingly” , Onuigbo said.
The former Commissioner of Finance in Abia state summed up that Akobundo’s sense of humility, hard work, loyalty and experience are rare attributes that would benefit PDP and the nation immensely with Akobundu as the National Organising Secretary of PDP.
Hon Onuigbo is not the only one drumming support for Col Akobundu. As for Hon Emeka Ejiogu, he argued that in terms of stature, experience, humane and wide acceptability even beyond the shores of Abia state, give Akobundo an edge as the best material for the job.
Continuing, Ejiogu, immediate past Honourable member of the Abia state House of Assembly, who represented Umuahia North, said that even though he is not in the Senator Ahmed Makarafi led- faction of PDP, if he had his way, he will support Akobundu because he is a very good material for the position of national organising secretary of PDP.
Ejiogu added that Akobundu has the pedigree to fit into the position of National Organising Secretary to take the party to a greater height if elected.
“If I have my way, I think I will support Col Akobundu, but for the purpose of the division in the party, we are supporting Senator Ali Modu Sherrif, but then, he is a very good material, he had been tested before and found competent at the national level,” Ejiogu said.
On his part, the immediate past Transition Committee Chairman of Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state, Elder Henry Ukachukwu Nwaoha said Akobundu is the best among equal, adding that “he towers above other aspirants in terms of integrity, experience, accommodating of people irrespective of class and above all, he is widely accepted in his Ikwuano/Umuahia country home, the state even at the national level”.
Nwoha who maintained that when Akobundu served the party at the national level and the nation as a former Minister of Defence, he was not found wanting in the discharge of his duties, added that “therefore will also perform the present one he is aspiring creditably”.
He pointed out that as the PDP is passing through crisis moments, people like Akobundu should be supported in order to bring his wealth of experience to bear in management of the crisis while insisting that Senator Nwaka is not a match for Akobundu.
Whereas Ms Oluchi Maduako, a strong supporter of PDP since inception of the party, from Ohuhu in Umuahia North, said Akobundu will do well on the job because he is an experienced politician, she added that during the first botched convention, the whole of his Ikwuano people charted buses to Port Harcourt to give him their support.
To Hon Obinna Ekekwe, pioneer member of Abia House of Assembly, as a very loyal party man that whoever the leaders of the party decide that is his own choice. He told Blueprint: “It will not be wise going to the Port Harcourt Convention with two contestants for the post, it means that the party is not united or the governor who is the leader of the party in the state is not in charge”.
The former deputy minority leader however called on the party leadership to put on their thinking cap and look critically at the two contestants on the person that will better represent the party so that Abia PDP will be well represented at the national level and not use the position for self- aggrandizement.
When contacted on telephone, Akobundu promised to get back with his response but did not.
From the foregoing, certainly, the outcome of the Port Harcourt convention, barring any last minutes change, would distinguish the boys from men whether it will be Akobundu or Nwaka.
A source who craved for anonymity from Isiukwuato, the local government of Senator Emma Nwaka described him as an egotistic politician who did not use that vantage position of state chairmanship to assist people, noting that through out the six years he held the post, he could not point at anybody that he empowered.
He said that during the 2015 general elections, Senator Nwaka, as the state chairman of PDP was roundly defeated by APGA in his constituency.
He said that Nwaka does not have the political clout to aspire for that office of national organizing secretary of PDP.