It appears far, yet near. The race to Government House Owerri, Imo state, has commenced in style. And in no distant time, the contenders and pretenders will begin to come up and political realignment will certainly take shape, writes an analyst, NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA
Politicians have always found reasons, some may say, flimsy excuses, for defection or resignation, as most of them ascribe their cross carpeting to the deep divisions and factionalisation within the party. Such fragmentation, where it truly exists, usually makes it increasingly difficult to foster unity and advance the collective interests of party members and the people.
…Prelude to gale of defection?
Already, what analysts call political realignment, is however, beginning to fall in place in Senator Hope Uzodimma’s Imo. The recent resignation of the trio of Hon. Blyden Amajirionwu, a party chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) in Ngor Okpala local government area, and its representative during the 9th Imo State House of Assembly, Cajetan Duke; the state publicity secretary of the APC, and Uchechukwu Nelson Nwosu (Ph.D). the state’s APC legal adviser, is a pointer in this direction. Without doubt, this is a strong signal of what to expect in the 2027 guber race in Imo state.
Curiously, one may ask, why the decision to abandon the party despite the fact that there is no friction whatsoever in the APC under the leadership of Uzodimma? One can then ask; is this the beginning of a gale of defections to come? Time will answer this!
…Their reasons
As a fact, a press statement by Amajirionwu alongside the other two officials of the ruling party, did not cite any political crisis or division within the party as reason for their decision to resign. Rather, it is simply about their personal interests, political survival, and realignment given the fact that ideological posturing seems to be very far from the Nigerian politicians.
While the Imo off-season governorship election still tarries, what gave the trio such impetus to resign their membership of a ruling political party where they have established contacts, political associates and impressive reach to lobby for better political appointments or pursue government contracts if they had exercised some patience, gives one insight into what is to come as Mazi Gburugburu, Dr. Chima Amadi ‘s factor keeps resonating across the various wards and local government areas of the state.
...Heralding the new force
Lately, the new conversation in Imo has been around Amadi’s political trajectory, and as such, all Ndi Imo who are firebrands, well-established entrepreneurs and technocrats with verifiable sources of income from the private sector, in what looks like a total departure from the old political order,
are craving for a paradigm shift in governance, one with a defined direction other than the usual ‘Lagos Big Boys.’
The resignation of the trio from ruling party and their decision to swell The Mazi Gburugburu’s political family, a little known organisation before now, is a true testament to the powerful influence, leadership dexterity, political sagacity, rich contacts and strong grassroots appeal Amadi, the multiple doctorate degree holder cum global scholar, and indeed a new entrant into the Imo political landscape, commands.
Sources from the grapevine revealed more government appointees and members of the ruling APC and of course other top members of the opposition parties, will, in the fullness of time, soon be pouring into the new political family to swell the fast-growing group, in actualisation of their political ambition as the ongoing political merger revs up.
…The frenzy that follows
In an alleged politically sponsored story by one Anselem Iwejuru, tilted: “Protest Erupts in Ngor- Okpala As Youths , Elders Reject Chima Amadi’s Governorship Ambition.” coming barley 15 hours after the resignation of the APC chieftains, one can see not just a reflection of political frenzy of sort in some quarters, but also Amadi, the philanthropist’s fast growing popularity and influence in Imo’s political cycle.
It goes without saying that this new political force can no longer be ignored in a critical analysis and objective assessment of the real contenders and the pretenders jostling for Douglas House come 2027.
…Brief on Amadi
A native of Umuekwunne community in Ngor- Okpala local government area, Owerri Zone of Imo state, Dr. Amadi, is rich, highly connected, an avid researcher, well-travelled scholar of international repute, London trained economist, political scientist, public policy expert, serial entrepreneur, and billionaire business maverick, has continued to dot the Imo political space in recent times with his state-wide political activities and consultations, warming his way into the hearts of the people at the grassroots.
While he is relatively not known in the Imo political leadership discourse, the name rings a deafening bell among Nigeria’s power brokers and political gladiators.
Mazi Gburugburu, as he is popularly known by his numerous followers, supporters and admirers too, has a mastery of Nigeria politics as well as the dynamics, as he comes with a rather refreshing political ideology of social welfare for the people, empowering their minds to demand for good governance, and productively engaging the masses.
Amadi, the Doctoral Fellow at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, no doubt, will pull a very big surprise to many as the weeks and months draw closer.
He is among the political gladiators to watch out for in 2027 as the Imo political realignment movement gathers momentum.
For an observer of political development in the state who spoke under anonymity, “the next governorship poll will be one like no other, as the Amadi-led force will certainly change the way things are done., and we wait to see how the brainy Amadi hopes to further actualise this, having started on a very good note.”
Mr. Obinna, a public analyst and PR expert, wrote from Owerri