CHIDIEBERE IWUOHA writes on the politics of President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent visit to Imo state
By the rule, campaign activities are yet to kick off and as such, political parties are not expected to commence electioneering. However, with the recent development across the nation’s political turf, neither the deaf nor the blind will need be told that a semblance of campaign for 2015 is on.
This, obviously became a matter of serious concern to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which cautioned stakeholders against running foul of the law. This warning has however remained unheeded as both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) engage in what they choose to call ‘political meetings and not campaign.’
And one of such meetings was recently embarked upon by President Goodluck Jonathan, to Owerri, the Imo state capital. For the record, the president’s visit to the state penultimate Saturday, was the first since people of the state voted him en masse and made history by recording the highest number of votes within the South East geo-political zone in the 2011 general elections.
Perhaps, what could be considered as news was the kind of politics that the presidential visit elicited as both the PDP and APC, led by Governor Rochas Okorocha went into open confrontation.
Three weeks to the president’s arrival, the news was everywhere as if it was going to happen in two days’ time. Even market women knew about it and felt he was coming to dish out a kind of presidential largesse to the people by announcing some projects. But it turned out to be a PDP rally staged to welcome back to the umbrella, family members who had ditched the party for one reason or the other in the past few years.
Our reporter gathered that supporters of the party settled for the Dan Anyiam Stadium, instead of the Heroes’ Square which could have taken care of the crowd. The stadium capacity is 11,000 or thereabout, but the people who graced the occasion, both as PDP faithful or unattached Imolites were more than 50,000, as many business outfits and shops were closed for the visit.
It was also learnt that the PDP rejected the offer of hosting the president in the Heroes’ Square constructed by Governor Okorocha to avoid giving the credit to him because the general belief among PDP faithful is that Okorocha has not done anything since he assumed power in 2011 and that his ascendency to power was a political accident which must be rectified at all costs.
When the offer of Heroes’ Square was rejected by PDP, they were then faced with the alternative of paying heavily for the use of Dan Anyiam stadium which before now was barred from politicians and political activities. They now had to cough out the sum of N5 million as rent,, to enrich the Imo State Government.
While addressing journalists a few days to the visit, Governor Rochas Okorocha made it clear that the state PDP requested to use the stadium for a political rally and never told him it was to host the president. Okorocha who assured that all facilities in the state would be made available to PDP on request, remembered that during his campaign in 2011, he was denied entry to the same stadium and was prevented from using any government owned facility.
The party which never hides its hatred for Okorocha’s government, made it clear that the rally was to set the machinery in motion for his removal in 2015. They were convinced that the return of two term governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, who a few days ago was secretly battling with the governor over APC structures; Senator Chris Anyanwu, a two term senator representing Owerri zone, who left PDP upon discovering that Dr. Mrs. Kema Chikwe, now PDP national women leader, who contested in the senatorial primary with her was favoured by certain interests, Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Ararume who ran on the platform of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 governorship poll, a chieftain of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) and a host of other returnees, would turn around the fortunes and chances of the party in 2015.
Okorocha who now realized the political implication of Mr. President’s visit, said in one of his speeches that he would like the president to seize the opportunity afforded by his visit to the state, to commission some federal government projects instead of coming to commission people who returned to the party. This was also collaborated by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo
In his view, the state commissioner for information and strategy, Dr. T.O.E Ekechi , said the presidential visit would have gulped more than N400 million which, he thinks, could have been channeled into meaningful projects for the benefit of the people. As a way of showcasing the administration’s achievements, APC flags and sign posts were mounted in front of all projects done and being done by the APC government for the president, so that the president and his sea of party supporters would know that Imo was working under the Imo Rescue Mission government of Owelle Okorocha.
While the visit lasted, the number of projects executed were reeled out on government owned Imo Broadcasting Cooperation (IBC) to further convince those in doubt. As if the above display of projects was not enough, the governor who had travelled outside the state, came back after his tour to prepare for the visit, which according to government sources, was being politicized.
It was alleged that the PDP made efforts to scheme the governor out of the visit by keeping him in the dark. The PDP on the other hand, alleged that the governor had fixed a rally for the same day. Little wonder then that the visit eventually took place a day after the widely announced day, that is from Friday to Saturday.
A PDP stalwart jocularly told Blueprint that the governor should stay clear of the visit to avoid infecting the president with his virus infected hands. But this negative advice was not heeded by the governor who was on hand to welcome the president alongside other PDP stalwarts at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport on the D-day. After the ceremony, the governor left for official duties.
While going back to the Imo governor’s lodge that day, the governor who was convinced that he had scored a political point by insisting on welcoming the number 1 citizen of the country, contrary to speculations, took the Dan Anyiam stadium route and met a long queue of Imo people who were patiently and gradually going into the stadium to wait for Mr. President. In his characteristic manner, he waved at them and displayed his trademark smile to the admiration of the people who returned those gestures with shouts of “Owelle!”, “Owelle!!”, “Owelle!!!”
The main event at the stadium was focused on the mistake of 2011 and the resolve of all PDP faithful to oust Okorocha in 2015, no matter what happens. The immediate past governor of the state, Sir Ikedi Ohakim in his closing remarks, said Jonathan’s visit had given a new face to the PDP in the state and that Imo people should have no other alternative than to do more for him in 2015. “So, let’s do more”, and by so doing, remembering his 2011 governorship campaign slogan.
