Will rumbles in Imo APC spell doom?

EMEKA NZE analyses the communiqué issued by the Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn acts of highhandedness of the Owelle Rochas Okorocha government in the state
Crack in the wall?
All is not well with the Imo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), not with the arbitrary endorsement of the son inlaw, Uche Nwosu by Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the would-be successor and ceding to himself the Imo West Senatorial District come 2019 general elections.
Since that endorsement, the state membership of the APC and the generality of the people are prepared for the worst.
Not necessarily that Nwosu is not fi t to govern Imo, the citizens of the state regard it as an affront the governor to flagrantly impose his own lackey on the people, as if they cannot make their own decisions.
Characteristically, every segment of the state has vowed that the wish of Okorocha for the state will never come to pass, Trust the Imolites, even the clergy in the state have keyed into the project of ensuring that Governor Okorocha packs his bags and baggage out of the Douglas House, along with his Chief of Staff , Uche Nwosu, his in-law he is positioning to take over from him.

The Ohakim saga
If Okorocha does not know what would happen in 2019, he had better draw from the memory lane to recall how he was able to succeed Sir Ikedi Ohakim.
In Imo state, you would not for any reason, afford a fight with the clerics, especially with the dominant Catholic stock.
When in 2011, Ohakim allegedly assaulted a reverend father, had he known that it would cost him his second term, he would have avoided that encountered, but he didn’t and the rest is history.
Okorocha, the beneficiary of that encounter, the major incidence that saw him through to the Government House, needs no telling that that it is time to go as there seems to be a recap of that incidence.
With the clergymen in the state keying into the fight to flush him and protégés from the State House, he had better start packing alongside those he intends to install.
There was a lot of hope for the state when Okorocha took over the reins of leadership.
Because of his promised slogan of revitalizing the many comatose companies built by the only utility governor of old Imo state, late Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, he was voted by the people.

Okorocha’s sins and still counting
Since he assumed office in the state, Okorocha has operated as an emperor virtually undermining his campaign promises and Imo indigenes.
He is said to have incurred the wrath of Imolites during the demolition of Ekeukwu market during which over 10 lives were lost.
As if that was not enough, instead of utilizing the states meagre resources for the development of the state, he embarked on a spending spree by committing several millions of Naira into moulding the statue of now discredited South African leader, Jacob Zuma and others, an effort which earned him more public opprobrium.
Penultimate Saturday, at a requiem mass of the Late Lolo Ezinne Eziada Juliana Mbata, the Catholic community had another face off with the ruling APC government in the state.
In the presence of congregants, a bishop told Uche Nwosu and Mrs Okorocha that he, Nwosu, is not fit to govern Imo state.
He also berated Okorocha’s government for unleashing suffering on the people and urged all to ensure that they arm themselves with voter cards to oust Okorocha’s government.
The APC faithful including Okorocha’s wife among the worshipers were reportedly battle ready against the archbishop and the entire Catholic community for his comments.

Stakeholders no longer at ease
Only last Thursday, the Imo state chapter of the party unable to continue to stomach Okorocha’s brutish leadership style passed a vote-of-no confidence on the governor after their meeting at Imerienwe Ngor Okpala, L.G.A.
In their communique, copied to President Muhammad Buhari, Chief John Odigie OyegunNational Chairman, APC, Sen.
Osita Izunaso- National Organising Secretary, Gov.
Rochas OkorochaGovernor, Imo State, Chief Hilary Eke- State Chairman APC Imo State, and all LGA Chairmen, APC Imo State, they wrote: “We, Imo APC Restoration Coalition, being witnesses to the bad, retrogressive, appalling and all the absurdities that have been taking place in our great party particularly in recent times and being major players and stakeholders of the APC in Imo State, decided to come together to discuss the affairs of our great party in order to save it from further degeneration.
After a thorough dissection of all the intrigues at play, consequent of our meeting on March 7, 2018, at the ancient town of Imerienwe took the following profound and well articulated resolutions: “We appreciate and commend the diligent job, selfless services and commendable achievements of President and Commander –inChief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He is on the right track towards correcting the anomalies that he met on ground when he assumed office on May 29, 2015.
He is poised to correct some human errors before the expiration of his first tenure on May 29, 2019.
“It is our resolve to work harmoniously with leadership of the party in order to deliver dividends of democracy to Imolites.
We affirm our support for the APC and vow we shall do everything humanly possible to ensure that APC triumphs in the 2019 general elections as we pledge to work for the absolute victory of all APC candidates for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“However, having been seeing and witnessing contemptible, despicable and condemnable happenings in our great party in the state in recent times, we are convinced that unless urgent steps are quickly taken in calling certain people to order, the APC is headed for a shameful, abysmal and colossal failure in the state in the 2019 elections – this will tragically cut across and regrettably affect the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly chances.
“We sincerely, call on Governor Rochas Okorocha as the leader of the party in Imo State, to instill law, order, and discipline as well as promote peace and tranquillity as the party gets set for the all important primaries in the state.

Why anointments can’t stand
“Certainly, we totally, without any reservation, condemn the clandestine endorsements, indiscriminate adoptions and wanton “Anointments” of certain elements in the party without due processes and without any regard to laid down procedures and respect for party leadership and discipline.
It is quite disturbing that these endorsements obtained by Blackmail, Coercion and Intimidation are taking place in the hallowed orbit of the Imo State Government House under the watch of the Governor.
“We are embarrassed because this theatre of the absurdity, as we have confirmed, has the full backing and financial muscles of Imo State Government as the persons being endorsed, one Chief Uche Nwosu, his son in-law is also his serving Chief of Staff .
“As a matter of fact, this is an anomaly and points to a dangerous and destructive party politics of APC in Imo State.
We, therefore, call our members to caution as endorsements do not frankly refl ect the true picture of Imo APC.
We call on Governor Owelle Okorocha to act as a true unifier, a leader to ensure a level playing field for all APC aspirants in all positions.
To that effect, we reject in its entirety the endorsements of Uche Nwosu as being currently carried out in our party.
“This is so because these leprous endorsements have the capacity and capability of truncating and dismantling the very cord that binds us together as family.
We respectfully urge Governor Okorocha to be very sensitive to the name, integrity and sanctity of Imo as an entity and the thrust, honour and dignity that go with the governorship enterprise.
“We wish to insist that natural justice, equity, fair play and democratic norms must take their natural course as we step closer to the Imo State APC primaries and subsequently, the elections thereof.
It will be politically suicidal for the Imo State Governor to emerge from Orlu zone after Governor Okorocha’s eight years rule making a total of 16 years of Orlu governorship.
This is improper and if imposed will be resisted by all responsible and conscientious members of the party.
“Finally, we align with well meaning Nigerians who have condemned the near fracas that erupted at the St.
Michael Catholic Church, Ngwoma in Owerri North LGA, Imo State during the Requiem Mass of the Late Lolo Ezinne Eziada Juliana Mbata, last Saturday.
It is our opinion as a party that we take exception to the insinuations emanating from the media crediting the actions to APC.
“That is not our character as a party.
Nothing, really nothing can justify the rain of abuses reportedly credited to a group of people purportedly representing our great party who took laws into their hands right before the high altar of God.

Leave a Reply