With the uncertainty surrounding the candidature of Retired General Lincoln Ogunewe in the Action Alliance, following INEC’s recognition of the Omo-Aje-led National Working Committee as the authentic leader of that Party, the battle for who becomes the next governor of Imo State appears to have reverted a straight three horse race; the incumbent, Hope Uzodimma, the Labour Party candidate, Athan Achonu and the PDP candidate, Samuel.
Ogunewe’s possible exclusion from the race will greatly narrow the choices of progressive Imolites to Athan Achonu, whose candidature on the LP platform places him in a commanding advantage over other candidates. However, Ogunewe’s affinity with the Obidients would have been a major distraction to the Imo liberation struggle.
However, it must be pointed out that unless the INEC reverses her decision to derecognize Chief Kenneth Udeze as the National Chairman, any votes cast for the AA in the November election is a total waste and would be aiding Uzodimma’s reelection chances.
Our focus as Imolites at this point should be to stop Uzodimma from perpetuating himself in the Imo governorship seat and privatising political power in Imo, because, no matter what anyone might want to tell you, this is the best time to stop Uzodimma.
If we fail to stop Uzodimma from getting a second term, then, we should be ready for a reprise of the Tinubu dominance of Lagos in Imo, with Uzodimma taking full charge of Imo politics. Uzodimma is not the kind of politician who will get a second term and fail to impose his preferred candidate as his successor, and you can be sure that it will be one of his thugs, rather than any technocrat like Tinubu pretends to do in Lagos.
Athan Achonu’s platform is the more progressive platform of the two key opposition Parties in Imo State, and whatever might be our individual reservations with him should be kept aside while we concentrate on using him in retrieving our State from the stranglehold of strangers and the Daura cabal.
Coming from the Okigwe zone, Athan has the prospects of sweeping the entire Okigwe zone, given that there is neither a major governorship candidate nor a deputy governorship candidate competing with him from that zone.
Samdaddy will fight for his life in Owerri zone, given that the incumbent deputy governor and the current running mate to the APC is from his zone, and the distraction of Ogunewe will affect him more than any other candidate.
In Orlu, the battle will be between Athan Achonu and Jones Onyereri. Orlu people consider Uzodimma’s governorship a curse because it brought killings, destruction, and hardships, and I don’t see any reasonable Orlu voter casting his or her vote for the APC in the governorship election.
The Peter Obi factor will also greatly benefit Athan Achonu, because, being the candidate of his Party, Peter Obi is expected to lead an aggressive campaign for him, when he is ready.
However, it must be pointed out that for the Labour Party candidate to take advantage of the victory fate seems to have dropped on his lap, he must work harder than he is currently doing. As of this moment, the only candidate engaging in any kind of visible mobilisation of voters in Imo State is Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
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Even the APC have kick-started their mobilisation with their LGA tour which started yesterday. I expect that Athan Achonu’s train is steaming, and when it takes off, it should overtake these ones and take his rightful position as the number one candidate in this race.
LET’S TAKE BACK IMO!
- Script Credit: ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES
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