Ohakim and his continuing political ambition
The last time I checked, 2019 which would mark another interregnum in Nigeria was fast approaching to the delight of the
country’s teeming politicians, particularly their likes in Imo State. This implies that both the politicos and the electorate are currently warming up toward embracing the said era, thus can’t wait.
It appears the immediate past governor of the aforementioned state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim is one of the few individuals that are strongly preparing to be in control of the state’s Seat of Power otherwise known as Douglas House, come 2019. It would be recalled that Chief Ohakim’s emergence as the Imo governor in 2007 was seemingly miraculous. His victory was occasioned by the lingered impasse between the then Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) flag bearer for the Imo gubernatorial polls, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
Prior to anointing Chief Ohakim to wear the shoes of Sen. Araraume, although under a disguise, the agreement was that the former would decamp to the PDP if he emerged as the governor of the state, and consequently he fulfilled his own part of the deal when he eventually found himself in the Douglas House.
Aside decamping from the PPA to the PDP, during his reign as the Imo State governor, it’s worth noting Chief Ohakim was making frantic effort to satisfy a few individuals who could be best described as king makers. Like any other leadership, it’s noteworthy that Ohakim’s was characterized by several social cum political challenges. Apart from the lingered court proceedings between him and Sen. Araraume, the social plights experienced by him was one of the reasons that gave Chief Rochas Okorocha – the present governor – an upper hand during the 2011 governorship election in the state.
Though I’m not here to state his accomplishments and shortcomings while he was the state’s governor, it’s imperative to acknowledge that his four-year tenure, which came as a surprise to millions of onlookers, ended in an unpopular style. Despite his strong intention to continue for a second time in office, it was obvious that over seventy-five per cent (75%) of Imolites wanted him to take a bow, probably due to the misunderstanding that ensued between him and a Catholic priest which was widely politicized.
In addition, the popularity of Chief Okorocha who was then his closest rival brought more pains to his continuity aspiration. Coupled with the rumour making the rounds that the Mbano-born politician is still aspiring to return to Douglas House come 2019, penultimate week, one of the dailies confirmed the news. Chief Ohakim who few months ago notified the general public that he had temporarily retired from active partisan politics, equally aspired for the same position in 2015 but never secured a ticket at the primary level, in PDP precisely.
One thing that is yet to be clear is the political party the man in question would be vying under. Is it going to be the PDP that failed to secure victory in 2011, rejected him in 2015, and that he chose to temporarily retired from barely few months ago when it needed him most? Will it be the All Progressives Congress (APC) that is already loaded with aspirants noted to be men of unquestionable character; in other words, a party where there is ostensibly no iota of vacancy? Is he going back to the PPA that he relegated to the background when he became the governor of the state in 2007, or considering coming up with a totally different political party? These among many more pertinent questions are currently on my thoughtful mind. However, whichever party he may choose to operate under toward actualizing his keen objective, I wish to unequivocally but humbly advise the statesman to have a rethink as regards such an ambition.
If I were in his shoes, I would never dream of aspiring for governor, or a second term, again. Not because he had been defeated twice at the polls – both at the primary and secondary levels – or because he is not qualified, but simply owing to the fact that his chances of emerging victorious again are apparently infinitesimal. The APC has seemingly dominated Imo State within a shortest time frame.
It suffices to say that whosoever that would be vying for the Imo gubernatorial polls come 2019 under the auspices of the APC, or to be anointed by the aforesaid governor, would definitely have an upper hand at the polls. Even if Chief Ohakim eventually decamped to the APC, there’s no up to 10% guarantee that the party’s ticket would be given to him because there are several others who had ab initio worked relentlessly for the party and are equally qualified for the position in question, thus it’s high time he jettisoned this unquenchable ambition towards thinking of something different. Think about it!
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