BY Chuks Osuji
Recently, there was a publication in one of the local tabloids along with other comments in social media ostensibly calling on Prince Eze Madumere, the Deputy Governor of Imo state to begin positive warm up to contest as the next Governor of Imo State come 2019.
Much as favourable as some of those comments and views could be welcome, generally, they seem to have missed the crux of the issue involved.
Before coming to those issues involved, it is important for me to clear one vital historical point.
In Imo State, the politics of succession has not had a pleasant historical base. I proceed to explain.
Imo State which was created in 1976 began with military administrators. The first successful civilian administration was that of Sam Mbakwe which was abruptly terminated in 1983 by the military coup d’ etat led by Major General Mohammed Buhari which affected state Governors and their Deputies.
Even at that, the choice of a deputy by Chief Sam Mbakwe was not a rosy on. He had for election of 1979, selected Dr. Amalaha, a senior Lecturer in Alvan Ikoku College of Education. With this running mate, chief Mbakwe felt assured that he had made the best choice on two main grounds. First, chief Mbakwe was from Okigwe zone which could be referred to Imo north.
So, he needed a running mate from Imo south, Aba zone to balance the geopolitical equation because, whether people want to accept the political truth or not, whether so-called modern hawks in our political environments believe or not, there has been and must continue to be inseparable item of political balancing or call it political zoning, in the overall Nigerian Politics.
And this is what is consigned to mean essential ingredients of political equity and stability, anywhere in this world, where politics is the process of selecting leaders and those to govern the state or country.
Even in America which is regarded as the father of modern democracy, in the choice of an American president’ such vital political issue of balancing is virtually considered, and never ignored or wished away. Absolutely, never and never. Anybody who doubts this should just roll out the History of American presidential elections. Never had any American president come from the North as well as the Vice from the same North. This is a matter of essential political continent in any political source for all. John Kennedy was from North East while his Vice was from Texas in southwest. So it goes.
So also, as it is in Nigeria, Buhari is from the North while his vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is from the Southwest. Similarly, in the Governorship state choices, no governor comes from the same geopolitical zone with his Deputy. So Sam Mbakwe chose Dr. Amalaha from Aba zone hoping that all was well.
He went to contest the 1979 Governorship race and defeated homely well, Dr. Nwakanma Okoro who was from Aba zone with his running mate from Owerri zone. Something happened threatening Mbakwe’s massive victory.
Dr. Nwakanma Okoro headed to the Election tribunal which then was the state High court. It was a celebrated case which threatened Mbakwe’s victory. The reason was that Dr. Amalaha who was a public servant was said not to have resigned as required by the electoral law.
In a landmark judgment which attracted a lot of interest across the nation, in its final ruling, the presiding Chief Justice of Imo State, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa reasoned that the defect in the deputy Governor’s component of the ticket, even though defective should not injure all the entire ticket. Of course, many jurists did not go along with this ruling. But it was the judgment. So, Mbakwe was confronted with the problem of replacing Dr. Amalaha. In order to respect the zoning principle, he went to the same Aba zone and selected Chief Isaac Uzoigwe.
At the restoration of civilian rule in 1999, Chief Achke Udenwa in running for the Governorship chose Engineer Ebere Udeagu from Okigwe zone as his running mate. Fortunately, Chief Achike Udenwa’s administration had a pleasurable tenure for two terms. But unfortunately, something happened. Owing to internal and domestic twist and turns of politics, Udenwa did not have a visible succession plan to endorse his deputy Udegbu to succeed him.
There were all kinds of political rumours surrounding this including the fact that of Udenwa falling under the overwhelming influence of his amiable wife who preferred one Ike Ibe to Udeagu from Okigwe zone. Another rumour was that Udenwa himself was not keen because he probably felt that Udeagu was not forceful enough to rule the ever complex Imo state.
In the issue of a succession plan, the face was crown open for Okigwe aspirant, the luck which finally fell in favour of Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone who chose lady Ada Okwuonu from Owerri zone as his running mate.
When Ohakim lost the governorship race 2011 to the current governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as a matter of political inevitability and expedience chose Jude Agbaso, also from Owerri zone as his running mate. When some politically intervening variables emerged, Jude Agbaso was impeached and removed. Owelle as well, chose Prince Eze Madumere from Owerri as his deputy till this glorious day by the will of God.
Now, Owelle’s tenure will run out constitutionally in May 2019. The drums of politics are gradually warming up silently but would soon by next year begin to sound louder. It is for this reason that some pundits in our political environment and other commentators and analyst s and predictors have come to think that as a matter of following already set principles that a successful, loyal and performing Madumere should begin now to indicate his interest to replace his boss whom he has served eminently and nobly well.
Since there are already talks here and there of successor to Owelle some have begun in earnest to suggest that Prince Madumere should begin now to “make a little noise about his interest.” No, I very politely but firmly disagree.
Particularly, as it is a matter of public knowledge that Owelle has from time to time according to “press commentaries and some opinions”, speculated that he may prefer his son In-law, Chief Uche Uwosu to succeed him.
.Dr. Osuji lives in Owerri