Imo Platform, PDP and 2007

Emeka Oraetoka

Owerri, Imo State

Certainly, the recent re-registration exercise in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was supposedly meant to weed out Disgruntled, Disloyal, Indiscipline and Subversive elements in it folds; has introduced an interesting dimension to political mobilization and support within the party. The idea is that PDP has been repositioned ideologically.

Perhaps it was in apparent reaction to the sorry state of the Party before the re-registration exercise that prompted Mr. president, during the repositioning exercise in Ogun State where he participated, to urge party faithful not to reduce the party to “big for nothing”, experts interpreted the comment as signifying the end of era of anointing from the top in the party. The idea right now in the party, from president Obasanjo’s comment is that every party member must be relevant from ward to state level, in every PDP State in Nigeria. The re-registration exercise appeared to have repositioned the party for ideological politicking ahead 2007. Pundits believed that those that lost out in the exercise are ideologically incompatible with those in the party today.

In the light of the foregoing therefore, it is incumbent on any member of the party who is interested in any elective office in any state of the Federation, to embark on aggressive grass-root mobilization in view of obvious threat from opposition parties, that may profit from the decision of those disgruntled elements affected by the repositioning exercise. It will thus be suicidal for any politician to think that someone somewhere will ensure his electoral victory without aggressive campaign in his state.

Just recently, Senator Arthur Nzeribe floated Imo Platform [IP], a political pressure group within PDP; ostensibly to give direction and platform to any politician, ready to be part of the New PDP in the state. The frenzy atmosphere in Imo State, arising from Imo Platform’s activities could be seen. Imo Platform Buses could be seen everywhere, offices could be sighted everywhere, jingles heard every now and then. Before now, everybody was aware that Senator Ifeanyi Ararume is seriously eyeing the office of executive Governor of Imo State. In a nutshell, he desperately wants to take a shot at the Governorship position in the state. Pundits are aware that his legitimate ambition is being marketed only on the pages of Newspapers. In view of the new spirit in the new PDP – PDP post registration, one had expected to see functional structures/offices in the nooks and crannies of the state, to the credit of Ararume. Pundits are of the view that the erection of functional structures in Imo State by Ararume would have clearly offered him reasonable edge over any would-be candidate for the position [Imo State Governorship seat] in peoples Democratic Party [PDP], but the reverse is the case. What then is Ararume’s Joker in PDP as regards his smoldering ambition? Unless Senator Ararume has big masquerade[s] somewhere, ready to go at length to install him as the candidate of the party in Imo State ahead 2007 gubernatorial Elections, pundits believe that his best bet is to embark on aggressive erection of structures, and membership drive in the entire Imo state as signs of seriousness on his part; otherwise, the belief in some quarters that the “Trinity” [Ararume, Uzordinma and Kema Chikwe], installed the current party executive in Imo state to pave way for Ararume’s endorsement in PDP without functional structures, could hold water after all. If so, the scenario could be dangerous to the political health of Imo PDP, as some other serious minded candidates would have been sidelined in the party. It will then seriously undermine the integrity of the party, apparently for wont of reason[s] for dumping those that can flaunt formidable structures, good enough to win elections in the state.

Information has it that the idea behind Imo Platform [IP] was to ensure that the peace in Imo State PDP is sustained at all cost. According to the promoters of IP, the possible rupturing of peace in Imo state PDP, arising from the supremacy struggle between the Trinity group (Ararume Hope and kema chikwe) as fondly called by political ana lysts in Imo axis, and governor Udenwa’s camp, could automatically signal the epitaph of the party in the entire Southeastern states. Pundits reasoned that it is only in Imo State that serious minded politicians who believe that charity must begin at home, as a first step towards national relevance can be found, therefore, rupturing of peace will leave Southeast at the mercy of outside political poachers. Peace loving politicians in Imo state were said to have heaved a sigh of relief upon the coming on board of Senator Nzeribe led Imo Platform; whom was incidentally mandated by the National Chairman of the Party, Senator Ahmadu Ali, to coordinate the reconciliation of Udenwa’s group and the Trinity group. The failure of that reconciliation effort led to the formation of Imo Platform. The idea according to them, was for the leader of the Platform, Nzeribe, not to be seen as a leader who used his privileged position to give victo ry to one of the warring groups, particularly when one realizes that Senator Nzeribe, by virtue of his office as a Senator, is also an Abuja based politician, like the Trinity group, whom Udenwa’s group relentlessly accuse of using their connections in Abuja to subvert and undermine constituted authority in Imo State.

One disturbing but interesting script playing itself out in Imo State ahead 2007 gubernatorial election is the amazing impact of Imo Platform in Imo State. With the constant denial by Senator Nzeribe, that he is not interested in becoming the next governorship candidate of PDP ahead 2007, and the amazing speed at which politicians in Imo State are embracing Imo Platform; the lighting speed at which functional structures have sprang up and are still springing up, in almost the 27 local government areas in Imo State; and with the sheer velocity at which serious minded politicians are trouping to Nzeribe’s country home in Oguta for homage, one could be left with one guess, which may be as good as yours.

Information has it that through Imo Platform, Nzeribe is on the verge of reincarnating The CARIA Movement strategy, and also on the threshold of unleashing it in just one state, Imo. Recall that CARIA was a powerful political movement that controlled Eight (8) states then, the whole of what was referred to as Eastern region. One can only imagine the impact of Imo Platform on the political landscape of Imo state. Nzeribe is known to be a deadly, silent and efficient operator. This writer is waiting to see who will dare stand on the way of this moving train. It must be understood that Nzeribe does not start anything unless he is sure of it, and once he starts, he never stops, he gets to the very end – win or lose.

This poser is pertinent here: If Nzeribe, denies gubernatorial ambition, whom then is he doing all this for?

EMEKA ORAETOKA

Information Management Consultant

Writes from Owerri, Imo State

e-mail: oramekllis@lycos.com