IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

By Austin Echefu 

With pompous fanfare and carnival, Mbaise Nation on Tuesday bestowed on Governor Hope Uzodinma the highly revered title of Enyi Oma 1 (Good Friend of the People) of Mbaise Nation to herald the flagship Iriji Mbaise Festival. 

Trooping out in their numbers, jubilant Chiefs, and common folk defied a boycott by Emeka Ihedioha, a former representative of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency and self-declared rival of Governor Uzodinma.

Findings reveal Ihedioha, who "assumes himself" the "apex" leader of Mbaise people had made desperate moves to thwart the event to prevent any attempt to exalt Uzodinma on Mbaise soil. Sources say he reached out multiple times to members of the Ezuruezu Mbaise urging them to cancel the festival citing insecurity. He was rebuffed.

Having failed to scuttle the Iriji, Ihedioha had retreated to his country home on August 15 to hold his own 'ceremony' attended by "weary" PDP leaders.

"Sometimes I worry that we have conceded too much to these politicians," said one of the organisers who pleaded anonymity. "Imagine [Emeka] Ihedioha asking us to cancel the Irji again just because Governor Hope Uzodinma will attend and be honored with a chieftaincy title.

"Can you imagine that? So because he lost his chance as governor the whole world should stand still? I am disgusted that he keeps trying to politick with even sacred and traditional matters. Why the ceaseless attempt to pit Mbaise people against the governor and his government? What will it profit him to demonize our clan and make us look uncooperative?

"For crying out loud, power comes from God and he gives it to whoever he wills. Uzodinma is the governor but the state still belongs to all of us. We cannot contemplate sabotaging government because Emeka lost power. If government fails, we all fail. Moreover, there can only be one governor per time. I have told my colleagues, it is time we put our foot down before desperate and embittered politicians ruin what is left of our traditional institution.

"Yes, Emeka is our son. But Iriji Mbaise is not his personal brand, infact it is bigger than him, it is bigger than anyone of us. So the idea of asking Mbaise people and tourists to boycott the ceremony just because he is not in the spotlight is uncalled for and most pathetic."

While elders and chieftains showered encomiums on the governor as they bestowed the prestigious title on him and assured him of support and prayers, stakeholders rebuked Ihedioha for his polarizing politics.

"I am disappointed but not surprised. Once again, Ihedioha's ego cost him a golden opportunity to reinvent himself as a statesman," said Collins Ughalaa, Convener of Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY).

"Rather than attempt to scuttle or even boycott the Iriji Mbaise, he would have come out to receive Governor Uzodinma, say a few words and then leave if he wanted to. This would have given him tremendous mileage.

"Unfortunately, he let pettiness and bitterness get the best of him as usual. Politics requires sportsmanship, and maturity. Emeka Ihedioha confirmed once again that he lacks both traits and cannot, and should not be entrusted the sensitive office of governor of a state as sophisticated as Imo.

"The insecurity excuse no longer holds water. To Uzodinma's credit, Imo is now much safer. Ihedioha himself has attended no fewer than a dozen burials and festivals within this period but he habitually laments 'insecurity'. He himself held a new yam festival gathering in his country home and invited friends. Yet he wants Iriji Mbaise called off due to insecurity. Such hypocrisy. I pity the diaspora who continue to sheepishly swallow these shallow lies.

"Fortunately, eyes are opening and our people now know that Uzodinma means well and his detractors will drown in their own deceit."

Governor Uzodinma, while defending Ebubeagu, said members of the security outfit do not carry arms, let alone carry out sophisticated attacks.

“Ebubeagu has no sophistication, like the kind of rifles that the bandits are carrying all along. Ebubeagu are not armed,” Mr Uzodinma said on Tuesday evening, while appearing as a guest on a Channels TV programme, Politics Today.

“Some of these bandits are now operating as Ebubeagu. Of late, we discovered bandits would attack a particular place, and the next thing because they have their syndicates, they would come up with a propaganda that Ebubeagu has attacked.

“But between me and those who are in charge of Ebubeagu, and the security agencies, they know that Ebubeagu doesn’t have the capacity to attack with sophisticated arms,” he said.

The governor said criminality in Imo State has “political undertone”, and that those criticising Ebubeagu are not interested in the “peaceful atmosphere” in the state.

He said what Ebubeagu operatives do is to pick information about unusual movement in communities and report it to security agencies. “It is not a security force that goes to war,” he added

The Enyi oma 1 of Mbaise Nation, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has promised to develop the Mbaise Nation.

Governor Uzodimma stated this at the Iri Ji Mbaise Festival, where he was decorated by ezuruezu Mbaise Traditional Rulers with a Chieftaincy title of Enyi oma Mbaise in recognition of his friendly ties with the Mbaise Nation.

The Festival, which is an annual event that brings the good people of Mbaise, their friends and well-wishers together, offers great opportunities to recognize a prestigious fellow who must have impacted positively on the Mbaise nation. 

Speaking after the decoration, The Governor assured Ndi Mbaise of good tidings that his good friend will bring towards the development of Mbaise. The Governor stated that he will develop Mbaise beyond its current status

The Governor further called on the continued support of the Mbaise Nation to his administration for the State Government to actualize all it has mapped out to achieve for the interest of the State.

Manchester United could let Cristiano Ronaldo leave Old Trafford during the current transfer window amid concerns about how the striker's mood is affecting morale in the camp.

Manager Erik ten Hag's public stance has been that Ronaldo, 37, is not for sale and is part of his plans. However, senior figures have been alarmed at how quickly the overwhelmingly positive feelings around the camp generated during a successful pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia have disappeared.

The Portuguese has a year left on the contract he signed when he returned to the club from Juventus less than 12 months ago but wants United to let him leave this summer. While successive Premier League defeats to Brighton and Brentford have clearly shaken United badly, part of the overall picture has been put down to Ronaldo.

The Portuguese is said to be a negative presence at the club, hardly communicates with his team-mates in the canteen and has made no secret of his desire to move away.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday launched the Nigeria End malaria Council at the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The Council is expected to drive the Federal Government’s commitment to end malaria in the country.

In attendance at the launch is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire among other ministers and top government officials.

"Unless we love the truth, we cannot know it"

Some have mounted firewall against the truth about Imo state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. 

They may hear the fact, but go deaf. Like the biblical Prophet Daniel, when they read it, they don't understand. When they feel, they become like Apostle Paul's prophecy about this age and men whose consciences have been pierced with a hot iron.

As the 2023 electioneering draws near, particularly the Imo governorship that will be following shortly after, interests are already renting the air by some politicians jostling for the number one seat of power in the state.  The schemings and consultations are seemingly evident going by the activities of some individuals. What remains uncertain is the political platform with which some of them would contest the election.

Of a truth, the two major political parties in Imo state that are routed across the length and breadth of the state are the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but recently the wave around Labour Party has come to upstage the position of APGA in the South East. However anyone may see or interpret the political situation in Imo, the only reliable Party to wrestle power from the pernicious ruling APC remains the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

What borders most people is the leadership style of the Engr Charles Ugwu led State Working Committee which appears to be operating under the dominant influence of one man. A Party established on the principle of democracy to offer equal opportunity to all members has suddenly been cowed under the dictates of one man who constitutes himself an umpire, superimposing his whims and caprices on the Party leadership like a slave master. This is the trend that may mar the prospect of PDP in rescuing Imo if it remains unabated. 

There is this popular quote in politics, " the more, the merrier". But in the case of Imo state PDP, the closed door leadership mentality may be her albatross.

Once anyone is discovered to be nursing same ambition with their presumed "owner of Imo PDP" the attack dogs will be unleashed on the person via various social media platforms in their desperate bid to vent their anger or dissuade the person from taking further steps in pursuit of his ambition. No one cares to know if you are a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP or possess the capacity to win the election, rather the mandate is to attack any aspirant wishing to contest for governorship against  the sealed choice of Charles UGWU led State Exco. Let the SWC not be unmindful of the consequences that will result from the agitations brewing around this attitudes.

In a recent discussion with a close associate though from the opposition political party, APC, we shared thoughts on the 2023 governorship contest in the state. In our conversation, he inquired to know interested aspirants who may likely contest the governorship primaries in PDP. While I was taking my time to list some names of likely party members who might indicate interest in the race, he interrupted me by saying " do you think anyone is ready to throw his money around in PDP that is controlled by one man". At this point I demanded a rebuttal of such derogatory remark against Imo state PDP.

Then it became dawn on me the kind of impression the opposition political parties has about Imo PDP. They view the party as a private business of an individual who determines who gets what and as at when due.

In another instance, In my further conversation with him, i unearthed my discussion with a top politician in the state who confided in me in 2021 about his governorship ambition and his fears of rejoining PDP to pursue his aspiration. When I insisted to know his challenge of rejoining PDP to pursue his ambition, he disclosed that most of the state exco members of the party were appointees in the seven (7) months administration of Chief Emeka Ihedioha and by extension will always do his bid since he is also re-contesting the governorship ticket under the platform of the party. 

To me, this revelation is a confirmation of the trending reports that Ihedioha singlehandedly influenced the composition of both the state working Committee of the party as well as most LGA excos. No wonder serious minded politicians who are nursing governorship ambition in the state distance themselves from Imo PDP.

Ofcos, nobody would like to invest his capital in a project that in return will not generate profit.

Methinks, there is nothing wrong in one aspiring for an elective position in a political party you belong as it is your civic responsibility but on the contrary and for purposes of clarity there is every need to ask some salient questions: Is Imo PDP Guber Ticket IHEDIOHA'S BIRTHRIGHT?

To be modest in my submission, the outcry over Ihedioha's  third term guber candidacy come 2023 is all about hypocrisy. What is the fairness or balancing by their estimation. Yes it is Ihedioha's right to offer himself to be elected as the party's flagbearer ahead of the 2023 general election.  

But he should also appreciate that the Imo PDP has been extremely generous to him. He served twelve years at the National Assembly ( House of Representatives). The party gave him support when he clinched the guber ticket in 2014. Also, in 2018, the party also threw their weight behind him when he emerged  as the candidate of the party.

PDP has been his solid platform. But he should understand that his personal ambition cannot consume the interest of the party. 

The party is Supreme. Ihedioha has emerged as the party's guber candidate  for two consecutive periods, demanding a third term ticket in 2023 is nothing but desperation and a confirmation of the speculation that Imo PDP is his private business.

The Imo PDP Guber Ticket as regards 2023 is not Ihedioha's Birthright, his bid to recontest the guber primaries for the third time and the sentiment that he is the party's sole candidate is demarketing the party.

 If he insists on re-contesting the party's guber primaries then he should proceed and get ready for a serious contest this time around.   He should also desist from using statutory organs of the party to convene meetings in his private residence. Elected party officers ranging from the state, zone, LGA and Wards should be allowed to excercise their constitutional rights enshrined in the party's constitution. At the moment, since Ihedioha is amongst the governorship aspirants under the platform of Imo PDP, no party elected officer should be afraid of any sanction should incase you decide to pitch your tent with your choice guber aspirant. Party officers are free to interface with any governorship aspirant on invitation.

The party is indeed Supreme.....

Sir Sunny Ndukwu, KSM, journalist, public affairs analyst and Director, Media & Strategy, Divine Mandate Movement, DMM