Storm over Kema Chikwe
By Sebastine Obasi
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Politicial leaders in Imo State are split over the controversial adoption of the former aviation minister as governorship candidate for the 2007 elections
The recent adoption of Kema Chikwe, former minister of aviation, as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2007 elections, is causing furore in Imo State. It has continued to generate diverse reactions from groups and concerned citizens from the area.
The Owerri Zonal stakeholders forum, a socio-cultural organisation had stirred the hornet's nest by its resolve to set up an 18-member committee, made up of two persons from each of the nine local government areas of the Zone, to find a consensus candidate. Christened the 2007 Governorship Race Committee, it consists of Nick Onwuama and Emelda Okechukwu from Aboh Mbaise, Theodore Onuoha and L.O.N Agwuocha from Ahiazu Mbaise, Bright Nwanne and Nkem Nwachukwu from Ezinihitte Mbaise, Tobias Ochiama and Charles Amadi from Ikeduru and T.O.E Ekechi and Eustace Eke from Ngor Okpala. Others are Edith Akuruka and Innocent Oparadike from Mbaitolu, Ubochi Osuigwe and Sylvester Ekeocha from Owerri North, Gab Amadi and Rowland Ogbonna from Owerri West, Nath Onyeukwu and Duke Njiribeako from Owerri municipal.
Njirubeako, a retired judge of the State High Court and Nwanne, a former senator, were chairman and secretary of the committee, respectively. The governorship aspirants invited by the committee were Nobert Obasi, Tony Anyanwu Jnr, George Eke, Kema Chikwe and Emma Ojinere. The committee noted that the aspirants were extensively interviewed at the conference room of Pinewood Hotel, Owerri, the result of which showed that Kema Chikwe scored 1,478 points; Nobert Obasi, 1,156; Tony Anyanwu, 1,048; George Eke, 979 and Emma Ojinere, 887.
But in a swift reaction a group known as concerned citizens of Owerri zone, debunked the adoption of Chikwe, whom they described as a "hard sell candidate." The group stated that the PDP won every other federal constituency seat in Imo State except Owerri federal constituency, which it lost to APGA, because Uche Ejiogu, the candidate is the brother of Kema Chikwe.
It also stated that most of the people said to have signed the adoption document are not supporting it, just as the known leaders of the zone are not aware of the adoption. It named some of the leaders to include Innocent Nwoga, former minister of establishment, Tony Anyanwu, former senator in the second republic, Evan Enwerem, former senate president, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, publisher of Champion Newspapers, Patrick Onuocha, former state chairman of PDP and Eze Ajoku, senator representing Owerri zone. Others, according to the group, include Chinwe Obaji, minister of education, Emma Iheanacho, managing director, Genesis Shipping Line, Onyenso Nwachukwu, a veteran politician, Nnanna Ukaegbu, an edicationist and Ambrose Ejiogu, a businessman.
It sees the adoption as a "sham and comedy," because all the political leaders never came together to adopt Chikwe as their sole candidate from Owerri zone. It finally called on all credible sons and daughters of the zone with genuine ambitions to step out, declare and effectively sell themselves with assurances of a free, fair and transparent choice of a governor in 2007. The group's statement was signed by Christopher Oparah, Martin Igbokwe, Jerry Opara Ugo, Boniface Ekeh and Paul Njoku representing Owerri North, West, Municipal, Ngor Okpala and Aboh Mbaise local government councils respectively. Others are Fidelis Onu, Victor, Ogbonna, Patrick Opara, Uchenna Osuegbu, representing Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ikeduru and Mbaitolu local government councils, respectively.
In his own reaction, Obasi, one of the governorship aspirants, rejected the adoption. He said the stakeholders' forum was supposed to be a meeting of stakeholders from the zone irrespective of party affiliations. He noted that the governorship race advisory committee was not set up by Amaugo Ugorji, chairman of the stakeholders' forum. According to him, if the committee had been set up by the chairman, it would have been a legal committee and when the chairman objected to its formation, he was attacked, manhandled and driven out of the meeting. That action, he contends, renders whatever decision taken thereafter, null and void.
He pointed out that the ingredients for screening were not there. He also said that as a card carrying member of the PDP, he believes in the zoning arrangement being put in place to accommodate everybody.
Of concern to him is the fact that the senator representing the zone is from Owerri West, while the minister of education and the state chairman of PDP are from Mbaike area. It is, therefore, imperative that the governorship should be zoned to Mbaise. Obasi submits that as a peace-loving man, he believes in justice, equity, fairness. He said he has no grudges against anybody." He contends, however, that the spirit of zoning means understanding and respecting other blocks.
Eze Ajoku, senator representing the zone at the National Assembly, said he was not aware of anybody's adoption but merely read it in the papers. According to him, as a senator from the zone, he is a leader, but he was not consulted. He pointed out that anybody could form a committee or forum to actualise his or her dreams. "You can hijack a forum to actualise your dreams. People will sit down when time comes to nominate a candidate. In my own case, 13 people were aspirants," he said. Ajoku also dismissed the issue of an anointed candidate, which, he said, negates the principle of democracy.
For Marcellinus Nlemigbo, state chairman of PDP, said he was not part of the arrangement that adopted Chikwe as the consensus candidate. According to him, it was not done by the elders of the zone neither was it done in accordance with the PDP guidelines. "I know many people are interested in the governorship race. PDP guidelines are not yet out. By the time the guidelines are out, those who are qualified will be given consideration. Once the party guidelines are out, the game will be played according to the rules," Nlemigbo said.
Kema Chikwe, however, sees opposition to her adoption, as being ridiculous and a sign of weakness. She contended that she had not even met most of the committee members before her adoption. "I did not indicate any interest in the gubernatorial race. I did not tell them anything. They invited me. It took time before I honoured their invitation, because I explained that my own politics depends solely on what happens at the national level. But they said, it will not be proper if I didn't come, because they were inviting people they feel can win elections," she said.
According to her, an interview was conducted. It was videotaped. When she was announced winner, many people jubilated and rushed to her house. That made her feel concerned, because, she did not know it was that serious. She maintained that she did not speak to any member of that committee before the interview. "The talk of my being anointed is blackmail. It is a show of weakness. It is a show of inferiority complex. The people peddling that rumour have reduced Imo politics to a pedestrian level. It is nonsense talk. They are afraid and intimidated because they have nothing to offer. It is not about money or blackmail. It is about somebody that can be trusted, somebody with integrity," she explained.
When contacted, Duke Njiribeako, a retired judge of the Imo State High Court and chairman of the committee stated that the forum was a PDP stakeholders' forum. He pointed out that the criteria used for the screening were loyalty, service to the party, financial capability and acceptability by people outside Owerri. "What we have done is not unusual for a people with a sense of direction. It is a common sense approach by a people who are determined to field their best for any elective office," Njiribeako quipped, adding that "we decided not to encourage a free for all affair, in order to avoid fielding candidates, who do all sorts of unethical things to win support, only to get into office to abuse the peoples' mandate for selfish gains."
Newswatch gathered that Owerri zone is seriously concerned about the governorship position. Its concern is based on the fact that by 2007, Orlu zone where the present governor comes from, would have been in power for eight years and 20 months taking into consideration the period Douglas Acholonu served as deputy governor to Evan Enwerem.
Also Okigwe zone would have been in power for 12 years, judging by the four year tenure of late Sam Mbakwe and the eight year tenure of the current deputy governor while Owerri zone is contending with the 18 months tenure of Evan Enwerem, whose administration came to an end following the military coup of late Sani Abacha in 1993.
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