BY JAMES IKE
Achike Udenwa was a former governor of Imo State from 1999- 2007. His administration was rated average on the performance index after his tenure though political events that shaped the emergence of his successor remains a reference point for students of political science.
He eyed the Orlu senatorial seat, though through the backdoor after his political godson, Osita Izunaso refused to cede the PDP Orlu senatorial ticket to him. The circumstances that shaped those events is not the purpose of this piece.
Two years after he left office, Udenwa became Minister of Commerce and Tourism in Yar’Adua administration. He later dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressive Congress, APC during its formative stages.
He later left the APC back to the PDP. Since then, he has been on the quite side of the political hoopla that has dominated the political terrain in the state playing little or no role in national politics.
Udenwa appears to have reclined to his Orlu political zone. He is struggling to dictate the pace in the PDP in the area but his moves appear curtailed with the strong interference from another PDP strongman such as Senator Hope Uzodinma and other political titans.
Orlu zone is the largest political zone in Imo State which parades political giants across party lines. It is the zone of Governor Rochas Okorocha and many others. Udenwa has been relatively quiet on unfolding political developments in the state though reports said he is not oblivious of the intra party scheming and squabbles ongoing in the party.
He is believed to have aligned with the mainstream of the PDP- the bulk of party leaders who posses the soul of the party in Imo State. The former Governor of Imo State has been silent on the 2019 governorship election ostensibly trying to stay away from the controversy on the issue of zoning despite being a huge benefactor of the policy in the past.
How he aligns himself to this burning issue will play out before the 2019 elections comes but for now,the political silence of the Amaifeke chief will play out when the chips are down.