The 2019 Imo governorship election has diverse coloration. The editorial team of this newspaper had run a comprehensive report on the capacity of four governorship candidates to make a headway at the polls.
The essay was anchored on active, functional political structures of the candidates and the fact that they have been on the political turf of Imo State for more than a decade thus have the advantage of a greater knowledge of the rough political terrain in the State.
History has shown that elections in Imo State are won on the strength of structures, alignments and realignments of candidates but only when unconventional practices does not overshadow the votes. But the 2019 guber polls has opened a new dimension- a burning hunger by the people to have the best among litany of candidates on the saddle of governance.
Changing Dynamics of 2019 Imo Guber
The governorship polls in 2019 in Imo State have already shown interesting dynamics. There are certain factors that are creeping into the contest which certainly cannot be ignored. There is this mantra that Imo State has always elected “unprepared” leaders or Governors thrown into office by various circumstances.
The emergence of Achike Udewa as governor in 1999 is a case study.Udenwa though qualified to be Governor had placed a distant fourth in the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP but was handed the party ticket in controversial circumstances.He was eventually elected Governor of the State.
Ikedi Ohakim was elected Governor in 2007 on the platform of the Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, a little known and less fancied political party with no existing structures.
He was a beneficiary of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and became the ultimate benefactor of that fierce battle. The duo did not win the polls on the strength of political structures neither were they frontliners in the contest at that time.
Rochas Okororcha of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA was a beneficiary of the “mood swing” of the Imo electorate who had wanted a regime change on the grounds of perceived folly of the Ohakim administration. It would be recalled that Okorocha had during a debate organized by the Catholic Church in 2007 said he had to condescend to run for Imo governorship after losing his presidential bid.
Thereafter, analysts contend that Okorocha’s emergence as Governor in 2011 was anchored on the need to have a new face in Government House based on the not to impressive disposition of the Imo electorate towards the Ohakim government at that time and not necessarily driven by the quest to have an “intellectual giant” to run the affairs of the State.
Unseen And Emerging Factors In 2019 Imo Guber.
The coming 2019 governorship election has opened a new dimension. The power of structures may be evident, but there is growing consensus for a youthful leadership, a Governor with relevant experience in governance and one exposed to the dynamics of modern governance. There is also remarkable rise on the need to have one “well baked” for the big job.
Survey shows that States in Nigeria who were hailed for having intellectuals, experts and philosophy kings as Governors enjoyed the best of governance.
Lagos State is a case study. The indelible marks left by Babatunde Raji Fashola formed the basis for the rapid infrastructural development and economic re armament the State has attained.
Fashola is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Peter Obi is reputed to have performed excellently as Governor of Anambra State. He is the only Governor that did not put the State in debt after he left office.
There is no doubt that the Imo elites are now yearning for a leader prepared for the task of governance, a Governor who has proved his mettle in various fields of human endeavour and possess leadership skills to do a good job when elected. How this mantra penetrates the local populace who eventually go to the polls to vote is yet to be deciphered.
Other factors.
There is a growing consciousness among a greater majority of the electorate that it is time for a youth to run the affairs of the State. Youth involvement in governance have been adjudged to be worthwhile considering its gains and effectiveness across the globe. In Botswana, a 34 year old lady was appointed a Minster. In France, Emmanuel Macron was elected President at 34. Bill Clinton, a former President of the United States, was elected President at 45 years. In the United Kingdom, Nigeria born Isaac Umunna was elected member of the British Parliament at 30.
There is a also growing hunger for an economist who posses the economic know how to open up the redundant Imo economy which has remained stagnant for a more than a decade. Imo State has a public service driven economy blinded by the benefits of a private sector led economy that has the potentials to stimulate economic activities for the overall socio economic development of a despondent populace.
*Candidates With Unseen Factors*
Aside the big four candidates whose chances to win the 2019 governorship election flow from the depth of political tap roots across the State based on the strength of their candidature, there are other candidates who have shown sufficient adrenaline to lead and fall into the spotlight of emerging factors that may shape the outcome of the election.
Two candidates, Hon, Tony Nwulu of the United Progressive Party, UPP and Okey Ezeh of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, constitute the bulk of candidates who stand a unique opportunity of benefiting from the silent desire by the electorate to have a youthful governor or economic expert to govern the State in 2019.
Nwulu is the architect of the Not Too Young To Run Act which seek to encourage active youth involvement in governance. He had assured that youths will constitute 80% of his government when elected.
Ezeh has formulated “The Imo Marshal Plan”, a policy document, experts say is capable of turning the redundant Imo economy around.
Having served as a senior official in one of the reputable banks in the globe, pundits say a candidate of such monumental experience may take Imo State to eldorado.
END OF PART 1
