BY INNOCENT ONYEUKWU
There is nothing wrong with the defection of Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
I do not hold brief for his actions, because the art of defecting from one party to another by politicians is nothing new. It is a way of life, a style in Nigerian politics.
The PDP has no basis to crucify Umahi. The Ebonyi State Governor did what most Nigerian politicians are noted for. He only joined the trend. The opposition party is shouting hoarse because the defection is not the other way round. If Umahi was heading to the PDP from APC, perhaps the reaction would have been different.
The Ebonyi State governor said he decided to leave the PDP for APC, because according to him, the opposition party, is not disposed to zone its presidential ticket to the South East. That is his conviction, his faith and jingle.
Umahi’s action may have exposed PDP’s game plan for 2023. He may have given us a tip off of the gamble the party may have contemplated over the quest of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.
Uche Secondus, the PDP national Chairman, is bent on keeping the Vice Presidential ticket of the party for his South South region. And one of the ways of realizing this task, is to ensure that the PDP presidential ticket stays in the North.
The PDP and Secondus, do have every reason, to gamble with the South East over the presidential ticket of the party. The South -South remains formidable for the party. The region with six States, all PDP governors, is intact, and can readily align with the North to have a Northern presidential candidate and a South- South Vice.
This is the party’s script for 2023, on the basis, that the South South cannot lay claims to the Nigerian Presidency, after Goodluck Jonathan had been President for six years
Those who say it is early for political parties to announce which zone gets their presidential tickets, miss the point. If the PDP cannot say so now, they should show it via ‘body language’
‘Body language’ is permissible in politics. Eye contact is allowed too! None was forthcoming from the PDP. It came from the ruling party. And the only way to deliver a pregnant woman in labour, is to take her to a Labour Room. If the Ebonyi State Governor was deceived to go into a fools’ paradise as some want us to believe, let us allow time to prove him right or wrong.
But for now, his move is an indication that Igbo Presidency may just be feasible in the ruling party. There is no law in the ruling party’s Constitution, which forbids an Igbo from flying its presidential flag.Some prominent Igbo leaders were part of the formation of the APC.
The APC led Federal government may not have been fair to the South East, considering the skewed appointments made in favour of the North. But with Gov Umahi’s move, the APC may have decided to stop sinning against the South East. And there is need to forgive any sinner who pleads for forgiveness. Jesus Christ came for the sinners and not for the righteous.
2023 is a decisive year for Igbo nation. This is the time for realistic politicking. And Igbo must get it right. Gone are the days, political gymnastics are used to hold the South East political hostage. The PDP should have demonstrated early enough that Igbo Presidency remains dear to it. If not for anything, for the fact that the region has remained consistent in its support for the party.
David Umahi may not have been assured of becoming APC presidential candidate, but his defection is more than a green light to every right thinking Igbo, that the APC, could just be the Moses that will take Igbo to the land of milk and honey.
It’s time to watch and see.
- “2023 is a decisive year for Igbo nation. This is the time for realistic politicking. And Igbo must get it right. Gone are the days, political gymnastics are used to hold the South East political hostage. The PDP should have demonstrated early enough that Igbo Presidency remains dear to it. If not for anything, for the fact that the region has remained consistent in its support for the party”