BY INNOCENT ONYEUKWU
Person A: “Imo is changing for good.”
Person B: “How do you mean?”
Person A: “The state is witnessing improvement in infrastructure. Three major federal roads – Owerri-Umuahia, Owerri-Okigwe, and Owerri-Orlu roads – were rehabilitated by the state government. These are federal projects fixed by Hope.”
Person B: “What about other roads that are death traps?”
Person A: “We should appreciate the ones that have been repaired. Does he not deserve commendation for repairing three major federal roads?”
Person B: “A little drop of water in an ocean makes no meaning. Go to the hinterlands, there are death traps begging for urgent attention and being neglected.”
Person A: “It is a gradual process. We will get there.”
Person B: “When the second term is almost midway?”
Person A: “The government is making progress. Soon, Egbema power station will provide electricity for the state in the first quarter of 2025.”
Person B: “When we see it, we will believe it. Aba boasted of 24/7 electricity, but we had it for only one week, and everywhere was in darkness.”
Person A: “Here, we have a Hope, not an Otti. A Hope that does what he says. Let us appreciate him for his efforts.”
Person B: “Did I tell you he should not be appreciated? With the increase in monthly wads of naira that comes into the state after Jagaban removed fuel subsidy, we should be better off.”
Person A: “No one is better off in Nigeria. It is a national problem. Imo is no exception.”
Person B: “We are an oil-producing state. The level of development we have now is not commensurate with the fact that we are an oil-producing state.”
Person A: “How? So many projects are ongoing in the state. Are you not seeing them?”
Person B: “Which one?”
Person A: “That flyover being constructed at Control junction is a clear example that the man is working.”
Person B: “He should do more.”
Person A: “Encourage him first.”
Person B: “There is nothing encouraging. Let him encourage chairmanship aspirants in his party who were made to part with millions of naira, only for some few to be selected as candidates. He has to learn to be a democrat.”
Person A: “Have you not heard that what took place is a family affair? Do you meddle into family matters.”
Person B: “Forget that family affair matter. Some people lost money in a process that is undemocratic, and you say it is a family affair.”
Person A: “But the man told them he will use consensus method as approved in the party constitution to select candidates. He never hid his intentions from day one.”
Person B: “Was there any primary to give aspirants a chance to be part of the consensus process?”
Person A: “Every family has its unique ways of doing things. He applied the method that suits his party. Besides, those who lost and are of good behavior would be refunded their nomination money.”
Person B: “Refund? When will that happen? In Nigeria, nothing is refunded.”
Person A: “If they don’t get refunded, they should stay in the party and await compensation.”
Person B: “When will that come? He will settle over 500 councillorship and more than 150 chairmanship aspirants who doled out millions to buy forms and were not handpicked as candidates?”
Person A: “My brother, it is called politricks.”
Person B: “This is a tip of the iceberg of what will happen in 2027 during the guber.”
Person A: “It will be different. The factors are not the same.”
Person B: “You are not following the political style of this administration. Everything is all about loyalty and handpicking.”
Person A: “There is a charter of Equity. And it has been endorsed by all stakeholders to produce the next governor in 2027.”
Person B: “Is it a legal document? It is not binding. It can be discarded and thrown into the trash bin anytime.”
Person A: “No, it will not be so. Watch and see. Things would be different. Tell your Owerri zone brothers to prepare to take over.”
Person B: “My Owerri zone brothers are not serious. They will be outplayed again.”
Person A: “No, Hope said he will hand over to them.”
Person B: “When did he say that?”
Person A: “During the last governorship election.”
Person B: “I did not hear about it.”
Person A: “Stop being a hypocrite. What do you mean you did not hear about it?”
Person B: “I am positive. I did not hear about it. Besides, Owerri zone may not get it.”
Person A: “Don’t be negative. Are you not in the forefront of those who made a case for Owerri zone?”
Person B: “Yes, I did. But we are not serious about it.”
Person A: “How?”
Person B: “A serious-minded person puts his house in order before coming out.”
Person A: “There is time for Owerri to organize themselves. 2027 is very far.”
Person B: “We are very divisive people. We can never agree. Every politician in Owerri zone wants to be Governor in 2027.”
Person A: “Is there anything wrong with that? The more the merrier.”
Person B: “Not in this case. The more they are, the more we see pull-him-down syndrome. Majority of them are in the race to pull down one another.”
Person A: “But Hope is not a small boy in the game of power. If he wants to give it to Owerri zone, he knows what to do.”
Person B: “I am not confident it will come to Owerri zone. There is no coordination among our people. We lack a clear political leadership.”
Person A: “But you have several groups agitating for guber. Does it not show seriousness?”
Person B: “I have told you. I know our people very well. In the scramble for power, they are usually outplayed by other zones.”
Person A: “Let’s watch and see. Besides, Onwa needs time to focus on governance and not to be distracted by all these hullabaloo about 2027.”
Person A: “Really, but no one is distracting him. He is focused and cannot be distracted by those who want to succeed him.”
Person B: “In your Owerri zone, how many of them want to take over from Onwa? I mean those in his party.”
Person A: “I told you, they are many. All his close friends are interested.”
Person B: “As a student of political science, I know close friends of a man in power do not usually end up as his successor. And this one will not be an exception.”
Person A: “He may go for someone we all least expect.”
Person B: “Won’t that person come from Owerri zone?”
Person A: “I don’t know. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Person B: “I’m not. I wonder why Okigwe would even show interest in the 2027 Imo governorship when it’s clear it’s Owerri zone’s turn.”
Person A: “This is idle talk. What do you mean? Why shouldn’t Okigwe show interest? All zones have always vied for Imo governorship.”
Person B: “This should be an exception.”
Person A: “Why?”
Person B: “Because there is a Charter of Equity. We need to implement it fully. Imo is the only state in the South East without a Charter of Equity.”
Person A: “We are different. Imo is unique, with many elites and power brokers. But mark my words, Onwa’s choice of successor would… (pauses) Let me reserve my comment.”
Person B “Can he single-handedly put in a successor?”
Person A: “Why not?”
Person B: “No Imo governor since Mbakwe has succeeded in producing a preferred successor.”
Person A: “How do you mean?”
Person B: “The records are there. Mbakwe was removed from office by the military after winning re-election in 1983 for a second term. Evan Enwerem was also removed from office by the military after 22 months in office.”
Person A: “What about Achike Udenwa?”
Person B “Achike Udenwa had a successor in mind, but Araraume and others opposed him, and Ikedi Ohakim, who was not his choice, succeeded him. Ohakim was removed from office after his first term and never had a successor.”
Person A: “And what about Rochas Okorocha?”
Person B: “Rochas Okorocha wanted his son-in-law to take over from him but did not succeed. Emeka Ihedioha’s tenure was short-lived. You can see that the issue of a sitting governor producing a preferred sucessor is a jinx.”
Person A “That jinx would be broken by Onwa in 2027
Person B: “Let’s wait and see. For now, we should be concerned about the high fuel price in the state. When Owelle was governor, he provided free fuel for buses and Keke people.”
Person A: “That was then, not now. Onwa has a different approach. Owelle was a Father Christmas; Onwa means business. Besides, fuel issues are a national problem.”
Person B: “I have exhausted my airtime.”
Person A: “Poor man.”
Person B: “I hear you.”
INNONEWS