Because of the emergence of APC as the ruling party at the centre as from May 29, 2015, it is expected that a new crop of Igbo political leaders will emerge, notwithstanding who wins yesterday’s governorship election in the four South-East States of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. They include:
Rochas Okorocha
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, the governor of Imo State, will likely be one of the most influential Igbo political leaders in the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government under General Muhammadu Buhari. The governor expanded his political influence when he took decision to lead a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the mega-party at the inception of the merger, in spite of the stiff opposition he got from most Igbo political leaders and elders.
Although the National Working Committee of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) under the chairmanship of Chief Victor Umeh refused at the last minutes of the merger negotiation to convene a convention in order to collapse the party to the emerging APC as he expected, Okorocha boldly joined the other pioneer leaders and governors of the merging parties to declare for APC and to work for its registration. Since then, he has emerged the face of the party in the South-East zone.
For taking that decision on March 2, 2013, Okorocha was a subject of intense criticism and wide condemnation in the South-East but he stood firm, insisting that Ndigbo must not put all their eggs in one basket. With the victory of APC at the centre, Okorocha is certain to emerge one of the leading voices of Ndigbo both in the party and the APC-led Federal Government.
Born on September 22, 1962 in Ogboko, Ideato South, in Imo State, he began his political career as a Commissioner on the Federal Character Commission and a Member of the National Constitutional Conference. Okorocha contested for the presidential primaries in 2003 before contesting to govern Imo State on the ticket of APGA in 2011.
In APC, Okorocha, who flew the governorship flag of APC in Imo in yesterday’s governorship election, has been the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. He also contested the presidential primaries of APC last year.
Ogbonnaya Onu
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, one of the National Leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) is another Igbo leader that is poised to exercise tremendous influence in the APC-led Federal Government.
Born December 1, 1951, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Onu, who was the first Executive Governor of the old Abia State (between February 1992 and December 1993), was the serving National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), when the party, alongside ACN, ACP and a faction of APGA merged to form the APC in 2013.
Since then, he has been addressed within the top leadership of APC as one of the national Leaders, an indication that he wields some appreciable influence. During the presidential campaigns, Onu was very vocal as he mobilized Igbos in the 19 northern states and in the South-East, where he preached the need for Ndigbo to vote for APC and to vote out PDP, lamenting that Ndigbo has followed PDP for 16 years with nothing to show for it as, according to him, foundation of Second Niger Bridge is repeatedly done as every election date approaches.
As an APC leader, it is expected that he will play a very prominent role in the soon to be inaugurated federal government.
Senator Chris Ngige
Although Senator Chris Ngige lost his re-election bid in the last National Assembly Election, there is no doubt that he is one of the most visible and highly respected Ndigbo in APC today. As an ACN and later APC senator, the former governor of Anambra State was for long seen by all as the voice of Ndigbo in the then opposition party.
As APC forms the Federal Government under the leadership of General Muhammadu Buhari, it is expected that Ngige will not only remain one of the topmost decision makers in the party but will likely hold a very influential public office.
George Moghalu
Dr. George Moghalu, the All Progressives Congress’ National Auditor, is another Igbo that occupies a position of importance in the ruling party to be. He was a former National Secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and one of the leaders that worked tirelessly for the merger that led to the emergence of APC.
Moghalu’s commitment to the new progressive order came into a major test in 2013, when he was appointed a member of the National Institute for Fresh Water Fisheries Researches by the PDP-led Federal Government, but he declined the offer citing pre-occupation “with some national commitment.”
As APC forms the Federal Government, it is expected that Moghalu will remain very influential.
Osita Izunaso
Senator Osita Izunaso is the National Organising Secretary of APC. Born October 30, 1966, he represented Imo West (Orlu) District of Imo State at the Senate in 2007 on the ticket of PDP. Before that, he was a member of the House of Representatives, where he served in committees like Federal Character and Inter-Government Affairs, Aviation, Sports, Housing and Privatization.
Since the formation of APC, the political influence of Izunaso, as a national officer, has been in the increase. He has emerged as an opposition voice not only in the intricate Imo politics but also in the South-East zone. With the emergence of an APC-led federal government, Izunaso is poised for greater exploits politically.
Nyerere Chinenye Anyim
As the APC governorship candidate for Abia State, Nyerere Chinenye Anyim labored hard to ensure the survival of the political party in the state notwithstanding the many challenges he had to contend with. With his issue-based campaign, insiders said he made appreciable impact in the state, which has for long been considered a traditional PDP state. His free education campaign for instance helped to win the sympathy of a lot of youths and poor families.
Considering that he started the pet free-education project even as a private citizen, many believe if given a chance, he will implement it. It would be recalled that for years before he started nursing governorship ambition in Abia State, Nyerere set up the ‘Nyerere Anyim Educational Support Initiative (NAESI)’, to help out-of-school-children.
Today, beneficiaries from NAESI who received books, computers, educational support materials and schooling fees include students in the primary, secondary, post-secondary institutions and universities.
No matter the outcome of yesterday’s governorship election, insiders say Anyim will certainly be an influential leader in the APC-led federal government.
Julius Ucha
Senator Julius Ucha is the APC governorship flag bearer in Ebonyi State. Born October 19, 1958, Ucha is a very experienced lawmaker having served both in his state Assembly and at the National Assembly, where he chairs Committee on Works. He was a Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly before his election as Senator for the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District first on May 29, 2003. He returned to the Senate in 2007.
Perhaps because of the dispute between the Ezza and Ezillo communities, which troubled his constituency, Ucha’s name remained in the news since 2008, thus making him one of the best known; one of the passionately ‘loved’ or passionately ‘hated’ politicians in the state.
Those who know Ucha intimately said he is a strong personality who cannot but be one of the influential Igbo leaders in APC-led federal government.
Okey Ezea
The governorship candidate of APC in Enugu State, Barrister Okey Ezea, is one of the Igbo politicians that are likely to wield appreciable influence in the coming years, courtesy of an APC-led federal government. The dynamism he displayed during the campaigns, notwithstanding that Enugu is a conservative PDP State, is a pointer to the fact that he has what it takes to exert change.
Born on August 11, 1963, at Umuogbu Town, Itchi, in Igbo Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ezea though young, has become a seasoned politician. Before emerging APC gubernatorial candidate, he was a two-time gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State. He contested for the position on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in 2007 and 2011 elections.
His campaign promises was described by an observer as “apt and practicable.” Among other promises, Ezea pledged to provide free education, qualitative health care delivery and improved welfare scheme for the people of the state if elected as governor next year.
HRH Eze Isaac Ikonne
Apart from these frontline APC officials, there are other behind-the-scene Igbo supporters of the party who will also exercise appreciable influence in the APC-led Federal Government as from May 29 this year.
One of such patrons whose support became public knowledge before the presidential election is HRH Eze Isaac Ikonne, the Enyi of Enyinmba, Abia State. It would be recalled that when most of the other Igbo leaders insisted that the whole of Ndigbo must identify only with President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the PDP, Ikonne was berated by many, especially the Abia Traditional Council, for honouring APC presidential candidate, Buhari, with the chieftaincy title of Ogbu Agu (Leopard Killer) when the former Head of State paid him a visit during his presidential campaign. He was publicly disowned by Abia Traditional Rulers Council for that act. Now that APC has won the federal government and Buhari has been elected President, it is being speculated that Ikonne’s family may be influential in APC federal government.
The Nation investigation shows that there are many other Igbo leaders, who either sponsored or supported APC secretly because of fear of being attacked by PDP leaders in the zone. Their close association with the party and its leadership will soon be made public as the new government puts together its team.