Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who was last weekend suspended by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for joining the All Progressives Congress, has become one of the most talked about politician in Nigeria. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, takes a look at his politics since 1999, wondering what it holds for his state and the South-East.
To some observers, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is a political puzzle, a riddle that needs to be solved. This is because, while his political rivals criticize what they call his unpredictable style, he has remained on the high beat since he first made appearance in the intriguing Nigerian political theatre, some 14 years ago.
What is more, the Imo State governor has consistently drawn attention to himself and his style of governance, both because of his sheer speed and his seeming love to walk where Angels are afraid to thread. This trait has seen him involved in one political controversy after the other.
The latest being his reported suspension from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for being involved in the formation of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Close examination of Okorocha’s political history shows that in joining APC, in spite of the disapproval of some of his close political associates from APGA and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is hardly out of character.
Born September 22, 1962 in Ogboko, Ideato South, Imo State, Okorocha’s political career can be traced back to pre- 1999 return to civilian democracy, when he served as a Commissioner on the Federal Character Commission and when he served as a member of the National Constitutional Conference.
He began active political contest in 1999, when he competed in the primaries to be People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the governor’s seat in Imo State. He lost to Achike Udenwa and not satisfied with the circumstances that led to his loss, moved to the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). A source, very lose to the governor said top PDP leaders then tried hard to convince Okorocha to remain in the big family but he resisted what he allegedly described as undemocratic ways of selecting party candidates in PDP then.
His political career got a huge boost in the then leading opposition party, ANPP, for in 2003, he emerged the party’s presidential candidate.
He returned to the PDP and was appointed a Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Not satisfied again, he formed the Action Alliance (AA) party in 2005, a party some alleged he floated just to fly the presidential flag again in the 2007 elections.
However, he again returned to the PDP, and in September 2007 was one of the aspirants for the seat of the party’s National Chairman.
But the local politics in Imo State, especially the high wire intrigues that characterized his political face-off with former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, culminated in his final exit from the PDP, in spite of interventions from PDP leaders like Obasanjo. He flew APGA’s flag in the April 2011 national elections and after the prolonged intrigues became the state governor.
In APGA, the political battle continued, as many insiders resented what one of them described as Okorocha’s “excess independence of mind.” As a result of his refusal to be controlled they soon evolved alleged leadership rivalry between Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and Okorocha. The Nation learnt that this rivalry at a time pitched the party’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, in-between the two governors. “ Okorocha’s flamboyant style, said one APGA official in Anambra did not help matters, as Obi’s camp accused Umeh of ceding the national leadership of the party to Okorocha.”
It was at this stage that the merger challenge to form APC began. According to the source, the others were confused following what he described as Okorocha’s speed at joining the new party.
He alleged that the governor was suspended not only because he left but because he couldn’t wait for an agreement.
Explaining why Okorocha did not hesitate before embracing the option, one of his political associates, who said he was not asked to talk, said “ Okorocha hates delays. To him, what needs to be done must be done with the speed of light if possible.”
But Okorocha, who reacted to his suspension, maintained that he joined APC because the future of Ndigbo was bright in the new party.
So, he said he was not perturbed by his suspension. According to him, “APC remains the best vehicle to promote the interest of our people. PDP has marginalised the South-East and has nothing to show for all its years in power.”
He urged all Igbos to join the APC, which he noted guarantees equity and political opportunities denied by the ruling party.
“The purported action of a faction of APGA is of little political consequence as the party lacks the national spread to ensure the Igbo make significant headway in the political leadership of the nation,” Okorocha said.
He explained that before the emergence of APC, the politics of the South-East geo-political zone has suffered greatly and it has become certain that majority of the electorates and political leaders there, were in search of change.
The Nation’s investigation confirms that the primary allegation for the growing quest for change in the zone was, as the governor said, that the PDP, which has dominated the politics of the zone since 1999, has been unable to resolve, satisfactorily, the deep feeling of marginalisation amongst the people.
Even the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which many of the people saw as their own, had been stalled by continuous internal crises and intrigues, thus leaving the zone largely naked, politically.
Given this reality, Okorocha’s supporters said majority of Ndigbo, especially those dissatisfied with the status quo, see the emergence of APC as the long awaited opportunity for political deliverance, adding that such electorates and political stalwarts enthusiastically embraced the new party even before the conclusion of the registration process.
Not impressed by the claims, APGA last weekend suspended Okorocha “for engaging in anti-party activities.”
Notice of the suspension was contained in a communiqué signed by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, at the end of the party’s National Executive Meeting last week’s Saturday in Abuja.
The communiqué noted that “rising from an emergency NEC meeting in Abuja, APGA unanimously resolved to dissolve the Imo executive committee of the party.
“The party’s NEC has also resolved to appoint a 21-man caretaker committee to oversee its affairs in Imo until a congress is held.”
It regretted that a governor on the platform of APGA could decide to act contrary to the constitution of the party that voted him into power.”
APC in South East, in support of Okorocha, described his suspension from APGA as “the final phase of a possible merger of the party (APGA) with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
In a statement issued by APC South East Zonal Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the party alleged that “the first phase to merge APGA with PDP started with the South-East Zonal Rally of the PDP before the 2011 general elections, where APGA publicly declared support for the PDP.”
APC lamented that “APGA National Chairman, Victor Umeh, who fought gallantly against this unholy merger, has finally capitulated.”
As Okorocha spreads his new found gospel that APC will serve Ndigbo better than PDP and APGA, it seems the South-East political theatre has become more complicated, electrified and intriguing. More politicl land mines have just been planted and the actor’s survival antenna must be more sensitive to ensure victory.
The question now is, how far can Okorocha and other APC leaders in the zone go, ahead this years’s elections in Anambra and the general elections in Imo State and other South-East states in 2015? The game has just begun!
