Uzodimma
Okorocha
By: Sam. Onwuemeodo.
l have not come to condemn Daniel Nwafor. l have not also come to praise him. Reason being that, the ugly or the beautiful memories of men’s actions and inactions, do live with them and equally live after them. So, let it be with Daniel Nwafor. Caveat emptor.
l had taken or borrowed some leaves from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Specifically from Mark Anthony. From his funeral oration that gingered the Plebians into mutiny or action against the killers of Caesar. The conspirators, including Brutus, Cassius, Casca etc. lt shall be well with all of us.
Rochas Okorocha was a two- term former governor of lmo state and today, a Senator. Hope Uzodinma, was a Senator and today, Governor of lmo State.
If the duo decide today to settle whatever political score they have , nobody should begrudge them. Nobody should ask them why?. No patriotic Citizen of the State would urge them to continue being on the “war” path. Peace is a virtue. Priceless. No better alternative.
But the truth of the matter is that, there is nothing to show, for now, that they have reconciled whatever issue they have . Or, that they have agreed to be on same political page. So, the story in some quarters that they have resolved whatever they held against each other, remains a hearsay. Mere rumour, until otherwise proved. Until it is confirmed by any of them.
Okorocha also knows that, it is not all about him and Uzodinma. lt also concerns his Rescue Mission Political family. Those who have stood with him all these while. And Okorocha we all know, would not have “settled” with Governor Uzodinma without informing the political family he leads . lt’s unimaginable.
Also, Daniel Nwafor has no personal case at the Supreme Court against the All Progressives Congress, APC, lmo State. lt was Okorocha , his Rescue Mission people that made Nwafor Chairman of lmo APC, even before the coming of Uzodinma as governor.
Nwafor, therefore, is the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, in representative capacity. lt’s not his personal case.
know too that, the matter at the Apex Court which Nwafor had written few days ago to be withdrawn , would not have gotten to that level or lingered till now, if Governor Uzodinma had desired peace or seen the trouble in lmo APC as unnecessary and then do the needful. But for reasons best known to him , he allowed the matter to stay alife until the Apex court gave judgement in favour of the Nwafor led APC EXCO.
The governor remained unconcerned until Nwafor again went back to the Supreme court to ask for the nullification of all the actions of the party that were taken without him and within the period his Chairmanship was running without him being incharge of the affairs of the party.
ln other words, neither Okorocha nor Nwafor or Rescue Mission has any problem with Uzodinma or with the candidates of the APC in lmo for next year’s elections. That the matter has lingered, should be seen as the making of Gov. Uzodinma. He likes fighting political wars. He enjoys ” fighting” from all angles. He does not also care about the outcomes. Both in the long run and in the short run. And the major reason his administration is generally seen as combative, dictatorial, exceptionally aggressive and very unattractive.
His government today is only associated with stories of political “wars”. Stories of “wars” and rumours of “wars”. He has become a WARLORD. Political warlord. The main story of his administration. His political history. Nothing else. l feel for the lmo Governor. l feel for his government.
If Sam. Mbakwe, Evan Enwerem, Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha who had governed lmo for 8 years or 4 years respectively and all the military administrators that had led the State at one time or the other, had fought political “wars” like Governor Uzodinma has been doing since 2020 when he came on board, alarm would have blown. The State would have been known for hostility . A kind of ghetto. Mushroom or banana State. Stories and rumours of “wars”.
Otherwise, there would not have been anything wrong with the Supreme Court case being withdrawn. He also created the enabling environment for Nwafor to see the matter as “POS”.
Nwafor did the right thing using the wrong style or the wrong approach. And obviously, with ulterior motive. His approach or modus operandi was his albatross.
He had, in the letter dated 18/10/23, told Chief Chris Uche, SAN, handling the Case for the APC faction he was leading, to withdraw the Suit. He had also written to debrief the Lawyer.
In the letter, Nwafor wrote, “after having deliberated with members of my Party Executives and having analyzed a lot of issues arising, I have decided to withdraw this above mentioned Suit in line with our resolution and I wish that it be complied with, accordingly”.
In the one paragraph letter, “I” appeared in four places. And “my” in about two places. In other words, Nwaforhad seen himself as lmo APC and the Case in question, as his personal matter. His C of O. His Letter of Attorney. His ATM or meal ticket or all of the above .
If there was any resolution for the withdrawal of the case by his EXCO, he would have attached the RESOLUTION to his letter, to the lawyer. Or, release the Resolution to justify his action. To show that he didn’t act alone. He has not done any of these.
l had also been in few meetings with members of his EXCO present. They had all denied having knowledge or being in the know of Nwafor’s action. Which means, Nwafor acted solo. And for him, to hell with all those concerned, directly or indirectly.
Okorocha and Uche Nwosu who lead the Rescue Mission political family, would not have also asked Nwafor to act alone . Not possible. That’s the major lacuna with the withdrawal stuff. There must be an end to every quarrel or case. There must be an end to every litigation. The mindset of men and women of good tidings. Men and women of faith. But what is worth doing, is what doing fine.
The controversies that have greeted the withdrawal letter would have been averted or nipped in the bud if Nwafor had taken members of his EXCO, the leadership and members of the Rescue Mission political family into confidence. lnto consideration. And other interest groups and persons, too.
. Nobody is at war with anybody. He took himself into the dock. Afterall, he wasn’t the one who hired the three SANs handling the matter. He should have informed all those concerned orally or in writing on his resolve or intention to discontinue the matter. Whatever they must have told him in response would have been part of his defence today. But he never thought deeply. He was carried away by what you know and l also know. No need flogging a dead horse.
Perhaps, little did the guy know that man does not live by bread alone . Not by doo alone. l am not insinuating anything. lnsinuation is an English word. lnnuendo is also an English word. The fatness or the size of a man’s pocket is not what makes a man thick. lt can only give you temporary fame. What makes a man thick is inside. Greatness is a Spiritual thing and not Physical or Mundane. Always act well your part. That’s where the true Honour lies. Durable honour. Take the right action and leave the rest for God.
Read my lips correctly. lf Nwafor had acted in the interest of peace like he claimed in his withdrawal letter, his approach would have been different. He would have acted differently. He should have been transparent or even translucent, to an extent. But he was clandestine until the letter was written and submitted.
And do you know that or do you not know that, both history and posterity have their own verdicts on whatever we do.
This emphasis is mine; Okorocha and Nwosu would not have told Nwafor to withdraw the Supreme Court Matter in a manner he did, without meeting with his EXCO and getting their endorsement.
The Supreme Court matter isn’t a do or die affair. Afterall, the APC Candidates for the 2023 elections are also Imo people. Some of them, very close pals. It’s not war. lt’s Politics. But l take exception to mischief.
The whole story has equally shown that there are certain positions that require maturity. Not physical maturity, but spiritual maturity that can make one resist certain zigzag or queer overtures, because of what the person believes in or holds firm or dear, in terms of credo.
The Rescue Mission Family is one of the most formidable political structures in the State, with ardent members who have conquered Socio-Political and Socio- Economic hunger since May 29, 2019. They have continued to live by faith and not by sight. They are strong in the 305 wards and in the 27 LGAs in the State. Nwafor must have gotten it wrong to think that he could pull the rug off their feet. He forgot all the meetings. All the SOLIDARITIES. All the cheering songs. Et tu Brute?. Then , fall Caesar. Et tu Dan?. Then, fall Nwafor. Okonkwo had wished that Ezinma was a boy. For Okonkwo, Nwoye, his son, wasn’t giving him the needed hope. The expectation. l have also borrowed one leaf from Achebe’s THINGS FALL APART. We are landing safely.
Like I had averred , Uzodinma is Imo governor. He could settle with Okorocha. He could settle with the Rescue Mission Family. He could settle with the Destiny people. But what are the attractions?. l do not know or see any.
When the Action Alliance, AA, governorship Candidate in the 2019 Poll, Uche Nwosu, finally lost out, with the Supreme Court ruling, the Rescue Mission people instantly switched over their supports, one hundred percent, to Uzodinma, some of them, with heavy prices . What happened at the end of the day?. He never acknowledged or appreciated those efforts and supports . He never showed any interest. He jettisoned all. And what has changed between January 2020 and today?. Nothing, to the best of my knowledge.
Governor Uzodinma missed an opportunity that would have seen his Camphope Political group working with those of Rescue Mission and Destiny Organisation. He stiffled that opportunity uptil now. And he does not care because, for him , he has all it takes to deliver the five South East States to APC in 2023. So, what else?. But, Echewudo, odoemee. Echidime. Onyekachi?. Chineke. Onyemaechi, etal.
Even those in Camphope do not look or appear attractive or encouraging, including those serving in the government. That is to say, those not in Gov. Uzodinma’s government or those outside his government are not missing anything. They are missing nothing, from all indications.
So to say, a lot of people who are interested in the Supreme Court Case, are not doing so against the innocent Candidates of the Party, some of them very good and enterprising folks. But the people are keen in the matter because they feel or see it as a way to get at Governor Uzodinma. To humble him.
For me, there is no Political disagreement that cannot be settled. But the method matters a lot.
If Nwafor had taken the right actions before writing to withdraw the Supreme Court Case, some people would have been defending his action today . But he acted alone. Perhaps, he wanted to “eat” alone and bear the heat alone. Eat, is also an English word. lt’s not anachronistic.
If the matter is finally withdrawn following Nwafor’s letter, fine. Action begets or begats action. The Rescue Mission family would meet to speak. To take a stand. For now, they hold their peace , while all and sundry would Continue to Clap for Jesus.
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