By Chuks Ofurum
chuksofurum18@gmail.com
Baring unforseen circumstances, the much anticipated governorship elections will take place in Imo, Saturday 11 November 2023.
To the credit of the candidates and their political parties, we have witnessed one of the most robust campaigns. No lost of lives, limbs or blood.
All the candidates and their supporters comported themselves to the administration of Imolites living in the diaspora.
Except of course the media handlers who tried albeit unsuccessfully to evoke embers jealousy, acrimony and gutter languages.
However, like every contest, there must be a winner and losers who will wait for another four years.
Without prejudice, we want to take a bird's eye view of the frontline candidates and their chances of victory taking into cognizance their level of preparedness, spread and resources put therein.
Agreed that in politics, elements of 24 hour surprised do happen, we with all due respect, will limit ourselves to four candidates that have shown grit, organization ability and cohesive organic supporters.
General Ogunewe of Action Alliance, AA.
Arguably one of the candidates that turned adversity into hope. Many have believed that the retired General would easily pick the ticket of the more vibrant Labour Party, but unfortunately, while he was busy playing to the gallery, the ticket was taken from him under his very eyes.
What he will do with an Uche Nwosu abandoned AA is left to be envisioned.
Meanwhile he may scratch some votes in his Mbaise enclave and that will be all.
Sen Athan Achonu- Labour Party LP.
If it were in early February, Eluupee supporters could have sworn with any deity that One Arm General is the next governor of Imo State.
But not anymore. With the Supreme court judgment that nailed the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, at least for the next four years, and the rancheros outcome of their State primaries which produced the Ehime Mbano born Akuroulo exponent, members of the party are seriously fragmented at the moment.
While to his credit, Sen Athan Achonu- have tried to bring all the waring members together, it is obvious that a lot of water have gone under the bridge and trust, one of the critical elements in partisan politics is gone within the party.
While he may have run a robust campaigns, winning the Imo State elections with a fragmented members will be another wonder of the world.
Sen Samuel Anyanwu, Samdady- PDP.
It is not a hearsay that the once glamourous political party in sub saharan Africa is crestfallen fallen at the moment.
That the party shot itself on the foot is stating the obvious.
While we may not aportion blame on anybody, the humiliation and later departure of former governor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha was the ultimate death of the party in Imo State.
Take it or not, Ihedioha has the personality that makes opposing political parties dread the PDP in Imo State. Now he has been unceremoniously shoved to uncertainty, and with his key supporters leaving PDP in droves, Damdaddy' efforts could well be discribed as efforts in futility.
He may make an inroad in his Mbaike enclave, he is certainly waiting for four years when hopefully it will be the turn of Owerri Zone if the purpoted Imo Charter of Equity takes off.
He is doing his best for that purpose but not certainly on this present elections.
Governor Hope Uzodimma -APC.
Arguably the most prepared of the lot, Gov Uzodimma has left no one in doubt that he is preparing Imo of the future.
With a smooth party primary and national acceptance as a future presidential material, it will take the proverbial banana peels to dethrone him from Douglas House.
Governor Uzodimma has shown grit, managerial sagacity and a genuine desire to leave Imo better than he met it.
He has shown the youths that you don't need to follow the Mediterranean sea to reach Europe by introducing the Imo Skillup programmes, and finding jobs for them in Europe.
The governor has equally shown remarkable respect for the elderly, the Clergy, Journalists, the Bar and Bench, and most importantly, he has shown respect to leaders at the national level.
We may not know his worth now, certainly all Imo continue to remember him years after he left off.
The onus is now on well meaning Imo people both at home and in the diaspora to make sure that gretter and prosperous Imo is achieved by voting Governor Uzodimma who has laid a solid foundation on Saturday, November 11.
Let God Almighty take all the Glory in Jesus name amen.
