APC victory: Owerri as an emerging political capital of Igboland

Just as the emergence of an opposition party, for the first time in Nigeria’s political history would soon reorder the entire political equation in the nation’s political space, the South East geopolitical zone would also experience “emergence of new kids on the block.”

There could also be the emergence of new political capitals.

For the Igboland, the over half a century political hegemony enjoyed by Enugu city, beginning with the Eastern Regional Government, as its headquarters, along with its adjoining towns of Nsukka, Onitsha, Awka and perhaps Nnewi, would give way to Owerri, the quiet capital city of Imo State, but with eminently educated and informed citizenry.

Owerri, a hospitality town, is an educational hub. It is now arguably emerging as the political capital of Ndigbo. The reasons, of course, are not far-fetched – it (Owerri) is till date, the only APC state in all of the South East. Its

Governor, Rochas Okorocha, is the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) in the federation. Owerri (Imo) gave the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari (and now President-elect) his highest votes of 133,253 in the entire Igboland. Also, Buhari visited Owerri many times over than any other town in the South East – perhaps it was one of his most-visited in the country during his electioneering campaigns.

New political leaders

In the new South East political equation, Okorocha would become the rallying point (that is, if he wins his gubernatorial re-election bid). Ogbonnaya Onu, former APC national chairman and former Abia State governor would become the South East APC leader. Others are Chris Ngige (though he would be serving out his senatorial seat, having lost his re-election bid); Emma Enukwu, national vice chairman of APC (South East); Osita Izunaso, national organising secretary. It was spoken at the high level, in one of Buhari’s trips to Owerri that he favoured Imo State to produce the next Senate President. And if all plans went well, Izunaso would have emerged as the new Senate President if he had won his Orlu Senatorial zone seat. Other new leaders are George Muoghalu, national auditor and Tina Adike, deputy national women leader. These would be determining the appointment of South East persons at the national level.

Political heavyweights like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the PDP Board of Trustees member would be dethroned. Others are Peter Obi (ex-Anambra governor); Theodore Orji (Abia outgoing governor, though will be at the Senate); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi outgoing governor); Sullivan Chime (Enugu outgoing governor) and Willie Obiano (APGA Anambra governor).

Following from all this, late last week Owerri played host to leaders of the South-East region, albeit under the aegis of APC. The meeting served as venue to deliberate on Igbo participation in the emerging Buhari-led APC Federal Government. The South East region leaders’ meeting was held in Owerri where it addressed a world press conference, and celebrated the election victory of Buhari as President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The victory, they said, was most symbolic, being the first time in the history of Nigeria for an opposition political party to defeat the incumbent President.

Okorocha spoke first, expressing happiness that the vision for a new change in Nigeria had come to reality.

“My greatest happiness today is that the Lord has turned away the captivity of our people,” he stated.

He then urged Ndigbo as a major tribe, to embrace the new change, in order to cue into the mainstream of the nation’s politics.

In his address, Ogbonnaya Onu said the political party was borne out of the need to correct the injustices in the nation, and build a nation free from discrimination and subjugation. He therefore, called on all Nigerians and Ndigbo, in particular, to close ranks and work together to heal the country.

Then, the National Vice Chairman of APC, Emma Enukwu; the National Organizing Secretary, Osita Izunaso; the National Auditor, George Muoghalu and Chris Ngige all pointed out that the presidential election results tendered for the South East states were not a true reflection of the actual votes for APC. They alleged that there was massive rigging by the PDP, and called for a review of the results, to enable APC National Assembly candidates regain their victory. Their complaint stemmed from the massive loss of APC Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates in the South East at the elections; winning only two House of Representatives seats in Imo – Austin Chukwukere (Ideato South/ North) and Chike Okafor (Ehime Mbano/ Obowo).

Contributing at the meeting, Tina Adike, APC deputy national women leader, commended Nigerian women for their belief in the manifesto of APC, and the personality of its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, by voting for APC. She called on the APC women to embrace every woman, though they may not have supported the struggle for change, but as Nigerians are part of the celebration and the change.