PDP faithful and sympathizers in Imo State are a bit worried on the sheer manipulations of the noble party’s ethics, over the alleged sham selection process in the emergence of their candidate for the October 31st 2020 senatorial bye election in the state.
Political pundits and media personalities are a bit disoriented on the probabilities that warranted the recent ill treatment of a renowned party die-hard like Hon Patrick Ndubueze in the senatorial race , an outcome that is highly unexpected by all and sundry.
Hon Patrick Ndubueze regardless of the depth of his unusual humility, a virtue complimented with his penchant for transparency and due process, has been a founding and funding member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state for decades.
He has been a pillar of sort to the party, represented it at the lower house with exceptional feat that is glorified with his spotless record as a politician. Remained an exemplary leader, Ambassador per excellence for the party which he has consistently fought for, lost for and won far more for while defending it at the ballot, in the court and at the chambers as duty required.
A ranking party member of his sort does not deserve the embarrassment that he suffered at the hands of his kinsmen,which is being worsened by the loud silence and unfriendly body language of the current party leaders in the state.
The Valid pains of Hon. Patrick Ndubueze.
The recent party primaries that saw the emergence of Emma Okewulonu as the party flag bearer for the October 31st Imo North senatorial bye-election, is seemingly fraught with inconsistencies as alleged by Hon. Patrick.
Records have it that the intellectually cultured law maker has earlier intimated to the leadership of the party, on the need for him to emerge as a consensus candidate which he rightfully deserves hinged on the many travails that has bequeathed his struggle for the party and most importantly on the premise of equity, as he is from an LGA that is yet to produce a senator since the 4th Republic in the State.
The history of his Inter and intra party travails, which he has successfully navigated in the fight for this same senatorial seat is still fresh in the memories of Imo people.
It’s very important to note that Hon. Ndubueze is not a sore loser and is not known for the habit of crying wolf, his antecedents at past transparent primaries are there to affirm his disposition and strength of character.
When he lost the 2014 senatorial primaries to Athan Achonu by mere 3 votes, he accepted the defeat in good faith and rallied unflinching support for the ‘One Hand General’ to ensure his victory at the polls.
So his recent protests and lamentations over the seemingly theft of his rightful mandate is not unfounded, he has done the right thing by seeking the intervention of the Party headquarters at Wadata Plaza Abuja, than exacerbating the rancor in the party with divisive tendencies .
like always, he opted for due process as he believe to deserve same treatment that he consistently abide in the party, but alas he is disappointed by the outcome as his plea was not given due attention by the powers that be.
First and foremost, what has played out is criminal, because the election for the 3 man adhoc delegate from each ward in Imo North senatorial district, who will in return vote in the primary election to elect the candidate of the party for the bye election never held for no reason, which is unconstitutional, thereby confirming the ensued untoward process that saw emergence of a candidate an illegality.
On the other hand, for the sake of efficiency and competent representation, the party is rather supposed to consolidate on Hon. Ndubueze’s already established popularity in the context ,complimented with his well grounded structure that is already in place in the zone, which he utilized for the senatorial election in 2019 to push for victory one more time .
A forward thinking and innovative minded leadership of the party would have assisted him with necessary support, to reclaim an election that he was the presumed winner with resounding ballot numbers.
Besides the party should not be ungrateful by forgetting so soon, how much time and resources that went into the election and the post election fight at the court of law to reclaim his mandate, which now a honest tragedy, providence and fate has all collided to offer him a seemingly second chance to right the wrongs of the recent past against him.
Rather it seems like once again as always in the fight of evil against good , another Barabbas has emerged to deny Imo people the opportunity of making the right choice, as the unrighteous priests has opted to call for the crucifixion of their messiah.
If only God will open the spiritual eyes of these conspirators on what they are denying Imo people, their party and not just Hon. Patrick Ndubueze, they will hurriedly rent their purple garments for sack cloths and cry for repentance with ashes on their faces in shame.
It’s quite unfortunate that the lopsided state leadership of the party are perfecting their conspiracy to shortchange the truth and manipulate divine will , which has resulted in their presenting a neophyte in the contest to represent the party at the Oct 31st bye election in a clear scripted act of nepotism.
The deafening Silence of Friends and Stakeholders.
It’s out of character for the courageous and wisdomic leader of the party in the person of Chief Emeka Ihedioha who has been dubbed “The People’s Governor” in Imo state to stand aloof and watch a similar miscarriage of justice that he allegedly suffered when he was denied his mandate to be occurring under his watch is sad.
Emeka Ihedioha should not allow personal ambition of some friends to stain his legacy and discredit him in the eyes of the Imolites who are honestly sympathetic to the injustice he recently suffered, by allowing someone go through same ordeal under him, because it will be tantamount to him arming the opponent with tools to deconstruct and demolish the new narrative in Imo political landscape that is now entirely in his favour.
What is happening in PDP will be detrimental to the outstanding follower-ship that he has garnered from his misfortune, which has rather been a blessing in disguise to him , as the people are now sympathetic to his cause than ever before and willing to do anything that will ensure his mandate is restored by any means necessary.
He should not forget in a hurry that the unfortunate incident that befell him was widely condemned by people of Imo state and his political acceptance and ratings skyrocketed because of it, as now even the old and young in Imo and even those from the zones that were unfriendly to him during the polls warmed up to him and became his disciples as they relate to his pains and experience. Yes we Africans are communal people that believes in sharing our joy and pain and abhors injustice regardless of who is its victim.
Ome Nke Ahuru Anya should remember that the young and even the aged took to the streets even in his absence, in protest of the grave experience that befell him for the widely adjudged wrong ruling against him. Allowing the same extremely hurtful fate to befall another person though in another perspective, without him intervening will surely leave a bad taste in the sense of his new found fans and followers.
It is imperative that Ihedioha speak now and make effort to address this issue and ensure that the party is represented with unarguably the strongest candidate it has in the zone, and who has been on the course of this fight on behalf of the party for long now.
Ihedioha needs to speak now against the injustice playing out in the party , as his voice can make a whole lot of difference, he needs to speak now to dispel the wrong notion of his complicity in the drama that is playing out to his discredit as well.
The last PDP Governor in Imo and unarguably the next ,should remember a quote of one of the greatest human and lover of peace and justice that ever existed in present time Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. which says ”In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends”
Ndi Imo are watching , listening and waiting for him to speak, if not his silence at this time that his words and action matters the most, will silently and gradually turn him from friend of the people to the enemy and not just to the people but of his own very self as well.
Don.People M.M Iwu
The Scribe
United Nigerians Group for Good Governance
