By Dr Uche Amanze
The ballot revolution that would sweep Uzodimma out of office would only be possible with a brave man like Major General Ogunewe (rtd) as the LP candidate.
Ndi Imo believes that his integrity, credibility, pedigree, values and army of supporters, would hit Uzodimma like a hurricane.
As Labour Party (LP) stakeholders in Imo state prepare to elect their standard flag bearer in the next few weeks, ahead of the November 2023 governorship election, many committed and concerned party members have been expressing the uniform opinion that the party needs to adopt a credible consensus candidate. Even other voters who are not LP members are of the same view too.
An analysis of this common view is predicated on the fact that the choice of a credible consensus candidate would reduce the potential fallout of the primaries which could polarise supporters of the party in the state. It would also help stop the much-touted infiltration of the party by rogue politicians.
Among the eight aspirants who have picked their nomination forms so far, and those who may eventually pick their forms are Major General Lincoln Keonyemere Ogunewe (rtd), Chief Martin Agbaso, Basil Maduka and Humphrey Anumudu. Other aspirants are Ibe Ike C, Ehirim Tobechukwu Justice, Ukaegbu Joseph Ikechukwu and Nwagwu Kelechi Kennedy.
The frontline candidates in the primaries so far are Major General Lincoln Keonyemere Ogunewe (rtd), Chief Martins Agbaso, Chief Humphrey Anumudu and Basil Maduka. It’s possible that a few other candidates may still join the race.
As things stand now many stakeholders are of the view that for LP to defeat governor Hope Uzodimma, it needs to field a formidable candidate. Such a candidate can only be supported by voters if he has four qualities.
These are that he has no baggage in the past Imo politics. Secondly, he must have the capacity to govern the state. Thirdly, he must have integrity and be credible. The last but not the least is that he must have the experience and skills to address insecurity in the state.
A hard look at these four criteria shows that the only man who has all the four qualities in good measure is Ogunewe. This is besides the point that this University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) trained engineer is humble, disciplined and a team player.
On the issue of baggages, in Imo state today, the youths, the Obidients and in fact Imo people are no longer prepared to tolerate any politician that is seen to be part of Imo politics since 1999.
These are people like Agbaso and Anumudu who belong to the old order that the Obidient movement is moving like a hurricane to sweep away in Imo politics.
They would have no advantage over governor Uzodimma. Ogunewe does not belong to this category of politicians that are players in the annoying past of Imo state politics.
On the issue of capacity to govern the state, Ogunewe’s experience in managing both men and resources both at the local and international scenes puts him ahead of the other contestants. Like a technocrat that he is, he has experience in the inner workings of a government.
The third set of people that Imo people do not want are politicians without credibility. Again among the leading candidates, it’s only Ogunewe that has a clean record and like Peter Obi, we can say, ”Go and verify.” This man stayed in the Nigerian Army for 30 years and after several local and international assignments never received even one query.
When you come to the issue of insecurity ravaging Imo state, Ogunewe from his shinning track records and from many of his published security blueprints has the panacea to insecurity in Imo state. His published approach contains both kinetic and non-kinetic approach to resolving the issues at hand admirably.
In conclusion, there are two things going very well for Ogunewe. His popularity with his army of supporters have been energized by the credibility, character, pedigree and values that he brings to the table.
Imo people have suffered so much in the hands of political charlatans masquerading as political leaders that only a brave man with a clean and impeccable record that can appeal to them in 2023 would stand a chance of making it to the Imo state government house.
Above all, Ndi Imo sees him as the only man who can cause a ballot revolution that would see LP effortlessly defeat Hope Uzodimma in the November governorship elections.
This perception is so strong that any attempt by LP to field any other candidate may see the party losing its deposit in the elections.
Therefore, in the best interest of LP and in the bigger interest of the Imo state people, these other aspirants should consider stepping down and support Ogunewe. The potential success of LP right now squarely rests on his shoulders.
▪️Dr Amanze lives in Okigwe, Imo state.
(The Guardian)
