Uzodinma: When Contentment Is Golden, by Kola Amzat

Bizarre things are beginning to take root in the country’s political sphere and it’s an auspicious time the political class, Judiciary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders rise up to declare total war on those obscenity that would continually subject our democratic process to ridicule, scorn and embarrassment.

Hope Uzodinma-the incumbent governor of Imo state’s reign as Chief Executive of the state endures till August, 2028.

This writer, as well as the generality of Nigerians are oblivious of any obstacle militating against the completion of that tenure. No litigation whatsoever! No constitutional restrictions or limitations of any sort!

Even if there are, orderliness and decency demand that the governor should put on his armor and with equanimity, confront the battle head-on, rather than attempting to frustrate ambitions and emergence of other deserving and worthy aspirants to occupy Imo West Senatorial seat at the Upper Chamber during the forthcoming polls.

By hijacking the senatorial slot of Imo West Senatorial districts during the recently concluded primaries exercise, what Uzodinma has done is tantamount to political brigandage, avarice and sheer greed.

The governor indeed proved that he’s power drunk and obviously, not a shade better than the most despotic leaders that Nigeria and even, Sub-Saharan African have witnessed in the past 4 or 5 decades.

The most brutal and ruthless leaders like Sani Abacha, Sgt Samuel Doe, Field Marshal Idi Amin, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo etc, all started like Hope Uzodinma before they grew into monsters.

The pertinent question remains: How on earth would a governor intend to abandon the plum job of governor that still endures till the next 2 years, for a senatorial seat?

For emphasis, the governor remains the Chief Executive Officer of a state, solely responsible for making all the appointments in the state and even, submitting nominees to the president for federal appointments, coupled with his IMPERIAL control over the state Budget; control of traditional institutions regardless of the influence of a monarch/s and of course, a sub-national leader in a prodigiously endowed country as Nigeria, as well as deeply involved in the country’s main stream politics collaborating and partnering with the president in charting course and directing the affairs of the country.

In Uzodinma’s case, there is even icing on the cake as his been chairmanship of APC governors’ Forum don’t only provide him ample opportunity to be a right hand man of the Commander-in-Chief, but also afford him some degree of latitude over the ruling party as the Chairman of their Governors’ Forum.   

This is the plum job Hope Uzodinma is making frantic efforts to abandon for the senate presidency that is already dead on arrival (DOA) for him.

As far as he’s concerned, winning the senatorial seat would give him opportunity to ascend the office of senate presidency, an office already declared non-vacant by the serving senators, with the senators having gotten the hint of Uzodinma’s ambition to bid for the office if he wins the senatorial seat, and consequently moved ahead against him, by passing the necessary orders amending the SENATE RULE to frustrate and barricade him and his likes from the leadership of Upper Chamber in the next senate.

Meanwhile, to the Chairmen of All Progressives Congress in the 12 Local Government of Imo West Senatorial Districts (Orlu Zone) who had placed advertorial in The Nation Newspapers and other Tabloid, still affirming Hope Uzodinma as their candidate for the senatorial districts, they seem totally uninformed and lacking political knowledge, as the advertorial only gave them out as collaborators in frantic efforts with their principal to scuttle and truncate the nation democratic process.

Their advertorial is nothing but an affront and direct attacks on the nation thriving democracy, as well as CONTEMPT of Judiciary that has declared Rochas Okorocha the authentic candidate duly elected during the said primaries, with the Court also mandating INEC to proceed and publish his name as the authentic APC senatorial candidate for Imo West Senatorial Districts for the forthcoming general elections.

It’s also instructive to advise the 12 Local Government Chairmen that it’s high time to AVAIL themselves of the workings of democracy; its tenets, principles, ideologies and practices.

This would put them in good stead to deeply appreciate that the KANGAROO primary exercise that their principal organized essentially to FOIST himself over the people of Imo West senatorial districts, deploying the instrumentality of state power in brutal fashion, was totally alien to democratic norms, ethics and practices and therefore, stand condemnable, reprehensible, unacceptable and totally unbecoming of a political stalwart like Hope Uzodinma who supposed to know better having been a Senator himself, and now incumbent governor of Imo State.

Of course, this is why the competent court of jurisdiction upturned his shrouded victory and returned the mandate to the winner.

At this juncture, this writer is imploring the NASS that it’s an auspicious time to move for the amendment of relevant provisions of the constitution to frustrate future political adventurers who might also intend to occupy two political offices SIMULTANEOUSLY like Governor Uzodinma is making frantic efforts to do.

It’s also important to advise the governor that if he’s making deliberate efforts to be an inner caucus member and ally of the president, then, it’s COMPELLING that he needs to make the same president his role model in all his deeds, pronouncements, and actions.

President Bola Tinubu (GCFR) is a first class democrat and statesman with deep appreciation of tenets, ideals, principles and practices of democracy. He has never and will never engage in such political effrontery and bridagage which Hope Uzodinma has got entangled.

It’s in public domain that our dear president has a rich and tremendous political antecedent, always providing platforms for his faithful, rich and brilliant minds, and even anonymous, to flourish and blossom.

The ex-Lagos governor takes great delight and immense joy in projecting worthy and deserving people to ascend and fulfill their potential.

Where do we start from? Babatunde Raji Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola, Akin Ambode, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Yemi Osinbajo, Solomon Adeola(Yayi), Muiz Banire, George Akume, Godswill Akpabio, Nuhu Ribadu, Femi Gbajabiamila, Bello Masari, Kashim Shettima are product of Tinubu large heartedness’, as well as benevolence and the list is endless.

Nigerians recollect vividly that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu deliberately conceded the Lagos West Senatorial slot for Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon during the 2011 general elections, so that he could move to national level for other responsibilities.

So, how come people like Uzodinma are not imbibing any of those good virtues from the president, who himself has been so kind and merciful to them?

How come the governor is making frantic efforts to occupy two top political offices SIMULTANEOUSLY when there are worthy, capable and better aspirants even than he does?

How come he continually attacks the judiciary for taking a worthy and well-informed decision of returning the mandate where it truly belongs?

How come he’s continually been sponsoring political hangers-on and enemies of democratic order to be placing very annoying, detestable and spurious advertorial on issues that he’s totally at fault?

All the aforementioned would ONLY lead to his political extinction and suicidal. The time is now for him to retrace his steps and embrace decency and political orderliness.                                                             

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, ACS, ACTIN, MBA, Bsc),

Lagos based Financial and Management Consultants.   

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