Uzodinma and Burden of Public Service

James Udemba

It was the accomplished author, Betrand Russell, who posited that the world would have been a better place if people pursued their happiness rather than invest in the misery of others.  Unfortunately, people tend to derive joy in the misfortunes of others to the extent that they magnify and celebrate challenges encountered by such people, even if it as an honest mistake. This is very common in politics, and it is a malaise borne out of envy and sheer jealousy.

It is really worrisome that the inconclusive Edo APC governorship primaries presided over by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has now become his Golgotha where all manner of persons seek his head to assuage their frustration.

Even those who knew they could not win their polling units in an election have found their voices, seeking the crucifixion of Senator Hope Uzodinma.  It is also unfortunate that a section of the media has joined in the baying of the crowd oblivious of their constitutional responsibility of informing and educating the public on what were the real issues in the Edo APC governorship primaries.  Suddenly, we are reading that Uzodinma presided over an election that produced three candidates.  Haba! It was only Hon Dennis Idahosa that emerged the candidate as announced by the Imo state governor.  The others emerged from the bedrooms of their sponsors, etc.

In the din of the cacophony, nobody has heard the position of INEC that the only legitimate venue it recognised for the primaries was that presided over by Uzodinma.  People also have suffered amnesia that as a true and committed disciple of the party, Uzodinma must have had the express approval of the National Working Committee to hold the primaries at the designated venue. Now, if Uzodinma as the chairman of the panel was satisfied that a particular aspirant had substantially complied with the guidelines for the primaries, what is wrong in declaring him the winner.

Nobody faults those who went to unapproved venues. Nobody is blaming those who ab initio sought to thwart the plan of the Committee by blatantly refusing to follow guidelines.  Suddenly, Uzodinma “organised” thugs to disrupt an event he was presiding over! Such an infantile postulation. But that is the price we have to pay for free speech where idiots and charlatans are allowed to open their mouths and vomit venom against established public officers.

It is also as well that the leadership of APC has elected to have another primary, this time with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State in charge.  Politicians, being who they are, have already positioned their poisonous arsenal against the new helmsman because there is no way he would please everyone.  And heaven will not help the unpopular ones to suddenly become champions.  Those who claim Uzodinma goaded the national chairman of APC to endorse Idahosa should also watch the next stage since Uzodinma has been removed from the scene.

However, what rankles in the entire exercise is the imputation of ulterior motives against Senator Hope Uzodinma in the Edo APC governorship primaries saga. Some even went to the ridiculous extent of accusing him of working against President Tinubu by ensuring that a “ wrong” candidate is “ foisted “ on Edo APC.  In one of his epic plays, William Shakespeare wrote that he who filches his name had robbed him of everything.  It appears that disgruntled elements, already afraid of the rising national profile of Uzodinma, are up in arms to rob him of his precious name using the Edo debacle as a pedestal.

Yes, all the attacks have come from all corners, with enemies uniting for a common foe. Characteristically, the ones from the Igbo extraction appear to be more virulent, though ludicrous.  One Osita Okechukwu demanded the removal of Uzodinma as Chairman of the Progressive Governors” Forum. He blamed Uzodinma for APC poor performance in the 2023 General elections  in the southeast and saw him as an enemy of the Tinubu’s administration.  The nexus between his rantings and what is at stake remains hazy, but many of us know where he is coming from.

First of all, Osita Okechukwu should come forward and tell Nigerians whether he was able to deliver his unit and ward in the said 2023 election. Available information suggests that he failed woefully. This explains why he sought to hide his shameful electoral outing by reeling out deceitful and fraudulent statistics on the performance of each South-east States during the election.  But he suffered irreparable selective amnesia to the fact that Peter Obi ran for president in an election that Ndigbo believed that it was their turn. He also forgot to share the statistics of the legislative election across the five states.  Today, under the leadership of Uzodinma, South-east states produced more APC Senators and House of Representatives than it had ever done since 2015. Both Imo and Ebonyi Houses of Assembly are led by APC.

Beyond that, however, it was most unfortunate though expected that Osita Okechukwu sought the removal of Uzodinma as Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, the very same position that he has used to attract federal government’s attention to Igboland.  It was the Ebonyi State Gov, Francis Nwaifuru, who publicly acknowledged, in a meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Abuja last year, that Uzodinma used that position to make it possible for Ndigbo to have a service chief in the current administration, something that has eluded us for eight years.  There are other numerous benefits that have accrued to Ndigbo because of the visibility of Uzodinma in the national sphere.   Instead of Osita Okechukwu and his band of poor losers to acknowledge the same and show respect, he is busy denigrating the name of Hope Uzodinma.  Hopefully, a million of such disgruntled elements cannot stop the National march of the Imo State Governor.

Without any doubt, APC in the south-east has grown from strength to strength under the able and capable leadership of Uzodinma.  In spite of various challenges posed by weaklings like Osita Okechukwu, Uzodinma has led the South-east to the national grid of politics in Nigeria, and the people are reaping the dividends.  The recent approval by the Federal Government for the dredging of Oguta Lake to the Atlantic is one of such because it would radically change the economic fortune of the entire states in the southeast. Being very close to President Tinubu is not a crime by Uzodinma.The president knows his worth, the same as his brother governors who entrusted the leadership of the Progressive Governors Forum to his care. The wishes of naysayers like Okechukwu cannot change what is on the ground.

Indeed, the Edo APC governorship primaries that encountered challenges, necessitating the barrage of criticism against Hope Uzodinma, is nothing but a temporary setback common in politics.  If there was a mistake, it was an honest one. Uzodinma is a fiercely loyal party man who would not do anything to hurt the party or its organs or its members.  He did not and does not have a personal interest in who emerged the governorship candidate in Edo.  If all the contestants had played by the rules, perhaps there would not have been this hullabaloo.  Lessons have been learnt. The party remains strong and united in winning the governorship election in Edo. And more than ever, Uzodinma is committed not only to the unity of APC but that of the entire country.

Udemba is a public affairs analyst based in Owerri