CHEKWAS OKORIE: ADAMANT FOR A PURPOSE

I have closely followed unfolding events in Anambra state politics since the days of former governor Ngige and its attendant politicking. The ‘poli-thinking’ and ‘poli-tricks’ that envelope the camaraderie among the different interest (political) groups. This evidently was revealed in the circumstances that surrounded d ouster of ex-governor Dr. Chris Ngige. The PDP in its unguarded move to punish one of its own, who seemed ‘recalcitrant’, then, painstakingly provided the platform for All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA to occupy the government house. And ever since, there has been serious thinking and ploys to wrestle power from the incumbent government. A lot of permutations and combinations by the PDP all in effort to take over from APGA.

Luckily enough, the party (PDP) saw an ample opportunity in the crisis rocking the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in the state, cashed in on that to create a more rumpus scenario within the party. PDP saw wisdom in sponsoring the expelled national chairman of APGA, chief Chekwas Okorie to create tension within the polity. The belief is that once APGA as a party is destabilized, the ‘floor’ presumably will be wide open for PDP to play its usual game. The first joker was when Okorie asserted in a press conference that the decision of the ‘kangaroo’ APGA national congress he convened, and which purportedly reinstated him as the chairman of the party against a substantive court order superimposed any other pronouncement by any law court. It was reported that Chekwas Okorie was expelled from the party following allegations of gross indiscipline and financial improprieties.

The party, as reliably gathered had to show him the door it became glaring that Okorie was a cog in the wheel of the party’s progress. One report even had it that he (Okorie) was the only single signatory to the party’s account even though there were two other signatories (the national treasurer and secretary). He was the only one signing the party’s cheques as evident in the banks’ revelations. So, the party had no option than to strictly apply the sanctions as provided by its constitution, hence, the reason he was ousted.

But alas! PDP, known for its shamelessness through its stooge and the only personality in Nigeria that is above courts’ pronouncements, a professor of pharmacology, Maurice Iwu in a desperate bid to actualize its (PDP’s) plot, has continued to show the whole world the stuff he is made of through his hanky-panky actions and inactions in the case involving Chekwas Okorie and APGA. Do you blame him after all? Of course he is duty bound to carry out instructions of his benefactor –PDP to the letter. While he (as the INEC chairman) gives recognition to the Chekwas Okorie-led faction of APGA , his decision to give Victor Umeh, the subsisting chairman, #6m subvention of the party speaks volume of his hypocrisy! Professor Iwu is hanged between his conscience and the contract he signed with PDP.

Unfortunately for PDP, while these entire ‘abracadabra’ were going on to disintegrate APGA; its own house is divided against itself! This overtly is shown in the number of candidates struggling for the seat of governor with all interested individual hell bent. To demonstrate further PDP’s moral recklessness, the ward congresses held in Anambra were turned to arena of war and pandemonium, as it is its usual peculiarity throughout the nation. Even the Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswan saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the execution of the event was greatly disappointed at the level of desperation people could be in the quest for power. He left the state in utter amazement. He was reported to be flabbergasted that somebody could even offer a #1billion bribe to influence a ward election! What a shameless PDP! Yet, our comatose Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC under the almighty Farida Waziri did not see any reason why such an individual should be interrogated.

Just yesterday, I was surprised to hear one of the gubernatorial candidates under the platform of PDP in Anambra state, and a serving senator, sen. Ikechukwu lamenting seriously on the conduct of the PDP ward congresses held in the state and the power play of millionaire stalwarts in the party to pervert the wish of the people. Even the immediate past senate president, Sen. Ken Nnamani openly opined in a programme organized by Channels TV on Thursday October 1, 2009 tagged ‘Channels Forum’ that PDP (a party he belonged to anyway) as the ruling party has failed the system in all ramifications. He cited the statistical analysis of United Nation as also postulated by US Secretary of State, Sen. Hillary Clinton on the rate of poverty which rose from 40% in 1995 to 75% in the 6-year rule of PDP.

Okorie should know whatever benefit he has enjoyed or that he is promised by PDP to create commotion in Anambra state, no matter how far it may take, posterity will judge him.

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Robot  # 1 | 06.10.2009 08:37

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