How Rochas destroyed politics of ‘godfatherism’ in Imo State

By Anthony Inyama

The politics of ‘godfatherism’ whereby  a candidate of a political party is chosen exclusively by an influential individual or a cabal within or sometimes, outside the party had been the style of politics being practiced in Imo State since Nigeria’s return to democracy until 2011 when Rochas Okorocha broke the jinx. 

From 1999 when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) began to control the government of the State, issues of ‘godfatherism’ had been at the center of the party’s affair and eventually caused its downfall.  

‘Godfatherism’ issue was responsible for denying Rochas the party’s ticket for the 1999 gubernatorial election in Imo. Same issue led to the emergence of Chief Ikedi Ohakim as the flag bearer for the People’s Democratic Party in Imo State during the 2007 governorship election.

After Ohakim’s emergence as the party’s candidate for the 2007 governorship election, aggrieved members joined forces and formed a parallel group within the party which they named ‘The Alliance Group’. On the other hand, Chief Ohakim teamed up with his allies within the PDP framework to form a group which they named New Face Organization (NFO).  The stage became set for a protracted political battle between the two factions - the Alliance group and the NFO.

Such was the state of the PDP when Rochas Okorocha was called by some concerned citizens to rescue the State from political ‘gangsterism’ and ‘godfatherism’.

As at September 2010 when political parties in Imo State were preparing for the gubernatorial election scheduled for to take place the following year, the People’s Democratic Party were still enmeshed in internal crisis arising from issues of ‘godfatherism’. According to reports from the Front Page of the Red Parrot Newspapers Published on Sept. 15^th 2010, “The Chairman of Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, Mr Ignatius Egbuchulam, described the then PDP National Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as “an assassin hired to kill Imo PDP”, accusing him of imposing members of the Alliance group on the Party to be its executives.

Siimilarly, the front page of the Oriental Life newspapers published on November 5^th, 2010, reported that the PDP Local Government Congress held in October, 2010 at Orlu was won by one Mr. Emmanuel Obi who hails from Okporo.  The election which was captured on video was generally accepted by the delegates but the tale changed on Monday, 1^st November, 2010 when one Chief Clifford Okonkwo from Okwuabala was sworn in at the Dan Anyiam Stadium as the Chairman of the Party in place of Mr Emmanuel Obi.  The newspaper further reported that some PDP stalwarts led by Chief Arthur Nzeribe jungled the list right inside the stadium.  The emerging scenario placed the delegates in a confused state as they were at a loss concerning who to refer to as their chairman – Mr Obi, who actually won the election or Chief Okonkwo whose name was being used to replace the winner.

The PDP at the State level was not left out in the bizarre cases of ‘godfatherism’ and irregularities that ravaged the party during the October, 2010 Congress.  The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP cancelled the ‘selection’ of Mrs Kema Chikwe as the party’s Candidate for the Owerri Senatorial race after Mrs Chris Anyanwu presented a video clip which revealed some PDP stalwarts removing her votes from the ballot box and stuffing same in their pockets at the at the Grasshoppers Handball Stadium, venue of the congress.  She threatened to show the video clip of the illegalities at the primaries on Cable News Network (CNN) unless the PDP declared her winner of the Primary election.

Fortunately for Rochas, the government of Chief Ikedi Ohakim had performed below expectation and therefore failed to secure the support of most Imo State electorate, leading to his defeat at the polls.

Indeed, Okorocha’s victory can be regarded as unique not only because he has no political godfather, but also because he contested for the election on the platform of an opposition political party, APGA. For the first time in the history of Imo State, an incumbent governor lost in an election despite the fact that he had the support of many political heavyweights in Nigeria including the then president, Good Luck Jonathan.

Many political analysts are of the view that Rochas’ emergence as governor has rescued Imo from the clutches of political godfathers. Having contested in primary elections while in the PDP some years earlier, Owelle Rochas Okorocha knew and understood the style of politics played by the party and this is no doubt a major factor that propelled him to dump the party when he did.

It will be recalled that while addressing Igbos at the 5^th annual International Convention of Imo State Congress of America (ISCA) from 2^nd to 5^th August 2013 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in the USA, Owelle Rochas Okorocha accused the People Democratic Party of “playing the politics of ‘godfatherism’ as well as mismanaging the economic resources of Nigeria”

Suffice it to say that Okorocha’s victory at the gubernatorial election in 2011 have paved way for the emergence of an era in Imo State where candidates of political parties do not need to enter into any agreement formally or informally with a godfather for the purpose winning in an election. The way in which Governor Okorocha has conditioned the minds of most politicians in Imo State presently is such that practice of ‘godfatherism’ no longer appeals to them. They now work hard to earn the support of the electorate rather than depending on a godfather to help them win in an election. They argue that if Rochas who came on board the political scene without the support of a godfather can defeat an incumbent governor in an election, why can’t they do so equally?

If the present campaign by Governor Okorocha against political ‘godfatherism’ continues to achieve positive results in the next 12 years, the issue of ‘godfatherism’ in Imo State politics will surely be a thing of the past.