– Don’t Deceive Uzodinma As You Misled Jonathan
Dr Basto Nwadike, former Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma and ex-Head, Political Bureau, has called on Chief Elvis Agukwe an ex-political office holder in the state, to desist from deceiving the Governor, the same way he deceived former President Jonathan, who he lured into contesting election he lost in 2015.
Nwadike, who stated this in a press statement he signed and made available to the press, recalled that some time in 2014, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was about to hold its convention to elect a presidential candidate; Nze Elvis Agukwe (Ide), floated an innocuous group which he named We The People of Nigeria.
Among the group’s unidentifiable agenda was the frontal one, which he (Nze Agukwe and Co) called Right of First Refusal. In the series of advertorials and radio talk shows, they told the world that the PDP must give President Jonathan right of first refusal in the impending presidential primary election as it were.
Many patriotic and concerned Nigerians especially this writer had several conversations and heated debates with him. I advised him to drop that deceptive campaign that had the tendency to tear our country into pieces. Reasons: Jonathan, at that point, lacked the popularity to win the imminent election. Jonathan lacked the capability to run the country then. If there was anything like zoning, Jonathan, having done six years, should allow the Igbo to become president. Jonathan, was, playing a precarious political game of excluding the Igbo on one hand by claiming to be one of them and on the other hand, when it suited him, disclaims the Igbo.
Nwadike, further posited that, Nze Agukwe and his co travellers vehemently refused to heed my patriotic advice and continued their economically deterministic campaign all over the country. In the, light of this advice, leaders of the PDP like Chief Tony Anenih bought into the campaign and used it to offer Jonathan that presendential ticket, and he went for the election in 2015 and lost. I went to Nze Agukwe’svHotel room in Owerri and woke him up and broke the news of Jonathan’s loss. He became sober instantly and said: “Let him come home, he has tried”.
Today, an analogous history is playing out in Imo State with Nze Agukwe championing and leading another deceptive campaign telling a tell tale of how moving the governorship to Owerri zone by Governor Hope Uzodimma will be one of his enduring legacies. He is promoting the line of thought in many fora, especially in the social, media platforms. I come again to tell him to desist from these erroneous deceptive campaigns. It will not pay him any good in the interest of Imo State and the legacy of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
I am of the opinion that Governor Uzodimma should allow the forces of democracy to play out in 2027. All major zones in Imo State have tested the seat of Governor of Imo State except Isu Nation the largest clan in Imo State comprising: Nwangele, Nkwerre, Isu, Njaba, and half of Orlu LGA. Considering what has transpired in Nigeria between incumbents and their imposed successors, it smacks of foolhardiness for leaders to thread that forsaken route. Governor Uzodimma has some good legacies (road revolution, standard government businesses, etc) to leave behind other than the imbroilgo of a contentious successor.
I advise the governor to ignore deceivers with sugar coated tongues and meticulously scrutinise his would be role in 2027 before taking a stand for the sake of posterity.
