IMO: THE 3RD COMING OF THE godfathers IN THE 4TH REPUBLIC
By: Sam Onwuemeodo
From 1999 till date, is seen or regarded by Political analysts and Political historians as the fourth Republic, in the nation’s chequered Political journey or Political history or both, as the case maybe. The nation’s politics from 1960 to 1966 is regarded or referenced to, as the first Republic. From 1979 to 1983, described as the second republic. And what should have been recorded as the third republic was aborted or truncated. The M.K.O. Abiola’s episode. And Basha Tofa. Evans Enwerem and others were all parts of the aborted third Republic, when the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC) were the only two existing Political Parties. Abiola ran on the ticket of SDP and Tofa, on the platform of NRC. Enwerem had been elected governor on the ticket of NRC. He defeated Alex Obi of the SDP. The rest has become part of our staggering Political history. We are talking about the third coming of the godfathers to Imo government in the fourth Republic. Just follow me closely. We are going to move at the same pace.
So, when we are talking about the fourth republic as it concerns Imo, we are invariably deliberating on Chief Achike Udenwa’s eight years as governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s four years as governor and Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s governorship for eight years. And now the Chief Emeka Ihedioha time. Do not forget the subject-matter; the third coming of the godfathers or the elite in the politics or government of the fourth republic in Imo.
When I talk about the godfathers or godmothers in Imo politics, I am simply talking about the Iwuanyanwus, Nzeribes, Chikwes, Odunnas, Obis, Nwogas, Iheanachos, Uzodinmas, Iwus, Chukwus, Akakems, Araraumes, Amakos, Obinnas, Njemanzes, Acholonus, Ohakims, and others, too numerous to mention. Before 2011, every local government had gotten a godfather. These godfathers had the Franchise or the Certificate of Occupancy (CoO) or the letter of Attorney of Imo politics or government. They were deciding who got what and who would not get what. No one comes to Owerri to play politics without going through the godfather from his or her LGA.
Even within the enclave of the godfathers, there were also Super godfathers. You can call them, the godfathers of the godfathers. Chief Iwuanyanwu and Chief Nzeribe, Prof. Iwu, etal represented the group. Then the Odunnas, Obis and others were the examples of the second group of godfathers. Nobody became anything in the State without going through them. If you fly in from America for any Political Position in the State, whether elected or appointed, you only need to get the blessing or the anointing of the godfathers, you have your way. They were installing governors, and legislators. They had decided all the Political Appointments. That time, most Politicians in the State had no political life of their own. They were attached to the apron strings of the godfathers. They were in-charge. The current governor Chief Ihedioha has been a major beneficiary of godfatherism in Imo politics right from 2003 when he ran his first election. I may come back to this, in the course of this memo.
In 1999, the godfathers divided themselves into two. Some took charge of the PDP. The Nwogas and the Echeruos. Some took over the APP. The Iwuanyanwus and the Nzeribes. In PDP, the Nwogas produced Chief Udenwa as Candidate. In APP, Chief Iwuanyanwu and Nzeribe produced Ezekiel Izuogu as the governorship Candidate. At the end, Udenwa won. He gave the godfathers their dues. He allowed them to continue to dominate the politics of the State and remain maintained. Before 2003, they had all regrouped in PDP. Udenwa also won for his second term. The godfathers Continued their stock in trade.
If you had no money or godfather, you would not get anything. If you had come from a poor background, you could only carry Political bags for the godfathers or those who have found favour with them. It was a class politics in the State and at the expense of the State. No one could be appointed or nominated into any position in the government without doing so through a godfather. Even when you are nominated, one minute phone call from a godfather who does not like you would torpedo or destroy the whole thing. It was the politics of who do you know?Onye ka ima? That was the first and second coming of the godfathers in Imo politics. From 1999 to 2003. And from 2003 to 2007. Ditto, 2007 to 2011 with Ikedi Ohakim.
Chief Ohakim came and also maintained the status quo. The politics of godfatherism. His own was tormenting. Because he had super godfathers in their large number to Contend with. The Iwuanyanwus, Iwus, Udenwas, Uzodinmas, Nzeribes, Chukwus, Akakems, Nlemigbos, so many of them.
At a point he was forced to say that the man who made him governor was Maurice him. They put confusion into the man’s head. The Church came with an additional headache. They were so many. Hydra-headed scenario. One godmother, Mrs. Chikwe donated one Willie Amadi to him (Ohakim). And the man “Willied” him. They wanted him to come back in 2011 for the godfather and godmother enterprise to continue flourishing, but the masses said NO.
Rochas Okorocha saw the lacuna or the gap and came to fill it. It was the masses versus the godfathers. The masses had their way. Do not forget that some of the Church leaders are also godfathers in their own right. They do not mince words about that. The coming of Rochas in 2011 ended the godfather domination in Imo politics. And knowing how he became governor, he decided to ally with the masses at the expense or to the detriment of the godfathers. That was one of the reasons that occasioned the Free Education Programme. The enviable relationship between his government and the artisans, traders and so on. For the eight years Okorocha was governor, the godfathers were “restricted” to their houses with regard to Imo politics. They were not allowed to play any role in his government. He distanced them and indeed, to the glory of God.
If Rochas Okorocha had not chased away the godfathers or if Owelle had not disarmed the godfathers, or if he had not stifled the politics of godfatherism in the State, Eze Madumere would not have become Chief of Staff and later Deputy Governor, Benjamin Uwajumogu would not have become Speaker and later Senator. Acho Ihim would not have become Speaker. George Eche would not have become Account-General and later Secretary to the State Government or he would have remained at the State Secretariat waiting for promotion to the next grade level. Kingsley Uju would not have imagined becoming Deputy Chief of Staff and today in the House of Representatives, Uche Nwosu would not have become Chief of Staff and today a front row and formidable governorship Candidate adjudged to have won the 2019 election; Hillary Ekeh would not have become Chairman of APC and today, head of a federal Parastatal. Chike Okafor would have remained in the Bank. Ichie Mbanso would have remained a Road-side Trader, T.O.E. Ekechi would have remained in Lagos going from one Office to the other looking for clients to advertise their products. Most of those appointed as Commissioners or Advisers would not have had such opportunities. And so on.
And they seemed not have understood Owelle when he was repeatedly telling them that his ambition was to build a new Political order in the State devoid of godfatherism or elitism. Most of them thought that they had arrived and began to play the kind of Politics that has left them stranded or motionless at the moment. They are neither here nor there today.
Chief Emeka Ihedioha, a major beneficiary of the politics of godfatherism in the State is the governor as we write. And he has wholly and entirely brought the godfathers back to the government of Imo. Today, the children of Kema Chikwe, Ikedi Ohakim, and nominees of all the godfathers have been appointed into offices. One hundred percent of all those Chief Ihedioha has appointed into his administration are all products of godfatherism. Rochas Okorocha’s government had 99.9 percent of his appointees independent or devoid of godfatherism. The implications of this development are what we all know. When the godfathers are in control, the masses would be at the receiving end. They have to be maintained directly or indirectly. And the maintenance, also sustained. All those who do not have godfathers would only wait on God. The main GODFATHER. The GODFATHER who does not demand royalty. The third coming of the godfathers. Courtesy of Governor Emeka Ihedioha. The irony is that those who should have assisted to stabilize the non-godfather politics enthroned by Owelle Okorocha, out of greed, inexperience, selfishness, shortsightedness, got short-circuited and unknown to them, aided the coming back of the godfathers. Today, things have fallen apart, the Centre can no longer hold and mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. We shall Continue to Clap for Jesus.