Ebonyi: Many eyes on Umahi’s seat There are no doubts that the politics of who occupies Ebonyi Government House in 2019 general elections have begun and the number of actors to play the game is gradually increasing as many are raising their fingers for th
The game, however, would be determined by actors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is also speculated that aspirants from the southern zone of Ebonyi state stands a better chance of winning the race than those from north and centre senatorial zones.
On this note, however, the likes of Engr. Paul Okorie, Sen. Sonnie Ogbuoji representing Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone and the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, remains the likable candidates to pick the ticket from the platform of the APC while the incumbent governor, Engr. David Umahi is said to be the only candidate of the PDP. Engr. Paul Okorie He has the good will and friendship which cut across the 13 local government areas of the state. He was the former Commissioner of Works and Transport during the era of Dr. Sam Egwu administration as governor of the state and was retained in same position during Chief Martin Elechi’s first tenure.
Dr. Okorie, popularly known as ‘ACTION’ was shown the back door when he was Commissioner for Environment, an act which happened towards the end of Chief Elechi’s administration. His exit, however, was allegedly masterminded by Engr. Umahi so as to make way for himself as governor when he was serving as the deputy.
But, his exit in Elechi’s administration created a huge vacuum in the administration of the immediate past governor essentially at the heat of 2015 electioneering period.
‘ACTION’ has remained a grassroots politician, loved by the Abakaliki block and even in the southern zone of the state where he hails from. Dr. Okorie, a native of Okoshi in Ohanzara Local Government Area gained his honour through his service to the state when he was commissioner for works and transport.
Therefore, if wishes were a success, many, particularly those from Abakaliki block would prefer to have Dr. Okorie as the APC gubernatorial candidate but his chances of winning the ticket is reportedly hindered by his thin financial statue to pursue a course like governorship that requires huge financial support. Chris Adol-Awam He is the Founder/General Overseer of Eternal Light of World Christian Church World-Wide, who had lived his life as a politician before he was called into the pulpit.
He is apparently a lesser politician to reckon with in today’s politics despite the fact that he gained his relevance during the time of Dr. Sam Egwu when he was the Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area.
His chances to clinch the ticket of APC is slim owing to the fact that he is from the northern zone of the state, coupled with his inclination with Hon. Ben Nwaoboshi led group and alleged suspicion that he is being sponsored by the state government to “spoil the beans.” He had severally said it is not true that he is being sponsored. Presently, his aspiration would be thriving to create a new political structure and popularity before the primaries. Sen Sonnie Ogbuoji He is a frontrunner and remained one great successful politician in Ebonyi who is now representing the people of the southern zone at the Senate under the PDP.
His mind is very hard to read which gave him a second name by some analyst as the most successful strategies that always meander his way in modern politics. Many things would work in his favour, including his political clout, financial muscles and would be welcome by average Afikpo indigenes and beyond to pursue his course ahead of 2019.
Sen. Ogbuoji had served as council chairman of old Afikpo Local Government in then Abia State and Commissioner in Ebonyi state during the first tenure of Chief Martin Elechi.
He had worked closely with the minister of Science and Technology in old Abia state which led Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu which led to his victory as governor of the state during the aborted democracy between 1992 and1993.
Daily Trust gathered that his defection to the APC is based on an agreement that co-exist between him and Dr. Onu and there are allegations that the minister had approach the senator for a repeat of same bond in 2019 elections.
But this renewed romance between the minister and Sen. Ogbuoji has placed many analysts and followers of APC in Ebonyi state in a state of uncertainty.
This uncertainty is whether the billionaire politician has been anointed by the minister to carry the flag of APC for the number one seat position of the state or support he is being strategically positioned by the minister to help him (Onu) ride to power next year, the same way it happened during the aborted Third Republic.
Without doubts, many believed that Sen. Ogbuoji would give the incumbent governor the greatest chase of his life if the speculations that he might contest the gubernatorial ticket under APC become a reality. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu He is a native of Uburu in Ohanzara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, and has remained one great successful politician in his political zone, state and the nation at large. Dr. Onu’s success is based on the fact that he has remained steadfast in opposition and committed to the course since he was ousted out of office as the governor of old Abia State. Thereafter, he formed forces that brought in President Muhammadu Buhari under the platform of APC.
This laudable achievement in politics has gained him so much respect at the national level and in the state.
Dr. Onu is greatly tipped by a great number of APC members in Ebonyi State as the preferred governorship candidate of the party but the “clean white politician” is yet to make his decision known.
A source in the party told Daily Trust that the minister remains the party best choice for 2019 governorship position of the state on the grounds that at present, he is the only politician that could unseat the incumbent governor.
“He is politically exposed, experienced and has all it takes in terms of support from the Federal Government to unseat Umahi, and let me tell you he remains the best choice for us today”, she said.
The minister has remained unstained, gentle to the core and a great strategist in political game, qualities that unsettles those opposing his candidature.
He has made two attempts to win the governorship race of the state times in 1999 and 2007 and it is believed that the minister would win this time around provided he would make himself available. Engr. David Umahi Surrounded by the apparatus of the state government and by virtue of his position as the incumbent governor of the state, coupled with his antecedents as a former deputy governor and former state chairman of the PDP, Umahi is a potential second term governor even though he would no doubt face the most serious challenges in his political career in 2019.
Sources say Governor Umahi is surrounded by many ‘enemies,’ even with his cabinet who are feeling cheated because they were not carried along all this while in terms of welfare and empowerment.
The APC is also waxing stronger and therefore a threat to his second bid.
Also, there are fears that Engr. Umahi, unlike the APC, would go into the elections with few stakeholders remaining to fight his course and defend their votes because the new political structures he built is yet be formidable enough ahead of 2019 elections.
But, Gov. Umahi would have some other things that might go for him, including infrastructural ingenuity which has transformed the state capital amazingly. Another is his empowerment programme which has gone for over 4,000 youths and widows.
Another thing that would go for him in the forthcoming election is the issue of rotational system which implies that his re-election would complete the slot of the southern zone in 2023.