Umeh: The Quintessential Democrat at 55
Chidiebere Nduka writes on the many accomplishments of Chief Victor Umeh, who turned 55 on July 19
Chief Victor Umeh is a shining star in the East of the Niger. A political colossus, his sagacity and tenacity of purpose endeared him in the hearts of millions of Nigerians. Born on 19th July 1962, to the Late Sir Innocent Ofojekwu Umeh (KSM) and Lady Elizabeth Umeh (LSM) of Ifite Village Aguluezeigbo in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Umeh excelled in his studies at St. Bridget’s Primary School Aguluezeigbo, Bubendorff Memorial Grammar School Adazi-Nnukwu both in Anambra State and the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State where he read Estate Management and graduated in June 1984.
A man of destiny, Umeh is the Principal Consultant, V.C Umeh & Co., a firm of estate surveyors and valuers. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. He is a Senior Certified Valuer of the International Real Estate Institute Scottsdale, Arizona, USA as well as an Associate of the Rating and Valuation Association of Great Britain. He held several business and political positions and received numerous awards and chieftaincy titles including Ohamadike of Agulu by his Royal Highness, Igwe Innocent Obodoako and the entire Agulu Community on 30th December 2006. He is the Ikemba of Aguluezeigbo, Ibobo of Aguleri as well as more than other 30 chieftaincy titles.
With a burning desire to improve the lives of fellow Nigerians, Umeh joined politics in 1998 when he became a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was elected State Treasurer of the party in Anambra State in 1999. He withdrew his membership of the party in 2001 and joined other progressives to form the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission on the 22nd June 2002. Umeh became the first National Vice Chairman, South-east of the party and was elected National Treasurer on 10th January 2003, at the party’s first national convention held at the Old Parade Ground Abuja. On 15th December 2004, he was appointed the Acting National Chairman by the party's National Working Committee (NWC) which was ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on 11th January 2005 in its meeting in Abuja.
He was elected National Chairman at the party’s second national convention at Enugu in December 2006. Chief Victor Umeh’s tenure as APGA Boss was the golden era of the party as he led the mass movement from victory to victory in various national, state and local government elections. APGA became the beautiful bride of Nigerian politics and the third leg in the nation’s political tripod after the then ruling PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) which won the 2015 presidential election.
The victory of Mr. Peter Obi at the Anambra State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in August 2005 and at the Court of Appeal Tribunal in Enugu on 15th March, 2006 was the tunic that energised APGA in its electoral conquest in the South-east and beyond. Umeh was the pillar of that struggle! It was a triumph of courage. Ndigbo adopted it as their own party while progressives in other parts of the country identified with it. With the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s support of Umeh’s leadership, prominent Nigerians trooped into APGA. Umeh provided the necessary leadership and rebranded the party. APGA became a key player in the national politics despite distractions from party dissidents and opposition PDP in Anambra State.
Shortly after Peter Obi assumed duty, as the Executive Governor of Anambra State under the APGA platform he was illegally impeached on 2nd November 2006 by the PDP dominated State House of Assembly. It was challenged in court, Obi won a resounding victory at the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division on 9th February 2007, which stabilised his government and deepened APGA in the hearts of Ndi Anambra. Umeh again spearheaded Obi's reinstatement.
To ensure Governor Peter Obi completed his four-year tenure which PDP’s Dr. Chris Ngige illegally occupied from 29th May 2003 to 16th March 2006, when INEC gave Obi his certificate of return, Umeh flew the kite of APGA’s intention to seek Judicial interpretation of section 180(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states: “Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Governor shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date – (a) in the case of a person first elected as Governor under the constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office.”
In an interview he granted Stan Okeke published in the Daily Sun newspaper of Thursday August 10, 2006, titled, ‘Obi’s four-year tenure not negotiable – Umeh’, Chief Umeh stated: “Section 180(2) of the Nigerian Constitution is written in simple English and it’s not something that should evoke academic debate or interpretation. That section says that any person who is first elected to the office of governor of a state shall hold that office for the period of four years, commencing from the date the person takes oath of office and oath of allegiance. Is there any ambiguity in this provision? It’s simple and straight forward.
“Mr. Peter Obi took his oath of office as governor of Anambra State on March 17, 2006, and based on section 180(2), his tenure which is guaranteed by the same Constitution to be four years, started running from that date. People have chosen to reduce it to academic and political debate. We are certain that he has four years to run the affairs of Anambra State. Those who are saying that it shouldn’t be are yet to show why he should not be there.
“When the time comes …we shall seek an interpretation of the Constitution and those who it is their duty to do so, I’m sure will do it without fear or favour.” On 14th June 2007, the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered by Justice Katsina Alu, the court ruled that Obi’s tenure continued till 16th March 2010, which terminated the government of Dr. Andy Ubah of PDP who was sworn-in on 29th May 2007. He ruled for 17 days, Obi’s victory led to staggered governorship elections in Nigeria which strengthened our frail democracy and enriched the nation’s jurisprudence.
Under Umeh’s watch, Mr. Peter Obi was re-elected Governor of Anambra State in 2010 while Owelle Rochas Okorocha who contested in the Imo State governorship election in 2015 on APGA platform defeated incumbent PDP’s Governor Ikedi Ohakim. Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State who contested under Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) also joined APGA with the PPA’s federal and state legislators. Governor Orji and Okorocha later decamped to PDP and APC respectively.
A political juggernaut, Umeh‘s administration improved APGA electoral fortunes in 2011 general election. The party had two governors –Anambra and Imo states, 36 state House of Assembly members including two Speakers (Anambra and Imo states), several local government chairmen and councilors.
In 2015 general election, APGA won five House of Representatives seats and 41 State House of Assembly seats in Anambra, Abia, Bayelsa and Taraba States. Dr. Willie Obiano was earlier elected the second Governor on APGA platform in Anambra State in November, 2013. The party also swept the Local Government election in the State among other Council seats across the country. Umeh is a firm believer in the rule of law, a quintessential democrat and master of the political universe. He participated in the 2014 national conference. Impressed by the exceptional patriotism, former President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on him the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State praised Umeh saying, “The National Award (OFR) conferred on you represents a public recognition of all the hard work that you have put into the growth of the party (APGA) and the nation at large. The Government of Anambra State is extremely proud of your accomplishments. Kudos!!!”
In a rare tribute, on Peter Obi’s re-election in February and swearing-in on 17th March 2010, the late Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu applauded Umeh’s political savvy and visionary leadership stating, “The might of a Warrior is tested only in battle… I salute your tenacity, your courage and resilience, APGA has always known what has now become widely acknowledged…Ohamadike... Kudos.” Indeed, Umeh has won many battles and has been in courts over the Anambra Central Senatorial seat he contested on 28th March 2015. His opponents have laid legal mines to further slow the wheel of justice and frustrate his emergence as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria despite his winning all the constitutional legal battles known to Law! Will he prevail? Time will tell.