The recent resounding victory at the Anambra guber election of incumbent APGA governor Willie Obiano and his staunch supporter and campaign manager, Victor Umeh, in the senatorial, point to several possibilities for an APGA revival. But will the party, under these 2 dogged politicians, embark on an expansion thrust to other South East states? Recall that Okorocha first won the Imo guber election as an APGA candidate before he decamped to the APC. Recall also, that APGA under Theodore Orji swept the polls in Abia state in 2011 before handing over the state to the PDP as a gift to President Jonathan. Can APGA replicate its performance in 2019.
For the moment, Abia appears a long shot.But is Imo doable? Has the PDP anything to worry over a revitalized APGA. At the local level, Yes, they both compete as viciously as the Anambra guber has shown. At the national level, No, APGA has always been a reliable ally of the PDP on national issues.
OHANEZE’S BATTLE FOR RESTRUCTURING
JOHN NNIA NWODO, PRESIDENT OF OHANEZE, perhaps the strongest advocate of a restructured Nigeria. Not a smooth road at all, with IPOB following noisily and insisting that the agenda should be a separate state. Observers feel that it is about time Ohaneze quietly set up a constitution-drafting committee, to include constitutional lawyer professor Nwabueze, to provide the outlines of a draft constitution, which should then be discussed with other ethnic groups, particularly the Afenifere, the Niger Delta and the Middle Belt communities. This should be done quietly to avoid the rancor with IPOB in massive public meetings. This outline constitution, political analysts insist, should not re-invent the wheel, but should be built on the brilliant platform created by the late Alex Ekueme – the Six Zone structure. The states are not abolished. The devolution of powers and financial provisions should be from the Federal government to the Zonal Governments. All this with the greatest sense of urgency. The Ohaneze agenda has been known for years. There have been enough eloquent speeches at several public fora. What has been lacking is vigourous, measured implementation.
ADDENDUM
Other Actors to watch in the unfolding political drama embattled APC chairman Oyegan, Muhammed Junald, Olu Faleye, Joe Odumakan…… The list quite long.
CONCLUSION
In Conclusion, recall the saying that a week is a long time in politics. Obviously there are many factors that could have unpredictable consequence – the Boko Haram insurgency, Amnesty or no amnesty; The uproar over the rampaging Fulani Herdsmen, whether the security force can or are willing to contain them; the general security situation and the rule of law and order. Certainly, if a week is a longtime in polities the months remaining to the end of 2018 is an age! But the overriding question remains will 2018 prove to be a date as important as 1914. maybe or nearly so.
