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By Dickson Okafor
Developments in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which compelled former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi and former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, to pull out of the coalition of opposition parties sound like good political music in the ears of Chief Tobby Anumaka, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo State.
Anumaka is the coordinator, Coalition of Imo Charter of Equity Vanguard (CICEV). In this interview with Sunday Sun, he argues that the personal ambitions of the key leaders of the coalition parties have upended their common goal to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Quite importantly, he also speaks on the Imo Charter of Equity and who succeeds Governor Hope Uzodinma in 2028, and the chances of Peter Obi in clinching the Presidential ticket of NDC and other issues.
Looking at the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), what are your thoughts on the original intention of the 14 coalition parties against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection in 2027?
With the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from ADC to NDC, it is now clear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s challengers in 2027 were driven by personal ambition above national interest. Democratic governance is strengthened when public officials and citizens prioritise accountability and equity over the pursuit of self-serving benefits. They had agreed on having one consensus candidate, to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 election. Clash of the personal ambitions of the key personalities, like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Mallam El-Rufai (former Kaduna State governor and former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, expectedly led to the collapse of the coalition.
It was somewhat foolhardy to think that these political gladiators would step down their long held ambition for a consensus candidate.
Issue-driven campaign, rather than campaign of calumny will determine who the electorate will vote in 2027. Nigeria is too big and exposed to become a one-party state. The challenge before the presidential aspirants is the lack of strong opposition that can keep the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on its toes. Without strong opposition democracy cannot thrive. The opposition parties can only make headway if they present on credible candidate, otherwise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be re-elected.
The APC unleashed uncomplimentary statements against Obi and Kwankwaso for defecting to NDC. Why is the APC not comfortable with the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket?
No doubt the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket will be a strong force, but in politics being popular most times does not lead to victory in elections. Peter Obi was at his peak in 2023, but I think it would not be so in 2027 even with Kwankwaso as his running mate. As it stands, the political and financial implications of the defection of Peter Obi from the ADC to is evolving ahead of the 2027 general election. Obi’s previous political strength was significantly tied to regional financial backing, particularly from the South-South. The problem now is that the movement of political actors at this stage reflects strategic repositioning driven by survival within a competitive system. Because politicians often respond to emerging pressures by seeking platforms that offer better prospects. However, any political platform Peter Obi chooses must be prepared to mobilize resources to remain competitive. Beyond individual popularity, the ability to sustain funding networks and build alliances will determine how effective Obi/Kwankwaso can navigate the road to the 2027 elections. So, I doubt if those who financed Peter Obi’s 2023 election project will throw in such huge amount this time. Peter Obi and Musa Kwankwaso’s political structure were strong in 2023 because both of them were presidential candidates, but because of their jumping from one political party to another, some of their key supporters have lost trust in them. We may have a repeat of 2023 result in 2027 with President Tinubu emerging victorious. So, the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket is not and can never be a threat to APC and President Tinubu’s re-election.
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Given the hardship in the country, caused by the economic policies of the APC, frequent collapse of the national grid and insecurity, why should Nigerians vote for Tinubu again in 2027?
The Economic Reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is gradually yielding positive results and very soon its impact will be fully felt. It is unfortunate that the Middle East hostility is responsible for global economic challenge resulting to hike of petroleum products. The economic effect of the Middle East conflict is not peculiar to Nigeria. Also, insecurity challenge is the major battle the government is doing everything possible to overcome. So, the ongoing economic reforms are increasingly supported by reforms aimed at strengthening institutions, restoring investor confidence and stabilizing key economic indicators. However, Nigerians are aware that the prices of fuel and gas went up because of the ongoing war between Iran-Israel and the United States. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s security architecture needs total overhauling, including the entire military, setting it in order to be on the same page with the United States technical assistance to overcome terrorists and bandits. With this clear understanding of government efforts to stabilize the economy and overcome insecurity, Nigerians will re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete the good job is doing.
How do you rate the 10th National Assembly under the leadership of Sen Godswill Akpabio?
The 10th National Assembly is stabilized and has formed a synergy with the Executive and Judiciary, which has led to stable governance since the inception of the present political dispensation. Even though there are lapses here and there, but with time it will be corrected. I pray the National Assembly does more, to hold the other arms of government accountable through check and balances.
Okigwe North Concerned Patriots has moved against your anointed candidate and member representing Okigwe North in the House of Representatives, Hon Miriam Onuoha’s third term bid. What would you say made her renege on her promise to do only one term?
As you know politics is local. To put the record straight, Hon Miriam Onuoha, has not failed to condemn anti-people Bills or motions and she has always sponsored and supported people-oriented Bills and motions. She has attracted several projects to her constituency. These are some of the reasons the people of Okigwe North have continued to re-elect her to represent them. Also, most Nigerians don’t know the difference between executive and legislative powers. The duty of lawmakers to check the executive and judiciary and also do oversight functions. They don’t have executive powers; all they do is to lobby ministries, departments and agencies to site federal projects in their Senatorial districts and constituencies. For instance, Hon Miriam Onuoha has done marvelously well when compared to her predecessors. We were not happy with the immediate past member that represented us because he hardly talked, sponsored bills or moved. That was the reason I campaigned for his replacement with Hon Miriam Onuoha. I can’t count one or two projects her predecessors attracted to Okigwe North. But today there is no electoral ward in the whole of Okigwe North that cannot boast of one project that Hon Miriam Onuoha has attracted to them. They include NDDC solar light, transformers, roads, classroom blocks, healthcare centres and employment to youths in Okigwe North. She is not the noise-making type to attract public attention.
Governor Hope Uzodimma’s tenure will end in 2028. Your group is advocating for the return of Imo Charter of Equity. As the struggle for power shift in 2028has began. What is the prospect of your efforts?
To start with, they say when you want to go to equity, you must go with clean hands. We are calling for the reinstatement of the Imo Charter of Equity agreement entered into by the leaders of Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri Senatorial districts for rotation of power. We agreed that power must be distributed equitably, but unfortunately the agreement was breached in 2011 by Owerri Zone. I’m not saying this because I come from Okigwe zone, but for the sake of equity. Power should shift to Okigwe Zone because former Governor Ikedi Ohakim did not complete his tenure. Okigwe has agreed to do a single term of four years to complete Ohakim’s eight years then power will shift to Owerri Zone. So, I plead with my brothers and sisters in Owerri Zone to give Okigwe chance to go for a single term to complete Ohakim’s tenure. Because if power shifts to Owerri in 2028 Orlu Zone that has cheated us will continue having governed Imo State for 24 years since 1999. But there is nothing we can do because we allowed it to be so for refusing to work together. So, Orlu Zone with 12 local government areas out of 27 is majority both in LGA and population. Therefore, if Okigwe and Owerri zones should work together we can take power from Orlu Zone. Otherwise; we will continue to be shortchanged.
What if Owerri zone fails to allow Okigwe complete its term? What scenario is likely to emerge Uzodinma leaves office in 2028?
There is no problem that doesn’t have solution just as I said earlier. Owerri zone should calm down and support Okigwe to complete its second four years term after which Okigwe will support them for 8 years. And with that Orlu won’t field any candidate. This is because Orlu and Okigwe have always worked together and because Governor Hope Uzodinma has promised that it won’t be Orlu’s turn in 2028. He has promised to support somebody from either Okigwe or Owerri zones to succeed him. So, based on that most political gladiators from Okigwe are in APC and they are working seriously with Governor Hope Uzodinma.
