By Kunle Oyatomi
Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State was the first to shock us about the goings-on in the PPA, sponsored by Orji Uzor Kalu at the height of his problems with Obasanjo in the heady days of the face-off between Atiku and his boss at Aso Rock. He (Ohakim) had not long before dumped the PDP for the PPA to win in Imo State, and within  two years had bolted back to the PDP on grounds that the PPA was not a party but a family business.

At that time he looked funny and incredulous. He found it difficult to persuade a lot of people that the PPA which gave him the platform to become a governor was so unbearable that he had to leave.

He was unconvincing in spite of the fact that it was public knowledge that Mother Kalu had a tremendous influence on her son, Orji Uzor, and was virtually the de facto governor. The general impression then was that Ohakim might have over reacted to some misunderstandings with his benefactor. But just under two years after the parting of ways with Orji Kalu, Ohakim stands vindicated.

Abia State governor, Theodore  Orji, has done what his counterpart in Imo State did some two years back. He has left PPA for practically the same reasons as Ohakim – unconstitutional family interference in the day-to-day administration of the state. He sat there for the last three years only in name as governor, enduring humiliating manipulations by the family of Orji Kalu. And when he could take it no more, according to his allegation, he resigned from the PPA and is now APGA’s superstar.

But the interesting angle to the story is that this time around, it wasn’t  governor Orji alone who has parted ways with Kalu; the highly respected Senator Uche Chukwumerije has also resigned from Kalu’s party for practically the same reason.

For sure, something must be seriously wrong. If all three of these “heavy weights”could leave the party for the same reasons, then we must all give it to Ohakim that he had foresight to have detected this aberration early enough, and also had the courage to resign. Foresight, yes, but the courage more importantly to call it quit with what he perceived to be undemocratic practice. This is the kind of courage needed to grow our fledgling democracy.

For Orji and Uche, well,  its better late than never, but did they really need to have endured patent irrationality that long? You never know. It is different with people you see, but one thing is common to all; recognition for a positive pro-active stand that is vindicated over time. That is the edge Ohakim has over his erstwhile colleagues.

Well, for Orji Kalu, this could be instructive politically, except he wants to disappear from the political scene completely. Politics and family don’t mix in governance. You could have a political  family, yes; but your family cannot take over governance in a democratic state as has been alleged of Orji Kalu.

He may not yet appreciate the magnitude of his political isolation with the departure of these men, but time has a funny way of compelling people to learn, the hard way; just as it also has a soothing way of vindicating people like Ohakim with foresight.

Just as we were going to press with this script, news broke that Orji Kalu may abandon his own political party, PPA to join the PDP.

Zoning tests Northern will

The prospect of losing political power advantage in Nigeria appears to be shaking the north to its foundation. The attitude of some northern  politicians borders on the desperate over the question of zoning as a means of regaining power they lost with the death of President Yar’Adua.

So strident have been the calls to return power to the north from PDP members in that area, that a southern counter-pole has developed in the South-South that rejects the northern claim to power at the centre come 2011. As with Nigerian politics, massive ethno/regional  conflict of interest is already at play with indications that it could get problematic as the build up to 2011 intensifies.

A section of the political north that is irreversibly insistent on regaining power in 2011 has its specific interest on an individual, or an acceptable alternative, but it so far has not succeeded in selling the idea across the board in the north itself.

Another powerful group in the north is not so sure that that path is the right way to go and it is saying, “wait a minute, we don’t even know if a southern candidate has been floated yet; so it is early in the day to fidget.”

That’s possibly a reference to the probable candidature of incumbent President Jonathan. But vocal voices within this group are all the same saying that it was about time the idea of zoning was dropped to allow whoever wants to (including the incumbent president) to run for 2011 Albeit, the main body of the alternative view is saying that until it is clear which way Jonathan is going, no northern position can be decisive at the moment.

Perhaps, this stance would change or be reinforced after the 15th July meeting of Northern leaders in Kaduna.

But what is certain is that the South-South geo-political zone would not be dissuaded from its hard-line stance that Jonathan is entitled to run, and will run; even when the man is still weighing his options.!!

That’s how deep feelings run out there, and that already is a confrontational position  to those insisting that Jonathan remains barred by the so-called “gentleman’s agreement”of the PDP to zone the presidency to the north; which should be understood to mean that – Yar’Adua’s death notwithstanding – the north should have the presidency until 2015.

“That’s unconstitutional”, says the South-South and a host of others who have joined in the debate.

That now is the albatross for the north!! If they are given a choice between a PDP “agreement that is unconstitutional, and the Nigerian constitution, which would they choose?

The former serves their self  interest while the latter is in the national interest. Where will their “patriotism” lead them? To be sure it looks an easy question to answer, but where self interest or regional or ethnic crave for political power becomes a factor – as in this particular case – it will take more than a politician of straw to be patriotic.

That now is the dilemma of the north.