Appreciating Amanze Obi's Political Style

LEONARD AJOKUBI

When Dr. Amanze Obi, a renowned and seasoned journalist, was appointed a Commissioner by the executive governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, a number of the people here and in Diaspora commended the governor for seeing reasons to incorporate such notable personality in his cabinet. The commendations, to my best of knowledge, were not made just for the sake of making it. They were made after x-raying Dr. Obi's past antecedents.

To say a little, he was among the frontline journalists that fought relentlessly against the military dictatorship in the country. The journalists took the bold step for the purpose of effecting positive changes in the annals of existence. Interestingly, they did not stop there, upon the emergence of democracy in Nigeria; they swiftly shifted their interest to the struggle for sustenance of the hard earned democracy. A battle we can say they have considerably won, as the country is now enjoying the dividends of the democracy. 

However, it is worthy of note that a class of people, though very few, who do not know  Dr. Obi very well doubted the possibility of him doing well in politics having come from a decent profession, journalism. These are the class of people that see politics as a do or die affair. 

With what is on ground, the Culture and Tourism Commissioner has proved the class of people wrong. He has proved that with experience, hard-work and influence, one will definitely do well in politics. Of course, it is not an over statement to say that he is playing better than most of the people we describe as old politicians in the land.  Unlike some politicians, he believes in modern politics. Above all, he is a man of his word, and does not believe in sycophancy most politicians indulge in. That is the kind of politician Nigeria needs at this point in time. 

Retrospectively, when the governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, was speaking at the reception ceremony organized in honour of Dr. Amanze Obi, by the people of Agwa late last year, he said “there is no political government in the state that has got total support from Agwa. There must be factions.” The governor is not far from the truth. Though the problem started in 2003 when the former governor, Chief Achike Udenwa and his aides wanted to take the people for a ride. But, it is interesting to note that Dr. Obi has taken it as the greatest challenge of the time, and from the look of things, the ugly development will not repeat itself.

The question is, how did Dr. Obi achieve this? Immediately after his assumption of office as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, he took his time to study the political situation of Agwa clan and Oguta LGA at Large. On discovering the cause of the problem, he embarked on intensive consultations to stakeholders in the clan with the aim of establishing a formidable political family to enable them deliver the governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and other candidates of the PDP in the forth coming 2011 general election, as well as the candidates of the party in the just concluded council election in the state. 

Few months ago, Dr. Obi convened a meeting of the Agwa stakeholders in his residence. In the meeting, the people discussed many important issues. Prominent among them is the re-election of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, whom they said has done much for them.

However, the Agwa stakeholders, who took their time to access all that they have benefited from the Ohakim - led administration which included, the creation of Agwa local government development area, the appointment of their illustrious son, Dr. Amanze Obi, as a member of his cabinet, the appointment of Hon. Ethelbert Nnanna as his Special Assistant, Hon. Casmir Ohamana as a Coordinator, Agwa local government development area and members of the development area, unanimously resolved to give the governor a 100% vote in the 2011 governorship election in appreciation of the good gesture.

The stakeholders, who also resolved that they will not for any reason identify with any other political group in the state, apart from the popular New Face Organization (NFO), averred that the leaders of the other groups had held important political positions in the past but failed to attract even a pin to the clan that is made up of over half a million people.