Anyim, Umahi and politics of self-destruction

BY CHIDIEBERE NWOBODO

“I want the media to note, that I reported an allegation that some Ebonyi people are engaging cultists and some IPOB Members to start killing and causing crisis in Ebonyi State in the name of fighting Ebonyi State Government and the governor. Their leader is Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and their members are Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Mr. Ali Odefa and others. The same Senator Anyim Pius Anyim fought the former Governor Sam Egwu and many people were killed.” — Governor David Umahi

Politics, especially in Africa, is largely driven by self-interests and unhealthy intrigues, which has greatly undermined our progress in this part of the world. When power intoxication is added to it, it becomes destructive and counterproductive  — both to the players and spectators. This is exactly the ignoble path of infamy Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, began threading in the last few weeks, albeit sadly.

It is no longer news that Gov. Umahi left the PDP for APC. He alleged that the PDP had been taking the support of Southeast for granted, thereby doesn’t deserve the support of the zone going forward. While some stakeholders of the PDP disagreed with him on the perceived marginalization of the zone, Gov. Umahi’s argument resonated with me — in the sense that the PDP can no longer live rent-free on Igbo votes. We are sick and tired of playing second fiddle in a party we have diligently supported for the past 20 years. More so a party Ndigbo are currently paying heavily under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for supporting in 2015 and 2019.

When Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State took Umahi’s defection personally, by embarking on propagandistic tirades against the Ebonyi Governor, I also called him out. I stated categorically that it was the choice of Gov. Umahi to exit the party when he felt his zone was being relegated to the background. Every discerning political observer knew that the Governor left the opposition for ruling party because of parochial aspiration, and not necessarily about the interest of the zone. But it is within his rights of association — and we have to respect that decision. And who knows, it might favour him, and by extension, Ndigbo.

However, the recent developments in Ebonyi State have raised the concern of political watchers. It is no longer secret that Gov. David Umahi has declared unprovoked war against other stakeholders of the PDP in Ebonyi State, whose only offense was that they refused to port with him to the APC. The major target of his invectives and executive recklessness is the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Umahi described Anyim as the leader of “some Ebonyi people that are engaging cultists and IPOB members to start killing and causing crisis in the name of fighting the state government”.

Having criticized Gov. Wike for unnecessarily taking on Gov. Umahi in the media and expending energy and resources on his defection, I am morally obliged to call out Gov. Umahi now that he has started exhibiting his own rascality and dictatorial tendencies in Ebonyi State. Senators Anyim and Egwu and other stakeholders of the PDP in Ebonyi chose to remain in the party when the Governor left. It is within their rights as well, to remain in the PDP or defect, whatever he claimed he agreed with them of which we can’t readily vouch for. But at least, they didn’t kick him into APC. The decision was his prerogative and he opted for what was best for him. Therefore, the same way I called Wike to leave Umahi to his own choice is the same way I would have expected Umahi to let others be.

Unfortunately, Umahi’s inordinate attempt to tar PDP leaders in Ebonyi State with IPOB and cultists brush is the height of gross irresponsibility and sheer recklessness on the part of a leader. Why also drag IPOB into his political fight, knowing that this federal government does not differentiate between IPOB members who are in the minority and the overwhelming majority of Igbo youth who have nothing to do with the organization? Why try to set up Ebonyi youths for a repeat of the Obigbo scenario? Why create the impression that Anyim and Egwu (former governor) are sponsoring IPOB agitation and cultism in Ebonyi State? I’m afraid Umahi is dangerously progressing in error and should be cushioned by relevant authorities.

That Governor Umahi was unable to convince any notable PDP leader in the state to join him in his turbulent political voyage in APC makes a loud statement: he doesn’t appear a team player and is not in control of Ebonyi politics, despite being a two term governor. He was an underdog — even as a deputy governor to then Governor Martin Elechi, when the likes of Anyim, Egwu, and others made it possible for him to win the PDP governorship ticket in 2015, against a more politically savvy Onyebuchi Chukwu — then Minister of Health. But today, he has forgotten that he cannot afford to bite the fingers that fed him.

When David Umahi emerged as Governor, one of the major projects he executed in the state was a palatial home for himself; using the lean resources of a poor state like Ebonyi. While I can’t deny that he has built few laudable infrastructural facilities in the state, he has equally created political fiefdom for himself via proxies cum cronies. He sees himself like a big fish in a small pond of Ebonyi State. By extension, therefore, he has the power to make or mar anyone that questions his despotic disposition cum avaricious tendencies.

Umahi alleged that PDP is marginalizing Ndigbo, especially Southeast, he forgot that he also marginalized Southeast PDP by appropriating strategic party and regional positions to himself and his close family members. Nepotism was elevated to near state policy by him whilst in the PDP. He imposed his brother, Austin Umahi, as Zonal Vice Chairman of the party and also had his brother as Deputy Chairman of PDP in the state. He has not only been chairman of Southeast Governors Forum but has been literally been running the secretariat from Ebonyi State; instead of Enugu.

Ironically, his tenure as chair of the Forum had long expired but he has remained in office. This is a man sanctimoniously pontificating as an advocate of Southeast yet too parochial to think beyond his personal ambitions and that of his family members — let alone his state. Much as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar misfired in the way he handled the issue of his running mate in 2019, it is now clear that Gov. Umahi led the insurrection against the Atiku/Obi ticket in the Southeast; all in a bid to frustrate his fellow easterner and position himself for 2023. This is destructive politics at its peak!

Lastly, let me remind our Southeast political leaders that they can still be in different parties and still work for Southeast interest as people of other regions have done. Many political leaders and Governors have defected in the past without setting their states or regions on fire. Why must ours always be different?

Umahi is free to pursue his aspiration in the ruling party, APC, but declaring open war on former Senate President, Anyim, Senator Egwu and others in the uncouth manner he is going about it is a serious security risk for a state like Ebonyi. These men deserve their own political freedom like Umahi. APC should be worried that a general without troops joined their rank. At the rate he is going, APC leaders might begin to weigh the political worth and even luggage of a loan ranger, who could not pull the timbers and calibers of Ebonyi along with him into the APC household because he is unable to manage the diverse political interests in his then party and state.

Yet wants to govern a more complicated and heterogeneous nation like Nigeria as president or vice. And the more Umahi loses value in APC, the more Southeast interest in APC is affected. This is the self-destructive politics the region cannot afford now, especially at auspicious period we found ourselves in.