Eddie Onuzuruike
It is an old saying boldly written and frequently used in The Students’ Companion, a book that held sway in the sixties. I may not actually quote the date of publication since I saw it on my father’s shelf from childhood. ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss,’ it went.
A scene replicating the March post election rumbles in Abia greeted the judgment of the election tribunal sitting in Umuahia last week Oct starting from the 12th. It was characterized by ranting, typical of Shakespeare’s depiction of a fool’s melodrama that is full of motion but of no effect.
Aside from mobilizing paid youths and disgruntled members to take to the streets in protest of the judgment of the tribunal where PDP got the better of the total judgment, they engaged in saber rattling and disdain for the judiciary.
The funniest came from two write-ups in 2 different newspapers, The Nation and THISDAY Newspapers, all of Friday Oct. 16, 2015. The one of THISDAY, authored by one Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, chairman of APGA, was the height of speculative penning greater than pools betting forecasts. Sweeping allegations were made of how money changed hands. In his very words ‘the judges were alleged to have collected mind boggling amount of money as bribe to pervert justice as they did on Oct. 12, 2015. In real situations, such allegations should help police investigations as they boast of circumstantial and corroborative evidence but the police are wiser and with the onerous task of crime-battling, need they bother with idlers?
The similar article in the Nation of the referred date took an analysis of the various candidates, painting all the PDP candidates as devils, none performers, unloved and unwanted but those of APGA were outstanding candidates and vote catchers. They even cast caution to the wind and quoted Mrs. Jonathan as being a major sponsor, who gave the ticket to Hon. Onyejiocha, but did not mention Otti’s desperation to get endorsement from the same family. It was graphically put like that of an eye witness who was so sure and thus made a sworn statement on oath.
I would not join them in this calumny and blackmail since that would tar me with the same brush with them but there is need to caution them because, that one is involved In a political struggle is not enough to throw stones so recklessly and forget that they live in glass houses. One of their candidates who was never seen campaigning anywhere even in his village is a no name, former court bailiff in UK who dubiously attaches barrister to his name. He will soon be arraigned to show his certificate. In the said article, they addressed Chef T A Orji like one who just pulled off his shirt to make up the eleven of a decrepit football team forgetting that the man held Abia mandate for two terms as a governor with multiple, verifiable reforms and attendant credible awards to show for it.
If we remember Alh. Waziri of blessed memory, politics shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair characterized by hate, bitterness and blackmail. If you actually want to serve the people, be with them at all times and not overnight when you need votes, and emerge to cajole them with food, drinks and money. The people are now too wise that such fly by night politicians when they win, shut their gates too soon with baying dogs barking and take off the day after to Lagos or Abuja.
Looking at APGA in Abia state, their strength was tested in 2011 when they came a distant 3rd and should be patted on the back for stepping up to number 2. All these efforts should have gotten more positions in different categories of the election but they lacked a clear cut electoral strategy except blackmail, hate and dangerous lies. They served God and mammon at the same time, updated the religion of syncretism as they unsuccessfully tried to raise Ojukwu from the dead. Their flag bearer simulated many of Ojukwu’s photos as if he associated with his ideals when he was alive. When Ojukwu died, he was in the country and did not even attend the burial. The list of donors is still available and his name is conspicuously absent, but he shamelessly wanted to use The Ikemba to win the election in a desperate move.
Beside the yapping, there are too many lessons APGA should learn. Votes are like money and do not grow on trees. Aggressive campaigns based on performance and intergrity have been known to achieve more. Notably too, the generals who marshal your political war are of high consequence. The APC are ruling today because they went for somebody who has been consistent in the pursuit of truth with high moral standard and discipline in Nigeria though as a human being, he has his faults. We could recall that PMB had sang his swan song openly when he wept that he would not contest anymore but Tinubu and others went on their knees, begging him to do it once more for the sake of Nigeria. Talk of persuasion and consistency!
Who are the names in ABIA APGA to win votes? Most of them are PDP decampees who disagreed with the equity benchmark of Chief T A Orji. Unable to adapt like extinct species, they desperately picked up wasting tickets. Others were traders and jobless, frustrated school leavers who were jolted from sleep to fill up the gaps. And curiously, somebody paid all the bills. Again, APGA is a regional party which from recent takings and political stakes cannot go it alone. I strongly sympatise with them as an Igbo party but tears are not enough. The Action Congress that held sway in the Yoruba Land saw the futility of their tribal party and went into strong amalgamation with northern party.
In furtherance to their woes, the drift into APC by Tony Ukasanya and group who supported APGA during the elections is a clear indication of lack of faith in sprawling APGA.
When my cousin boomed his cannons over PDP’s victories, some neighbours green with envy jeered at him as they were assured by the APGA helmsman that they will snatch victory from the courts. This was even given more verve when an APGA hacker titled his piece, ‘waiting for the wheel of justice in Abia’ in the Sun Newspaper of Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, and went as far as saying, ‘the wheel of justice may appear slow in movement but grinds steadily.’ But when the Abia wheel of justice crushed their inordinate ambitions, they went wild with diatribes and rented protesters, disturbing the serene peace of Abia.
Senator T A Orji is not known to mix business with pleasure. His assignment at the Red Chambers alongside other elected members are too challenging and cannot tolerate distractions that will inhibit raising the standing of Abia Central Senatorial District in Nigerian polity. Let us refrain from bad loser mentality and win at all cost syndromes. Abia needs peace at all costs.