By Chuks Okoli
It is not often that a kingmaker is asked to be a king. That happens rarely. But when it does, it is for a purpose. There probably has been a shift in the dial that compels a rethink by the people and the need to reward competence. Accepting or declining the offer depends entirely on who is involved and the circumstances upon which the offer is made.
The 2027 election is already showing signs that it may throw kingmakers up as kings. It does not matter if they accept or decline, but the fact that such scenario is emerging in a sufficiently organic way should bother those it is directed against. It is glaring even to the insouciant that some of those occupying elective offices in Nigeria are blithering incompetents who have no reason to be around power. Their inability to discharge legislative duties and uphold the trust of the people whose mandate they hold in trust is enough to cost a good number of them re-election.
A case in point is Orumba North and South Federal Constituency where representation, over the years, has taken a tumble for the worse. The constituency is perhaps among the least represented in Anambra state currently. It lacks bite and has not shown cause why the current grumbling for a change in representation come next election should stop until a change is effected. It is a fact that even the least of the people’s needs hardly gets a mention as the representative of the people is almost always missing in plenary.
In fact, the constituency was lasted represented in real sense of the word during the time of Dr. Okey Udeh. What has been on since after his time was unmitigated failure in representation. The level of under-representation has been such that an average Orumba person has since lost interest in who represents him. Udeh’s bold representation, accessibility to the constituents and provision of transformers to all the communities that aided electrification of the constituency have neither been replicated nor surpassed. Past efforts at redeeming the situation were not helped by the line of do-nothing representatives who had everything but the interest of Orumba North and South at heart.
It should be made clear that the seemingly facile, but highly taxing business of representation, is discriminatory and is minded to yank indolent politicians off its perch. It is therefore important that care should be taken to ensure the next representative is mentally sound and committed to the expectation of the people of Orumba North and South federal constituency. People who have no idea what the business of representing a constituency in a congregation of equals is, or who have no interest in carrying out the job, should be made to stand down their ambition. This may not be easy in a community where self-reinforcing cobweb of corruption ensures that the best hardly wear the crown.
Perhaps that is part of what informs the decision of the good people of Orumba North and South in their latest effort to search out a credible alternative in the person of Chief Chinedu Ofomata. Ofomata who is currently the financial secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state, has been deeply involved in political processes that brought development to Orumba North and South. He has played progressive politics in the last decade and has refused to stand in the way of success of contestants because of selfish interest. He has on a number of occasions dropped his political ambition for political peace in Orumba North and South federal constituency. It is an incontrovertible fact that many politicians from the constituency owe their political rise and elective positions to his grassroots support. Unarguably, Ofomata is one of the few politicians in Anambra state whose political capital has any reproach.
A loyal party man, he has served in various capacities in campaign organizations of both Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)governorship aspirant and candidate in Anambra state. In 2021, he served as the Director General of Wilson Udeh Campaign Organization. With Udeh unable to secure the party’s ticket he was asked to join the flag bearer of the party in the election. Val Ozigboh who won the party’s ticket made him Assistant director of Protocol in his Campaign Organization. Unfortunately, PDP lost to the All-Progressives’ Grand Alliance (APGA) in that keenly contested election, but not without Ofomata establishing himself as a reliable politician and grassroots mobilizer. He has kept faith with the PDP amidst mindless cross-carpeting that has made many a dime a dozen politician.
The decision by concerned Orumba North and South politicians to have him contest the federal constituency election in the coming dispensation is borne out of consideration for his political sagacity, service to community and uncommon love for the people of Orumba North and South.
But more than that, the decision to rotate the office which favours Orumba North is consistent with where Ofomata comes from. It is important to state that the rotation arrangement has ensured that there is political peace in Orumba. There is no debating the fact that respecting this arrangement has reduced strife and rancour which unrestrained contest often throws up. It may be argued that rotation constricts the political space, but pitted against the merit it pales the latter into insignificance.
Orumba North and South federal constituency has the chance to reinvent it glorious past with the decision to have Chief Ofomata contest and be supported to win the general election. The time to address the elephant in the room and save Orumba North and South from avoidable mistakes is now. The Constituency needs a voice in the Assembly that will speak when others cower in fear. Overall, getting it right with Orumba North and South, and indeed every other constituency, can only be achieved when aspirants with the right attitude to work are encouraged to lead from the front. Anything short, is not guaranteed and can fail at will.
Chuks Okoli
A political analyst writes from Umuogem Ufuma
