Most people are praising Governor Peter Mbah’s new picks, especially Hon Chinedu Okwu (a.k.a Otaka). Otaka was in the new list of appointees released yesterday as the Senior Special Assistant on Social Orientation and Mobilisation.
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Otaka served one-term in the State House of Assembly before tide turned and swept Engr Magnus Ede to the office in 2023 election.
But the former lawmaker is an excellent speaker. Not only that. He is also a friendly and highly social person, with magnetic personality to go with it. While his new role seems to cast him as the right man to have the governor’s ears on matters bordering on mobilisation, the appointment clearly is Mbah’s smart move to have Otaka hold the line for him in Aninri front.
Aninri was once the very corridor of the dying People’s Democratic Party. While the Labour Party tsunami swept major political parties’ candidates away during 2023 elections, PDP won handsomely for the governor, for the state legislators, for the federal lawmakers in the same highly contested polls. But things are different today. The governor’s decision to “connect to the centre” would remain a smart step, but it’s come with its shortcomings.
Igbo people hate the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). To the entire Nigerians, APC is synonymous with anguish, pain and corruption; while Southeast voters are yet to be convinced that it wasn’t mere selfishness which draws their leaders towards the party they heartily hate.
Again, Osun governorship polls which saw APC candidate trounced in a decisive victory by ordinary Accord Party is already sending shockwaves from Abuja to even Enugu State.
While the ruling party tries to save face with numerous, often conflicting excuses for their failures in Osun, it’s clear the party stakeholders have taken note.
That’s why Otaka’s appointment is generally believed to be “a square peg in a square hole”. A grassroots organiser per excellence, the former lawmaker would no doubt bring his expertise to bear as APC continues to struggle for genuine acceptance in Aninri.
Apart from the gains, the new role tells something else about Otaka. He would be the very first person to break the jinx of Ikeoha factor to secure a respectable place based purely on merit. Before his unexpected fall, former Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is fondly called Ikeoha, was the demigod of Enugu West politics. For over two decades, he reigned supreme, suppressed talents and recklessly enthroned mediocrity over merit.
When he was put to UK prison in 2023, the hopes and aspirations of many were dashed and imprisoned too. It’s not surprising that a former deputy chairman of Aninri local government area was telling a fellow constituent last week that “we’re waiting for Ikeoha to come back” before he could start living again.