Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s “History Beckons and I will not be Silent (Part 1)”: A paradox of the dirty hand

By Amb. Chibuzo Okereke

Again, I want to reiterate my earlier position that politics is not about emotions nor is it about imaginary expectations buried in perceived affinity. No, though emotions are some of the vital ingredients that fuel political support, especially at fanship levels. Politics is about negotiations, interests, benefits, compromises, superior arguments and determination in the strategic mobilization that transcends traditional methods.

Politics is a distinct profession and in a political season, like we have today, we should expect politics to be at play whether for good or evil.

Let’s be clear, Prof. Soludo and Gov Peter Obi have been political rivals for over a decade now. If you recall the popular campaign slogan of “Dubai, Taiwan, Japan” ahead of the Anambra Governorship election in 2010. It was engineered by Prof Soludo who at the time was the elaborate PDP Governorship candidate of the PDP but Gov. Peter who was then seeking a second term in office defeated Professor roundly.

In 2013, Gov. Soludo abandoned the PDP and joined the APGA ostensibly to take over from Gov. Peter Obi in 2014, but Gov. Obi chose former Gov Obiano instead. Of course, as Governor, the then President Goodluck Jonathan enjoyed a good relationship with Gov. Obi. After Peter Obi handed over power in Anambra, a high-powered delegation led by the then Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and made up of the high and mighty in the PDP, especially from the South-East and the national body visited Gov Peter Obi in Awka to plead with him to join the PDP to mainstream the Igbos in national politics and help the Igbos gain their acclaimed lost glory nationally. Gov. Obi who had vowed to build a formidable APGA in the South-East saw reasons with these great Igbo sons and daughters and accepted to join the PDP to fulfil the same mission Prof is calling for now.

Please follow this background, because it is very important. While this was going on, the then Gov of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Okorocha said he had a dream and foresight to mainstream the Igbos in National Politics, he, therefore, negotiated with Sen. Tinubu’s men and took a faction of APGA to join the then ACN, ANPP, CPC to form what became APC today. Did Sen. Rochas despite his foresight and decision to take Ndi Igbo into the formation of APC achieve the purpose? The regrettable answer is no.

Under President Obasanjo, our Professor was one of the beneficiaries of the national political largesse meant for Ndi Igbo, leading to his appointment as the CBN Governor. A lot of Ndi Igbo served under President Obasanjo’s administration as compensation for the region’s massive support of the PDP. But the services of these men and women mostly benefited them as individuals, selves, their families and friends while the region continued to suffer insecurity, lack of basic infrastructure, erosion and degradation etc.

Ahead of the 2011 general election and at the emergence of former President Goodluck Jonathan (I still love Jonathan by the way) these same persons ensured that Goodluck Jonathan’s name received official baptism with the addition of Ebele and Azikiwe. They said he was the son of Azikiwe and that he looked like the great Ziks of Africa. All these and more were done to get the Igbos to see Dr Jonathan as an Igbo man. (Jonathan meant well though).

I therefore carefully read all the lines in Prof’s self-serving and political season article and laid the above background to establish my position. I have concluded that he is speaking for himself and also contradicting the ideology he professes. On one hand, the Prof said social cultural groups’ endorsement doesn’t matter and they do not have votes. On another breath, he calls on Ohaneze which is a social group that doesn’t have votes as he claimed to lead Ndi Igbo political alliance talks with those he called the leading candidates. This is an ideological contradiction that can only emerge from the self-serving interest of an individual or small group of people.

For me, this is democracy and politics is a competitive contestation. The Professor has chosen who to work for and has also accepted another job to openly be undermining another Democratic candidate undemocratically.

I also believe the Professor is taking his anger to the wrong person. In 2010/2011 and 2014/2015 those people that are called social media and urban mob today were celebrated by both President Jonathan and President Buhari for helping them to win. In 202/2023, these people have become a mob for transferring their organic support to another candidate they believe represents their future. This is not how democracy work.

Peter Obi is not in charge of those who may have insulted the Professor or otherwise on social media. You can’t blame Obi directly for that. Every political season comes with its political ecosystem that may favour or not favour you or those you support. Strategic and experienced candidates like Sen. Tinubu already understood that he doesn’t have social media strong base like President Buhari did in 2015 and/or President Jonathan in 2011 and have already started adopting new strategies to run their campaigns and engage the people.

All the things Professor is prescribing today have been done in the 16 years of PDP but only individuals enjoyed it instead of the region. As I have stated earlier, more recently both Peter Obi adopted the same strategy by moving to the PDP in 2014 and Sen. Rochas Okorocha outside the alliances formed by Late Ikemba Ojukwu himself with Buhari and late erudite Sen. Chuba Okadigbo. All these have been done in the past. Did it work for the region?

If Sen. Tinubu survived in the South West and his actions didn’t bring down the South-West politically why can’t Gov. Obi succeed? If President Buhari survived in opposition for 15 good years and his actions didn’t stop the political fortunes of the North-West, why can’t Gov. Obi survive?

Gov. Obi has made it abundantly clear that he is not running as an Igbo candidate but as a Nigerian. That is Gov. Obi’s message and that is his democratic position. He has said that this is the time and turn of the Nigerian people.

Whether he wins or loses is all about democracy and he can try again next time or the Professor can come and try. As the scriptures say, Paul planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase. President Obama didn’t just emerge, he had forerunners who made sacrifices and even paid the ultimate price.

If Gov. Obi doesn’t win, it won’t be new, he has only exercised his democratic rights just like the Professor did to become the Governor after waiting for 12 good years.

Gov. Obi is a lion, Professor Soludo is a Lion and I am not just a Lion but one time Lion 001. Our creed is to seek the truth, teach the truth and preserve the truth. No man should become the God of his fellow man for God is God.

Amb. Chibuzo Okereke, a political affairs analyst writes from
Abuja, Nigeria.