LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR ASIWAJU IN SOUTH SOUTH, SOUTH EAST

Dr Godpower Humphrey Egbono, an Economist and former Banker is the South South Zonal Coordinator of the Coalition of Support Groups for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (COSGABAT), one of the numerous support groups for the actualization of the presidential ambition of the APC presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is also a member of the Rivers State APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

In this exclusive chat with Towncrier’s Memoye Oghu in Port Harcourt, he revealed why the Chief Tony Okocha faction of the state PCC walked out of a meeting presided over by a non state PCC member. He also opined that inspite of the Obidient factor, the Jagaban of Nigeria politics will clinch a landslide victory in the South South and South East zones. Excerpts of the no-hold-bars interview below.

* It is 19 days to the general elections, beginning with the presidential election on February 25. How far, so far?. Your assessment?

Egbono – By my assessment all is now set for the conduct of the 2023 general elections. Just recently, the chairman of the commission reaffirmed their preparedness; in a press statement, he confirmed that there’s no going back on the conduct of the exercise. As a follow-up to their programmes on the elections, the commission recently organised a mock accreditation exercise to test run the efficacy of the BVAS machines, to ascertain its functionality and reliability. And the feedback from various participants across the country have been positive as to the confidence the public has on INEC in the conduct of the elections.

Besides, there’s been a lot of voter education and various sensitizations  to create the necessary public awareness on the rules and regulations of the exercise.

On the part of political parties, Campaign activities are in top gear, in their bid to cover reasonable grounds, to win the support of the masses as the days draw closer.

In APC, our campaign activities are being intensified with formation of Presidential Campaign Councils (PCC), responsible for organising the Presidential Campaigns at the National level and Independent Campaign Councils (ICC) at the state level. Currently, there’s a lot of programmes and activities targeted to draw massive grassroot support for our candidates, beginning from our Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to other APC candidates.

Rivers State  APC for example, under the able leadership of Chief Tony Okocha and Hon Austin Kachi, has set up various PCC/ICC committees (in conjunction with various support groups), from  state to LGAs, even wards and Units; while also  embarking on massive  grassroot mobilization  for the Presidential Campaign scheduled for 15th February, 2023. Indeed, our supporters have fully been sensitized and educated on voting processes and conduct during the elections. So, we’re ready for the elections.

* Your permutations? Give details on zonal standings of the various presidential candidates, particularly the major ones?

Egbono – My Permutation is that, among the four major contenders of the Presidential ticket, the candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the candidate to beat. This is so because, his  popularity cuts across the six Geo-Political zones in the country. Down South, his home region, the South West will definitely give him more that 90% of the votes.

In the South South and South East, his popularity and strength is growing like the harmattan fire. It’s now almost certain that many political parties, though in opposition, are likely to throw their support for  Asiwaju at the dying minutes.

The Obidient movement, irrespective of their dominance in the South East is not a threat because the  Asiwaju machine is gaining momentum, through the support of the likes of Governor Umahi of Ebonyi and Hope Uzodinma of Imo states, whose efforts have completely BATIFIED the South East.

Recall too, that the G-5 factor is gradually gaining momentum and may likely create a window to draw many supporters to APC. So, in the south generally, Asiwaju is a goal. He’ll win convincingly.

For the Northern Region, again, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a huge support base. The choice of his vice president, Senator Shettima is a major strength and the support of the Northern Governors is a key advantage that’ll  boost the victory of BAT in the North. Recall that just recently, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai reaffirmed the commitment of the Northern Governors, in supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win the February 25th election. With this position of the Northern Governors, the other two contenders, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankaso, don’t pose any threat to the victory of Asiwaju in the North. Perhaps, the only states  where sympathy votes may go to the opposition is Kano and Adamawa, the home states of the key Northern contenders. But even at that, the likes of Governor Ganduje and  other power blocks will throw their weight to weaken their support base, all  in favour  of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

* You have rated  Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC very high in South South and South East. Give details?

Egbono – Yes. In Rivers State for example, apart from the work already done  by Tony Okocha led APC, in mobilizing grassroot support for Asiwaju/Shettima, the stage is getting set for a mass movement of other  supporters for Asiwaju, from various parties. Currently, from the body language of the opposition PDP, it’s almost certain that majority of the PDP loyalists will go for Asiwaju. This is because, Asiwaju as a Southern candidate, is the preference of the PDP, due to their belief in the rotation of  power from North to the South.

In other South South and South East states too, the support for BAT is growing by the day. Presently, we’ve over 1000 support groups with structures, spread across the zones. Finally, the support of key APC chieftains and opinion leaders, across the regions is a major strength of the presidential candidate. The likes of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Comrade Adams Oshiomole of Edo; Hope Uzodinma of Imo state; Chief Tony Okocha of Rivers State; Senator Omo Agege, the deputy Senate President from Delta and Mr Timipre Sylva are currently working tirelessly to ensure their states deliver on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

* By the time table of your party, Wednesday February 15, 2023 is  confirmed  for APC Presidential Campaign in Port Harcourt. How prepared is the APC in the state?

Egbono – Yes. In Rivers State for example, apart from the work already done by Tony Okocha led APC, in mobilizing grassroot support for Asiwaju/Shettima, the stage is getting set for a mass movement of other  supporters for Asiwaju from various parties. Currently, from the body language of the opposition PDP, it’s almost certain that majority of the PDP loyalists will go for Asiwaju. This is because, Asiwaju as a Southern candidate is the preference of the PDP due to their belief in the rotation of  power  from North to the South.

In other South South and South East states too,the support for BAT is growing by the day. Presently, we’ve over 1000 support groups with structures spread across the zones. Finally, the support of key APC chieftains and opinion leaders, across the regions is a major strength of the presidential candidate. The likes of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Comrade Adams Oshiomole of Edo; Hope Uzodinma of Imo state; Chief Tony Okocha of Rivers State; Senator Omo Agege, the Deputy Senate President from Delta and Mr Timipre Sylva are currently working tirelessly to ensure their states deliver on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In terms of preparation, the party in the state is presently engaging various stakeholders and opinion leaders in preparation for the rally. The Presidential Campaign Council, saddled with the responsibility of organising the rally is working assiduously with the state Chapter (ICC) and other party chieftains to put everything in place for the success of the rally.

At the PCC meeting held recently which was presided over by Hon Gift Wokocha (Secretary of PCC Rivers State), the PCC formed a local organising committee, with Chief Tony Okocha as Chairman. Various committees have already been announced and the chairman has already applied for a venue for the rally from the state Government. We’re hopeful that approval will be given and then other activities and programmes will follow immediately. It ‘s believed that in the coming days, all the committees will swing into action.

In terms of reception, we’re to make it a carnival of some sort. We’re mobilizing all our supporters from all the 23 LGAs to give our principal a rousing welcome as he visits Rivers State and we’re hopeful that our robust engagements and consultations in and out of the state will yield the desired result. The Tinubu/Shettima Presidential rally will  be a unique one and may probably be the best.

*Is there any problem in APC Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State?

Egbono – I would say NO. However, what appears to be a major concern to the members of the PCC is the brazen fact that the Coordinator of the council in Rivers State, who’s also the Governorship Candidate, Arch Tonye Cole is displaying ineptitude and lack of courage to use the opportunity provided through the creation of the PCC to unite the party.

Secondly, it’s clear from the  antecedents of the State Coordinator that he’s not working in support of the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is because, since the formation of the PCC in October, 2022, with him as the State Coordinator, he has not deemed it expedient and necessary to convene a meeting of all members from the state, with a view to harmonizing the various sub committees, in preparation for the Presidential Campaign.

Recall that all the members appointed by the National office are key chieftains and technocrats from Rivers State APC, who have been loyal to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and have been working for the actualization of his mandate, even before he accepted to contest. It was therefore surprising to see the Coordinator jettison the good intention of our National office, in assembling key loyalists and committed Rivers indigenes to drive the campaigns for BAT.

Or how can anyone explain why Pastor Tonye Cole failed to call a meeting of all members after 5 months of the inauguration of PCC members? Also, is it not an anomaly to see the APC Governorship candidate campaign in almost  all the LGAs without carrying the posters of the Presidential flagbearer and the running mate of his party? These were some of the concerns of the concerned APC PCC members from Rivers under the able Leadership of Hon Tony Okocha.

It’ll interest you to know that, it was only on the 31st of January that a few selected members received text messages from the Coordinator for a meeting the next day. This was after the meeting of the  concerned members, where a press statement was issued, challenging  the  seeming lackadaciscal and complacent disposition towards proper coordination of the council. In the meeting of 1st February where all concerned members attended invited(although some uninvited), the group confronted Pastor Tonye Cole on the observed antecedents and demanded for a more inclusive meeting; that every member will participate. The meeting ended with an apology from the Coordinator and  a resolution for all members to attend the next  meeting on the 4th of February.

However, on the 4th, we noticed that the Coordinator was  conspicuously absent from the meeting on health grounds. To preside over the meeting, he directed a member of his Campaign Council (TCC), Hon Sokonte  to sit in for him and this we considered not right. When we raised an  observation and requested that a member of the PCC who doubles as a national officer, in the person  of Chief Tony Okocha preside over the meeting, it  was  turned down by Hon Sokonte. It was on the basis of his  refusal that the concerned members of the Rivers State PCC stage a walk out and later made a press statement to this effect.

Perhaps, what’s sounding problematic is the disagreement over who should actually lead out  in the various committees of the PCC. The concerned members of PCC are insisting for the right thing to be done.

There is no way the members appointed by the National office should  be relegated to the background and replaced with non members, who are officials of the local chapter of the party as well as TCC members.

The PCC, which is the body formed to organize the presidential campaigns must be presided over by an appointed National officer. Besides, the sub committees should be headed by the appointed members of the council and not just a selection of officials of the state executive of the party. This is crux of the matter and the leadership of the concerned members of Rivers State PCC is extending its hands of fellowship to other members of the Tonye Cole Council and the state executive to see reasons for both sides to form a synergy for proper planning of the Campaigns.

In the meantime, the PCC concerned members from Rivers State, in their emergency meeting of 4th February, presided over by Hon Gift Wokocha and National Secretary of the Rivers State PCC has already formed its Local Organising committee, with Chief Tony Okocha as Chairman.

The PCC  provides an  opportunity for the party to seek ways to resolve all perceived differences and find a common ground to move the party forward. This is exactly what Chief Tony Okocha and the concerned members seek to achieve.