Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, PhD
From 1999 till date, the world used to look forward to Party congresses in Imo State, as it would always provide interesting discourses on political tussles by contending politicians and power blocs in Imo State. It used to be a good chance for political merchants from within and outside Imo State to maximise their nuisance values, as different politicians from Imo would move bags of money and caches or arms and even amulets in a bid to hijack the Party’s structure from the sitting governor. The national secretariat of the Party in power used to be bombarded with complaints and petitions, even major opposition Parties have not really had a smooth party Congress that is without controversies like the one the APC in Imo State just concluded.
From 1999 till date, Imo State has not managed a very successful and non-contentious Party congresses like this recently concluded Congress, which produced known Party technocrats and organisers at various levels as officials from the ward, LGA and State level. This is to the credit of the leader of the Party in the State who is a very methodical leader and manager of both human and material resources.
Leadership is about taking responsibilities, not about taking up titles or running after validation. A good leader takes steps to build trust, encourage accountability and cultivate support from even the most unlikely places and people. The strength of a leader is in results realised from his style of leadership rather than from the noise of sycophancy.
From Kashim formula to Onongono/Abuja fiasco up to the Coalition battle of 2019, Imo State, since 1998, has always had very contentious, even attritional internal Party contests, especially within the ruling Party. This is more as a result of the men at the helm than the culture of our people. The failure to build consensus among key Party leaders and the absence of a trained and tempered leadership temperament that would ensure that everyone, or at least an overwhelming majority of the stakeholders and leaders align in ensuring that the right choices that would serve the best interests of the Party are made rather than the usual egocentrism of alienating critical stakeholders.
I am sure that a lot of people from across Nigeria were waiting to exploit the usual crisis that was unavoidable in past Party congresses in the State, but the governor ensured that such people were disappointed by working harmoniously with all genuine interests and accommodating various concerns in ensuring that Party set up, in a very democratic and transparent manner, a leadership, from the grassroots to the State level, that everyone, or at least, a majority of the Party’s members shall be proud of.
A cursory review of the roll call at the successfully concluded congresses would leave you with no doubt that the governor achieved over 90% consensus from critical leaders in the State. From former governors to deputy governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly, former and serving principal officers of the National and State legislatures, former and serving members of the Party’s National Executive and National Working Committee, etc. Every strata of the Party’s leadership and stakeholding class was prominently represented and they all aligned with the decision of the Party in the State.
I am sure that after reviewing the performance of the various States in the Federation, the Party’s National Working Committee would consider recognising Imo State with a Star performance award in Party organisation, leadership and unity. There is rarely any other State in the country that can boast of a better organised and less rancorous Party congresses as Imo State.
