2015: PDP, Araraume and the battle for Imo

Before the 2007 governorship election, the PDP conducted two governorship primaries at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Imo State Capital.While the first one was cancelled, the second one, which was upheld, was won by Araraume who was then a serving PDP Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District.  Between 1999 and 2007, Araraume was one […]

Before the 2007 governorship election, the PDP conducted two governorship primaries at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Imo State Capital.
While the first one was cancelled, the second one, which was upheld, was won by Araraume who was then a serving PDP Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District.  
Between 1999 and 2007, Araraume was one of the major pillars of PDP at the state and National levels. In Imo State, he used his enormous resources and vast contacts across Nigeria to stabilize the party and provide necessary support for the Party and the then State Government led by Chief Achike Udenwa.
At a point in Imo, Senator Araraume was paying monthly salaries and allowances to PDP executives at local and state levels. Even the rent and furniture in many PDP offices from ward to state level was provided by him all in a bid to develop the party and make it a strong platform for winning elections.
Araraume was also active on the national stage, at different times heading appeal panels for elections and reconciliation established by the party to mediate in conflicts among party members.
In Imo, he breathed life into the PDP by establishing structures in the 305 political wards in the state, which are still active running offices from chapters through the ward, local councils and state levels.
In spite of these contributions to the growth and development of the PDP in Imo State, his loyalty to the party and victory in the 2007 governorship primaries, a tiny but powerful clique, without providing concrete reasons, truncated the process. Even when the Supreme Court had declared him the authentic governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2007 election in Imo State, the clique acted in ways that virtually rendered the judgment of the Supreme Court nugatory. And in the main election, Araraume went ahead to win, but was eventually robbed of this victory after protracted legal battles which were influenced by state institutions and some powerful individuals.
It is irrefutable that the failure of PDP in subsequent elections in Imo since 2007 is traceable to the manner in which Araraume was maltreated by a Party he built and gave his best. His followers who are found in every hamlet in Imo lost interest in the PDP and made forays into other political parties in the state following the injustice their leader suffered in 2007. This singular mistake which the PDP made in Araraume’s case made the party to lose considerable followership all over the state. The beneficiaries of this development were the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) on whose platform Chief Ikedi Ohakim contested the 2007 Governorship election in Imo State.
Those who robbed Araraume of his mandate in 2007 still cannot give any reason why they took that action. The wound which their action inflicted on Imo PDP can only be healed if the injustice meted out to Araraume is redressed by the leadership of the party. This will not only assuage the feelings of Araraume’s supporters, it will also strengthen the Party and bring all those who left as a result of the events of 2007 back into the Party.
Till date, no case, criminal or civil has been brought against Araraume in any court in Nigeria, and is not under any criminal investigation.
Those who paid blackmailers to smear Araraume with all sorts of allegations have since apologized and have pledged to make amends by assisting him redress the injustice he was subjected to.
What the Imo people expect PDP to do if it wants victory in 2015, is to revisit the events of 2007 and re-assure Araraume’s supporters who have all returned to the PDP with their leader that never again will injustice be used as a tool to rob a man of the benefits of victory. This will set the stage for total reconciliation in Imo PDP and help the party regain the state which it lost by its own making.
Former President of Senate, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, once said that “if you cannot substitute, don’t delete”. Araraume remains a major rallying point in Imo politics which PDP cannot substitute. His return to PDP with Chief Udenwa, is a big breakthrough which the party has recorded in the state. Justice to Araraume will translate to justice to all those who still feel aggrieved at the manner the PDP handled Imo State Governorship in 2007.
Any attempt to sweep what happened to Araraume in 2007 under the carpet, will not augur well for the PDP in 2015. For Araraume, the future looks bright.

Dr Okoroma wrote from Mbaise, Imo State