A lie told repeatedly has the tendency of assuming the position of truth. Ordinarily we would have waved this issue aside but when you continuously hurt someone by selling lies to the unsuspecting public, it becomes imperative to set the record straight. what happened in the 2015 general elections should have been in the past but you cannot talk about the future without having a touch with the past. I have read with dismay, yesterday, an online publication made by IfeanyiCy Njoku, where he alleged that SamDaddy betrayed Ihedioha and PDP by not ensuring that PDP emerged victorious in Ikeduru in 2015. For clarity sake, Senator Samdaddy has never left PDP since his sojourn to mainstream politics in 2003 when he first became the Transition Committee Chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area.
In 2015 general elections, Sen Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu won 9/9 Local Government Areas of Owerri zone to become a senator. For someone to claim that Ihedioha made Sen. Samuel Anyanwu a senator suggests lack of political knowledge. How did Ihedioha make Senator Samuel Anyanwu a Senator?
Let’s assume Ihedioha “delivered” the three Mbaise Local government Areas for Sam daddy, is that enough to win the senatorial seat considering the fact that Owerri zone still has 6 more local government? The truth of the matter is that people voted massively for PDP because of former President Goodluck Jonathan and that was why PDP won 3 senatorial seats in Imo, 8/10 House of Representatives seats in Imo. When Jonathan lost the presidential election, the morale of people, especially PDP supporters, became low, the mobilisation for the gubernatorial elections became poor and affected PDP negatively. If truly Ihedioha has the powers of making one a senator,why did PDP lose 2011 Owerri senatorial seat to an APGA candidate, Sen Chris Anyanwu? why didn’t Ihedioha deliver Kema Chikwe, his preferred candidate, who was the PDP candidate?
The issue of PDP losing Ikeduru to APC in the 2015 guber election does not pose a question to the commitment and dedication of Sen Samuel Anyanwu. Even after declaring SamDaddy as the winner of the Imo East senatorial election, he was still the House of Assembly member of Ikeduru, thus coming behind Rt Hon Bethel Amadi who was representing Mbaitoli and Ikeduru Local Government Areas at the Green Chamber. Why didn’t Bethel Amadi, who was a gubernatorial aspirant in 2015 “deliver” PDP in these two local governments he represented for 12yrs? Why must the blame be on SamDaddy who was only a house of Assembly member for only Ikeduru? Today, Hon Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi who is the house of Representatives member representing Owerri federal constituency is a friend to Rt.Hon Emeka Ihedioha. Nobody from the camp of Ihedioha sees him as a betrayal, even when he failed to ‘deliver’ Ihedioha in the three local government areas he represents and won he reelection in 2015. Onyewuchi lost his Owerri North, Owerri Municipal and Owerri West Local Government Areas to APC yet Ihedioha sees him a true friend. Why is he (Ihedioha) now supporting Onyewuchi for senate knowing fully well that the man in question did not win any local government for PDP even as an incumbent?
Even in Okigwe zone, the day Senator Samdaddy won his senatorial seat was the same day Senator Nneji Athan Achonu won his senate seat too, but PDP lost in Athan’s native Ehime Mbano local government and indeed the entire Okigwe zone except Isiala Mbano where PDP won with slim margin. Why is Athan not being considered a betrayal? Why did he not deliver Ehime Mbano to PDP? Even Hon. Obinna Onwubuariri who has openly endorsed Emeka Ihedioha for governor won his seat on same day SamDaddy won his but PDP lost two of the three local governments he is representing. Does it also mean Obinna worked against PDP? Why the hatred on SamDaddy? Even Obowo where the Director General of Emeka Ihedioha campaign Organization comes from, PDP also lost there, He also betrayed the Party right?
Orlu zone is not left out, there are four House of Representatives seats in the zone, PDP won three and of course the senatorial seat but lost the gubernatorial election in the zone, it was only in Ohaji-Egbema that PDP won with slim margin. Hon. Jones Onyereri who was an incumbent house member could not deliver the 4 local governments he represents for PDP but Ihedioha is supporting him for Senate.
Why are they friends today since he couldn’t win any local government for him? Why is he not being called a betrayal? Jerry Alagbaoso won his House of Representatives seat and was also an incumbent but PDP lost the three local governments he is representing. Why is Alagbaoso a saint and SamDaddy a devil? Even senator Hope Uzodimma couldn’t deliver his own local government for PDP. Let us not forget that Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha’s running mate, Hon. Chuma Nnaji lost his own local government area to APC, did Chuma Nnaji also betray Ihedioha or the party to the detriment of his dream/ambition of becoming the deputy governor? Today they still whine and dine together, they are still friends politically, but SamDaddy is to be seen as the evil soul in PDP because PDP lost Ikeduru.
Having reeled out the facts above it is now clear to everyone that in 2015 SamDaddy never betrayed the Imo PDP, what happened in 2015 was that PDP parraded many unpopular House of Assembly candidates. For instance in my local government area Ihitte/Uboma, Mr Harold Wilson could have been a better candidate to the person that lost that election who was the PDP candidate. Same scenario played out in Ikeduru, Okigwe and many other local government councils. Isiala Mbano has Lady Joy Mbawuike as the House of Assembly candidate. She enjoyed popularity in Isiala Mbano and it was one of the reasons why PDP won the guber election in the LGA.
People should stop telling lies, tell People the truth always, if they want to vote you they will. The same camp spreading lies has also said SamDaddy supported Sheriff in the PDP chairmanahip tussle and we ask how? The result sheet of elected exco members in Owerri was personally signed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Because he was busy at the National Assembly and didn’t have time to be in the media also does not mean he was seating on the fence, the same camp brought the propaganda of oath taking which also indicted the State chairmen Barr. Charles Ezekwem. All these were in a desperate move to discredit the distinguished senator who has enjoyed massive support, goodwill and endorsement since he declared for governorship in March this year.
People should start taking responsibilities for their misfortune and stop blaming people for their woes, 2015 governorship lost for PDP had more to do with the candidate than the party leaders.
Written by Vitus Nduji
