Abia guber: Those who want to succeed Orji

Barely two years to the next governorship election in Abia State, there is no gainsaying that many politicians are already making strategic moves to succeed the incumbent governor, Theodore A Orji whose tenure will expire in 2015.
Even though many of the aspirants are reluctant to openly pronounce their ambitions, the state is a beehive of underground political activities ahead of the next general election. But among critical observers, the question is- Who succeeds T.A Orji in 2015?
Before now, the thinking in many quarters is that people of the Ngwa extraction should for reasons of equity, be allowed to have a shot at the coveted seat, but as the coast gets clearer, there is also another school of thought that believes that the race should be narrowed to only Ngwa people from the South Senatorial district.

The argument among a reasonable percentage of politicians in the state is that if proper zoning should be followed in 2015 with regard to the governorship seat of the state, no Ngwa man from T.A Orji’s area, Abia Central Senatorial zone should throw his hat into the ring. However, despite the possibility of narrowing the seat to a particular Senatorial zone, there are three power blocs that would determine who eventually gets the ticket.
They include the presidency, Gov. T.A Orji and the former governor of the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. While the first two may appear to be enjoying some political advantage because of the incumbency factor, there is no doubt that Dr Orji Kalu has become a major force since his recent re-launch of his political machinery and structure.
A school of thought believes that even though Chief T.A Orji has influence as the incumbent governor, he still cannot boast of a sustainable political structure that can last beyond 2015.
But whatever the permutations ahead of the 2015 governorship election, at the last count, over 12 persons are known to be interested in the coveted seat. While some have not made their interest public, others have already started to test the political waters.
The roll calls include: Eric Acho Nwakanma Little was known of him before 1999 when he was elected into the Abia State House of Assembly to represent Obingwa East constituency. He rose to become the Speaker of the House when Prince Christopher Enweremmadu vacated the seat. He has served as deputy governor of the state on two occasions.
As providence may have it, when the former deputy governor of Abia State, Dr. Chima Nwafor was removed from office under Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, and Nwakanma was chosen to replace him.  Nwakanma again was called in to replace comrade Chris Akomas as deputy governor when the later quarreled with his principal, T.A Orji. He equally contested the Abia South Senatorial seat on the platform of the PPA in 2007, but lost to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Ahead of 2015, Nwakanma is speculated to have interest in the governorship seat of the state, but it is not clear under which camp he would actualize his dream. But his supporters argue that zoning favours him having come from Obingwa Local Government in Abia South Senatorial zone. Chris Akomas He is from Nenu in Obingwa Local Government of the state. Akomas served as Commissioner for Commerce and Industries under Orji Uzor Kalu before he became the deputy governor of the state in a joint ticket with T. A Orji after the 2007 election.
He fell out with his boss and contested the 2011 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Progressive People Alliance (PPA), but lost to the incumbent governor. Since then, not much has been heard about him politically but appears to have been operating from behind. Akomas is said to be nursing the ambition of becoming the governor of the state in 2015 and he also has zoning to his advantage.
Many believe he may be coming from the Kalu camp.
Reagan Ufomba
Ufomba was Special Assistant (SA) to former Governor Orji Kalu.  During the 2011 election, he signified his intention to contest the governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but like so many people, he lost to the incumbent governor. To realize his ambition, Ufomba left the PDP for APGA where he ran on the party’s ticket in the 2011 governorship election, but lost.
Since then he has not given up the hope of becoming the governor of the state and he may be as good as having signified interest judging from the rally he recently held in Aba.
But Ufomba’s albatross may be from two planks.  First, he is from Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government which falls under Abia Central, the same as the present governor.
Again, he belongs to the Governor Peter Obi/Maxi Okwu faction of APGA while the party structure in the state under the chairman, Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu is pitching tent with the Chief Victor Umeh faction.
Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu 
She is the only woman from Abia State that presently appears to be showing interest in the governorship position of the state. Going by people’s attestation, Nwaogu who dusted two men on her way to the red carpet chamber is the best in terms of representation among the three Senators from the state.
She contested and won election into the House of Representatives in 2003 from where she moved to the Senate in 2007 to represent Abia Central.
Before the new zoning arrangement based on Senatorial districts being canvassed in some quarters, Nwaogu was a sure candidate. There were permutations in some quarters before now that Governor Orji may contest the Abia Central Senatorial seat in 2015 and concede his seat to her. The gender issue and her place of origin if the new zoning formula being canvassed succeeds may be a minus for the Senator’s ambition. Friday N. Nwosu He is a lawyer and human rights activist.
He has been a critic of successive governments in the state. Nwosu went underground and he appears a green horn in Abia politics but late last year, the rumour mill had it that he would be in the race for the governorship seat in 2015. The speculation was confirmed recently when Nwosu told a gathering that he has made up his mind to have a slot at the coveted seat.
Nwosu is said to be the anointed son of the presidency which is said to have directed T.A Orji to give him (Nwosu) the necessary support. The presidency’s interest in Nwosu, it was gathered, stemmed from his closeness to the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Seriake Dickson.
Dickson and Nwosu were said to have joined the police force together and left at the same time to read law and were at the Law School together. Dickson reportedly made a strong case for his friend to the presidency from where he is said to be enjoying the best of support from. What 2015 may hold for Nwosu manifested recently when he gave out his daughter in marriage.
His country home of Mgboko Umuoria in Obingwa Local Government was literarily shut down as both Governors Orji and Dickson of Abia and Bayelsa states were in attendance.  Apart from the perceived support from the presidency, what will be going for Nwosu is the fact that he does not belong to any political camp in the state and many people believe that it is what Abia needs at this point in time. Iheanacho Okezie
Prior to the 2007 general election, Iheanacho Okezie was little known in the politics of Abia State. Okezie is believed to be having interest in the governorship seat in 2015, but despite his coming from Akpaa Mbato in Obingwa Local Government which is in Abia South, his political stature has since dwindled owing to his acceptance of a commissionership appointment by Governor Orji. Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe Enyinnaya Abaribe before becoming a two time Senator, came to political limelight when he was elected as deputy governor under Kalu in 1999.
He contested the governorship election against his former boss in 2003 on the platform of the then ANPP but lost. Since then, he has not hidden his ambition to govern the state.  He wanted to contest the 2007 governorship election when he crossed over to PDP, but was pressurized to step down by the party hierarchy who preferred Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.
There is no doubt that Abaribe from Abia South may be warming up for the 2015 governorship election but many odds are definitely against him. Checks revealed that he is not much at home with the people of his Senatorial district.
Uzo Azubuike        
Uzo Azubuike who represents Aba North and Aba South in the House of Representatives was a state legislator for eight years.  Speculations are rife that Azubuike might be the joker of Governor Orji in 2015 judging by the former’s closeness to the latter’s son who presently wields enormous influence in the politics of Abia State.  If the advocates of zoning based on Senatorial district should have their way, Azubuike may make do with going back to the National Assembly in 2015 as he is from Umuosu Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government which is in Abia Central.
Ikechi Emenike
He is from the same Umuahia as the incumbent governor although he is of the Ohuhu extraction. In 2003, Emenike contested the Abia governorship election under ANPP but lost.  Emenike, with his political structure within the PDP gave Governor Orji the fight of his life during the 2011 primaries and could have coasted home with victory if not for some high wire politics. Some believe that the Ohuhu-born politician has not given up his ambition and may want to try his luck again in 2015.
Stanley Ohajuruka
He is a former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and also a former member of the House of Representatives. Ohajuruka was an aspirant under the PPA for the governorship election before he jumped ship and contested the 2011 governorship election under the Labour Party (LP) and lost to the incumbent governor.
He is also believed to be interested in the governorship seat.
Emeka Wogu
If what people are told about Emeka Wogu, the Minister of Labour and Productivity concerning his closeness to the presidency is anything to go by, the Aba-born lawyer-turned politician could be said to have already clinched the governorship seat.  He has been in the political limelight since 1999 having represented Abia State in the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) before he was appointed a Minister by the late Umaru Yar’Adua administration.
Prince Paul Ikonne
Paul Ikonne who is a prince from Ngwaland is the son of Eze Isaac Ajuonu Ikonne of Osusu, Aba.  Before 2011, he served the Abia State government as a special assistant under Kalu before he was appointed a commissioner in the early years of the first tenure of the incumbent governor. He is also interested in the race.