By Ezeakukwu Emmanuel Nsoedo
As the governor and leader of APGA in Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo (Odenigbo) needed to stem the proliferation of contestants within his party to finish Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah’s tenure.
It is important to have a handle on the process, less the proliferation of aspirants could lead to potential dis-affection among his teeming supporters and admirers, hence, his chances of getting reelected as governor. The governor must note that nothing weakens a political party, more like intra party squabbles.
Professor Soludo should learn from what has become of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past couple of years where intractable factionalization has become the order of the day. APGA had gone through a mini factionalization and may yet be out of the wood, yet.
The late Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah’s memory evokes a true passion for the teeming supporters who caught across party line. There is a belief that his supporters and secret admirers want the governor to be sensitive to Senator Ubah’s memory, allowing aspirants from within Nnewi to vie for the seat.
But in doing so, the Governor needs to be purposeful in promoting a well-grounded person with impeccable demeanor and qualification with backing from the grassroots and stakeholders.
The late Senator Ubah was a towering persona with an unmatched charisma. It will be impossible to replicate such a beast of nature in politics in the short term. Therefore, the governor should encourage his party to select a smart and ethical person who has proven himself or herself in a different arena.
By the governor towing such line of action would likely dispel the often-rumoured notion that he did not care for Nnewi people. True or false, politics is a game of perception. Therefore, it is always encouraging to nip such belief out of the electorate consciousness.