The emerging feature of Political Jagabanism in the East

The east of River Niger used to be the beacon of political independent-mindedness. Little wonder the land that produced the likes of the Great Zik of Africa, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo and the inimitable Ikemba Nnewi did not also produce a generation of  political sycophants kowtowing to the wishes of these iconic leaders. It was a measure of the independent mindedness of this region, that these men of timber, caliber and caterpillar were to lose elections in their home states. 

Not any more. It seems politics in the East  is beginning to develop a new twist – like my beloved home state of Delta. Now check out these developments:

a. As the year 2016 was coming to an end, Abia State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Martins Azubuike was impeached. He was immediately replaced with Hon Kennedy Njoku. 

Njoku lasted only 24 hours as Speaker and threw in his towel for "personal reasons". It was rumoured that his resignation was the unseen hand of former governor Theodore Orji who was positioning his son to take over. 

Orji however did not get his wish to make his son Speaker, but was compensated with the election of his political errand boy, Hon Chikwendu Kalu as the new Speaker of the House of Assembly. 

b. Theodore Orji himself is a Senator of the Federal Republic 

c. Some of his political stooges are members of the House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly 

d. The Governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu, takes orders from Theodore Orji. Orji was instrumental to his election. 

f. Theodore Orji's wife wields immense political power in the state. 

I ask, is Theodore Orji becoming the Ashiwaju (or Ogidigbodigbo) of Abia? 

But you would be mistaken if you think it is only in Abia you have this scenario. It seems the culture of political Jagabanism is gradually taking root in the East once again ever since Chris Ngige resisted his godfather Chris Ubah's attempt to make him sign off Anambra State treasury to his account. 

The other day, it was Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha who informed us that his wife superintends over four government Ministries in the state. This is inspite of the fact that almost all of Okorocha's "boys" are commissioners, chairmen and DGs of the state parastatals as well as members of Imo State House of Assembly. 

The same Okorocha recently attempted to illegally short-change Imo State pensioners by devising a scheme that would make them forfeit 60 percent of their accrued pension entitlements. 

What is happening oh biko nu? How come some of my friends from east of the Niger, who are normally vociferous on this kind of issues outside the east, are now mute on a matter that is right in their domain? 

Eji kwam Ogu oh!