OKIGWE SENATE: Ararume’s place in Mike Ejiogu’s weird economics

It is a big irony that while Imo state is home of some of the most highly sophisticated and intellectually fecund minds in Nigeria, the quality of public discuss in the state has so degenerated that charlatans now delve into matters they know nothing about. Take, for example, the article by one Mike Ejiogu, entitled “As Nigeria Revenue Shrinks: Why Uzodinma, Okigwe Zone Need Araraume’s Capacity And Reach At National Assembly”. Under this rather drab title, the author went into weird postulations on the Nigerian economy vis-à-vis it’s revenue profile in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wrote Economist Ejiogu in his opening paragraph: “While oil prices continued to drop and Nigeria Economy keeps shrinking, the domestic and foreign investments could no longer finance Nigerias’ budget especially the funding of capital projects”. Before I continue, witness the author’s use of both past and present participles to describe a situation that is evidently contemporaneous. He writes, “Nigeria (instead of Nigeria’s) economy “keeps shrinking”. Yet, in the next breathe, he writes: investments “could” (instead of “can”) no longer finance Nigeria’s budget especially the funding of capital project’s (instead of “projects”).

Now, see the solution proffered by this ‘economist’ to the problem even though he could not articulate it – the problem – properly: “The experience, contacts, political party and capacity of who represents every constituency, zones and states at the centre have become a very serious matter to state governments across Nigeria”. (I have reproduced the above passage verbatim from Ejiogu’s article, not minding the grammar) This is the panacea the self styled economist proffers for state governments in the Herculean task of shoring up revenue to meet their responsibilities. I ask: how would the “experience, contacts, political party and capacity” of a mere representative bring hard-earned revenue to a state government? If that is all that Mr. Ejiogu knows about fiscal governance, then the fellow, to whom his analysis is target at, the governor of our dear state, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, should be wary of emergency economists like him.

Now, witness Ejiogu’s recommendation to our dear governor in confronting the challenges of revenue-generation: “As for the case of Imo state where a senatorial bye election is (SIC) expected anytime soon, it’s an opportunity for His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to work with Dist. Senator Ifeanyi Araraume for the overall interest of the state”. The last time I checked, Senator Araraume is not an economist or revenue expert but let’s see what, in the estimation of Ejiogu, qualifies him – Senator Araraume – to be appointed Governor Uzodimma’s Economic Adviser. He writes: “Distinguished Senator Araraume left the senate in 2007 after eight fruitful years of attracting heavy projects to Okigwe which includes but not limited to roads, electricity sub stations, federal appointments to Imolite, etc; despite leaving the senate since 2007, Senator Ararume have (SIC) continued to attract and ensure the financing of over 30 NDDC roads construction within Imo state, he has influenced the federal appointments of lots of Imo state sons and daughters into lucrative boards… the projects and federal appointments influenced and attracted to Ndi Imo state by Araraume have greatly reduced pressure on the successive state governments and governors of Imo state in recent years”.

From the above, even the least discerning fellow can see that if Senator Araraume is the type of economic or revenue expert Governor Uzodimma requires, then, the entire state is in trouble. Of course, Senator Araraume is a successful business man who is highly respected and loved for his philanthropy and large heartedness. But he should worry when emergency economists like Ejiogu begin to mention his name carelessly on issues they know nothing about.

But now that it is clear that Ejiogu failed in his first recommendation of Senator Araraume as an economic expert, let us see how he fared in his main task, which is to recommend him to Governor Uzodimma as the fellow to support as the next senator for Imo North. “Considering all these facts I stated therein, I wonder why any sane person will advise our experienced governor to support the candidature of any beginner or learner to represent Okigwe/Imo state at the national assembly now, we do not need learners at this critical point of Nigeria’s existence at all, we need Senator Araraume to work closely with His Excellency, Governor Uzodimma, both in Imo state and federal government to achieve goals easily. His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, doesn’t need to spend a dime or struggle in Okigwe zone for his re-election in 2023 if he works with Dist. Senator Ifeanyi Araraume …” Ejiogu wrote.

Agreed, it is normal for candidates or aspirants and their supporters to lobby for support from strategic quarters but Ejiogu’s perfidy in this case is coming against the governor’s open avowal that, on the forth coming Imo North bye election, he has no interest in a particular candidate. Incidentally, Ejiogu’s advocacy comes amid the controversy of a purported endorsement of the Secretary to the Imo state government, Cosmos Iwu, by Governor Uzodimma and which the governor’s handlers have denied, insisting that the governor as a democrat believes that the people of Imo North should have the liberty to elect whomever they want as their next senator.

Therefore, Ejiogu’s recommendation of Senator Araraume for endorsement by the governor is at once an affront on the governor’s personal integrity and blackmail to his administration. Even more preposterous is the talk that the governor will not “need to spend a dime to get votes from Okigwe zone for his reelection in 2023” provided he works with Senator Araraume. Apart from amounting to cheapening Governor Uzodimma’s political clout, it is an affront on the entire people of Okigwe zone. How can getting votes from the zone be equated with patronizing just one fellow out of the whole lot of political juggernauts that abound in the area? Governor Uzodimma is a pragmatic politician whose pedigree attests to the fact that he has earned every political milestone he has achieved in his career; not through monetary inducements as Ejiogu insinuates. In 2023, Governor Uzodimma’s reelection will be guaranteed by his sterling performances which are already being manifested from the much he has done thus far.

Even so, Ejiogu and those who are thinking like him know too well that Governor Uzodimma is surely smarter than they are. For, even if the governor were to be interested in hand picking the next Okigwe senator, to recommend Senator Araraume to him is akin to telling him to pocket a snake. To be sure, Araraume could be an asset but he does not have the pedigree of supporting any governor in the state. Contrary to Ejiogu’s claim that the senator has jettisoned his gubernatorial ambition, even the least discerning fellow in the state would tell you that his current plot to return to the senate is just a prelude to re-launching his governorship project for 2023.

Already, grapevines have it that the senator has vowed to launch an attack on the governor if he fails to support him. Ejiogu wrote glibly about “beginners” but it is difficult to see who are the beginners among those currently in the race for the vacant Okigwe senate seat. What is known is that the people of the area have decided that their next senator will be one who does not carry any baggage; indeed one who will proceed with the same youthful alacrity and enthusiasm with which the late Senator Ben Uwajumogu served.

Sir J.C. Duru, KSM, wrote from Okwelle, Onuimo LGA, Imo state.