Chief Basil Maduka, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State contested the controversial governorship election ticket of the party in the state, dragged the matter to the Supreme Court. With the Court matter now rested in favour of Athan Nneji Achonu, the oil mogul cum technocrat and the LP governorship candidate in the state, Maduka has vowed to give his all for the success of his party and its candidate. TONY EZIMAKOR brings the excerpts:
Three primaries were held in Imo State for the governorship election, which of the factions conducted your primary?
There was an exco in LP Imo State. Because of what happened in the presidential election, the party by its wisdom, led by Barrister Julius Abure dissolved the state exco, when they saw that the existing exco then had overstayed their tenure. They needed to conduct the primaries. The leadership of Abure dissolved the current exco as at that time and set up another Interim State Working Committee. The last exco didn’t hand over, they took off. But two weeks after that, there was a court injunction. The party office was sealed. We were told that some four Hilux came from the government house to seal off the party. The court injunction said the status quo should remain. But there is exco sworn in already, their names were in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). That was part of the genesis of the problem. It was Abure who signed the appointment letter for them. So, because of that court injunction, the party by its wisdom called stakeholders to Abuja, to fashion the way forward? Along the line, the party by its wisdom set up a committee to handle the primary election. Their mandate was to revalidate the party’s register, conduct primaries and do Congress within those three months. So these people that are already existing said they had to conduct the primaries since their tenure hadn’t expired. The committee set up by Abure was also there, that was how we had two parallel primaries. These people who were already existing produced me as the authentic candidate because the matter was still in court. The committee set up by Abure produced another candidate. So let the court interpret who the authentic candidate should be. It was much later we began to hear there is someone called Lamidi Apapa. It was in the process of the court we heard there was another person who claimed that he did primaries. We asked him how come? On which structure, did the primary hold? That was how we started hearing about Apapa. So, since the matter is in court, let the court interpret. The State Working Committee set up by Abure. This other one, there is a committee set up by him also to supervise this as a result of that court injunction because the party is always supreme. Any primary of that nature, the national leadership of the party must come to supervise, it was in this process we now heard there was somebody else who came and did his own on Sunday, being 16th, though we knew that INEC doesn’t work on Sundays.
You took the party to court and the Supreme Court has already decided. And the party is saying that you are no longer a member of the party. What is your position now in the Labour Party?
Nobody can say that I am not known in Imo State. When some people want to be relevant through social media or wherever they can say anything. Somebody who formed a party, financed a party till after the presidential election, somebody is telling you that you’re not known in the party, that is to tell you that something is happening somewhere. As a result of those two primaries, these people now produced me as a candidate. The committee also had a candidate — Senator Achonu. That’s the two known candidates. This one was a committee, this one was the people already in court. So we had to go to court so that the court could interpret who the authentic candidate was. At the end of the day, the Supreme Court in its wisdom decided that Athan is the candidate. You can’t challenge the law and when a matter has gone to the Supreme Court, you have to accept it because there’s a law. Today, we will make sure that our party wins. Because I’ve invested a lot. I’m the highest investor, so my party in Imo has to win. Nobody from Imo can tell you that Basil Maduka is not known.
Let me show you the structure I set up in Imo with regards Labour Party. I set up and I am also the major financier of what we called The Big Tent. The Big Tent has 305 wards funded by me. Obi/ Datti movement — there are so many support groups, as I said today, 55 support groups (Obi/Datti). I merged them together and I funded them. Each of them has a structure in 305 wards. There is the Basil Maduka Movement, there is the Restoration Agenda. All these people have structures in 305 wards. So you can imagine who owns the party in Imo. Yes! The Supreme Court has taken its decision. It is these crowds which will determine who wins the governorship of Imo State.
What was the role Peter Obi played in this crisis and categorically tell us, are you working for a Labour Party in Imo in this election?
As we speak, the Supreme Court matter just ended and I have addressed all my supporters on Saturday. I called all the unit heads, the 55 support groups, Basil Maduka Movements and the State Exco, I addressed them on Saturday. That was my first outing because the election is three weeks away. Again as you said, our principal, Mr. Peter Obi, our presidential candidate, I followed him during his campaign and in his own wisdom, when the matter was in court, he said anyhow the party goes, he’s going to support whoever wins. But as at that time, Senator Achonu’s name was already with INEC, not yet removed. So he came and flagged off the campaign because a party must produce a candidate. Since the Supreme Court has ended it, we have a candidate, definitely our candidate will fly.
Will you support the candidate of the Labour Party?
Yes, on Friday and Saturday, we had our meetings, when I called everybody that the Supreme Court was over and I had to tell them the way everything played out. That everyone should remain steadfast and our party is the party to beat in Imo. I promised to call them again and give them direction. I will ask our candidate what kind of support he needs. Is it financial support or the entire crowd because our party must win? Our party in Imo must win because I have invested a lot. Where will I go?
Going by the legal battle that has threatened your party’s cohesion in Imo State, what are the chances of the Labour Party winning this governorship election?
I think I have the majority of followers because when I left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I had to collapse almost 60% of PDP supporters to the Labour Party. They are trying to hear from me. I’ve shown you the number of followers I have. We are no more in court, the party is no more in court. So we have a candidate today, Senator Athan Achonu.
Are you not threatened by the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodinma?
Imo State is not an APC State and they know the person they followed, Mr. Basil Maduka. With all the entire structure, this party must win. That’s the only thing they need from me. The first outing I had was that Saturday. I told them how everything went. Yes, the incumbent is there, but what has the incumbent done? Moreover, his (Uzodimma) zone has been in power for over 20 years. Orlu zone has been in power for 20 years. Owerri zone and Okigwe are being marginalized. Okigwe did only a tenure, during the time of Ohakim. That is where Senator Achonu came from. They had only one chance. Owerri zone did only seven months when Hon. Emeka Ihedioha had only seven months. So the Imolites today are asking for a power shift to the Owerri zone or Okigwe zone. Our candidate who is from Okigwe zone stands a better chance. If the incumbent is given another opportunity that will make it 24 years, that’s the biggest cheat.
Because of insecurity in the state, don’t you think the forthcoming election might witness voter apathy?
We will rally our supporters against voters’ apathy during the election. The insecurity you talk about in Imo State is human made. I said this because in governance what is most important is how your people feel. You need to know their problem and agitation. When thousands of youths are roaming the streets without jobs, they are jobless, there must be agitation. So, if the incumbent governor will now look inward and say why is it so? I think Uzodimma should have been in a better position to make sure that our people are happy.
