By: Sam Onwuemeodo.

 If l am given the onerous task of  drawing the list of the  "bad boys"  in lmo politics, dead or alive,  at least from 1999, if l do not give Hope Uzodinma number three , l would give him number four or five. Among the living. Among the dead, Arthur Nzeribe would take the first seat. Those who know or had known the rough edges of lmo politics. And also the smooth edges. The track road of lmo politics.  Those who could meander to score.

When l read or saw members of Uzodinma's  Party,  APC, at all levels in the State, endorsing him for second term or lmo Elders doing same,  and  individuals struggling or scrambling over who would endorse him first , l do not groan . l do not envy them. There's nothing wrong or strange or new,  with such political engagement or venture . That's part of the politics of our time. Tool for politicians to enlist or enrol for tally or tag.  To get themselves counted among the numbers. 

lt didn't start with Uzodinma and would not end with him. Achike Udenwa also had motley of endorsements for second term in 2003. Hon. Ignatius Umunna, Udenwa's Secretary to the State Government,  was the coordinator of the endorsements. Yet , the whole endorsements didn't make Udenwa to have easy or smooth victory in the election. He survived the 2003 gubernatorial election  by the GRACE of God. Uzodinma was part of the political torture. Using Alliance for Democracy,  AD. 

Ikedi Ohakim equally enjoyed avalanche of endorsements for second term in 2007, by his PDP people .  By groups and individuals. Men like Tony Black Nduka , ALGON Chairman then, was in the forefront. But in the case of  Ohakim, those endorsements didn't yield any fruit. They could not translate or transmit into votes or into securing second term for him.  The endorsements became balderdash. Mere tomfooleries. Ohakim didn't get  second term with all the endorsements. He lost out. 

Rochas Okorocha had his own harvest of  endorsements in 2015 for second tenure. It was something else. And if the whole endorsements had produced the expected results,  there would not have been any need for supplementary poll. Okorocha's second term came with hard labour. Which means, most of those involved in the  endorsements were not real. They were counterfeits. Black markets. Adulterated fuel. 

Even in 2019, groups, party members at the State,  local government and ward levels had endorsed Uche Nwosu in quantum for governor. Imo elders then  also had their own endorsements for the young man. lt was endorsement galore. At a stage, it became a fun. Somewhat funny. Unu agakwala for your own  endorsement. Have you people gone for your own endorsement? 

At the end of the day,  the whole endorsements became of no effect . And most of those who were behind  the endorsement campaigns or rallies were the first to abandon Nwosu even before the  end of his case at the Supreme Court. His deputy in the election  left even when his petition was being heard at the tribunal. 

All those who led Okorocha's endorsements  in 2015 for second tenure  were the first to leave him,  including those who described him as their second god after the main God. 

ln the case of Uche Nwosu, one of the pilots of the endorsement aircraft left before the aircraft could land. He was also the one who told Okorocha to show them the man and go to sleep. He had left few hours after the man was  unveiled. Most of those behind "who say men no dey" chorus,  left before the chips were down. That's  our politicians . Their modus operandi. Their modus vivendi. 

With the way the lgbo politicians had celebrated and adored lkemba  Odimegwu Ojukwu when he  ventured into politics ,  l had thought that, they would vote for him in millions when he ran for the office of President in 2003 and 2007 respectively,  on the ticket of APGA.

That was not the case. ln the 2007 Presidential election for instance,  Ojukwu got  155, 947 votes only  . ln other words, they had asked if what they would eat in their politics was lkemba Ojukwu. l am painting a picture here. 

It would therefore be astonishing to see Uzodinma, with his experience in lmo politics,  taking these endorsements serious. Or banking on these endorsements for his second term. It is even more interesting to note or observe that, some names appeared in about five or more  endorsement papers. lt's a business. A business Uzodinma should  know better.  

If Uzodinma decides to say let all those whose names are in the endorsement documents attach their booths' results for the February 25 and March 18, 2023 elections, most of them would,  on their own, withdraw from the endorsement lists. 

Or, ask for the booth results of 2019 governorship election,  they would all recoil. I strongly believe that Uzodinma knows all these. He does not need to be informed. If before the November guber poll , these endorsement apostles begin to see or have the feeling or idea  that the result of the election may go in favour of either the Labour Party candidate or the  PDP candidate,  Uzodinma himself would be shocked at  the  speed with which they would switch over. And you begin to see disclaimers over  the endorsement lists. 

Endorsement is part of the game, especially in lmo.  A very strong sycophantic tool. Like I had said,  all the governors before Uzodinma enjoyed it. Uzodinma is enjoying it today. If Emeka lhedioha had stayed, he would have  equally enjoyed same. Our politicians do it for  personal political reasons. For  their own political gains and not because they love the man they have endorsed. 

Politicians do not like being idle. They like to keep busy. To be busy at all times.  I had done a piece captioned " WHEN WAS OHAKIM'S LAST BIRTHDAY?". Ohakim could not get second term. His tenure, therefore,   ended in May, 2011. His birthday was in August 2011. Only two months gap.   And l had expected to see advertorials congratulating him on his birthday, but l could not see any. Either in any of the national newspapers or the ones based in Owerri. I then came up with the piece to invoke or elicit deep thoughts. 

Politicians are always  on transit. Their address is , " to whom it may concern". They have no fixed address. You get it wrong when they sing your praises and you take them serious. They have no long time investment or interest in you. Their investment that comes in form of endorsement or praise singing is always aimed at attracting political favours.   What they get and  without delay too . 

The speed with which some of  Okorocha's men and women left,  just on hearing that he has settled with Uzodinma, even without confirmation,  speaks volumes. The embarrassing speed with which lhedioha's people are also joining APC few weeks after announcing his withdrawal from the November guber race , would only tell you that they have been waiting for a time like this. Waiting for such opportunity. Some of those who assisted Samuel Anyanwu to confront lhedioha have equally abandoned him and his guber ticket to join Uzodinma and his APC. Which means,  abinitio, they never believed in what they were doing. They were just pretending.  This is where we are today. 

Some of them who failed to secure tickets in the primaries and those who failed the election proper, had also defected to APC. You then ask yourself,  of what political value is their defection?. You could not secure ticket. You could not deliver yourself in the main election and you have defected to do what?. To add value to APC or to  Uzodinma you were not able to add to yourself and your politics?. l do not understand. 

Uzodinma,  with his experience in lmo politics knows that these endorsements or defections do not or won't determine his fate in November. What would determine his fate is his working hard and convincing lmo people to vote for him for second term. And most of those who would  vote on the election day do not know what's called endorsement. 

So, there is nothing awkward or strange or bad  or special  about these  endorsements for Uzodinma. His predecessors had endorsements too. The development has become part of our politics. Part of the game. And from all indications,  it has come to stay. 

Those who would come to the Government House for their own endorsements definitely  would not  leave after the exercise. They would be hovering around or loitering about,   waiting for " transport" money. Ego ugbo. We know all these. The attraction of some , if not most of them. Transport money.  Udenwa, Ohakim and Okorocha had had their  ugly experiences from lmo politicians. Perhaps,  Uzodinma is yet to have such experience. Whether he would also have it or not , time will tell. Time is of great essence.  We only keep our hands crossed to watch events as they unfold. Those in his cabinet who were  diametrically mute , have begun to speak now  following the outcome of the elections. We know all these. 

All in all,   we shall  continue to clap for Jesus.