By Charles Igbo
All things being equal, Imo State will be the engine room of the two main political parties in Nigeria – the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
While in the PDP, an Imo son, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, popular as Sam Daddy, is the National Secretary, another son of the State, Senator Osita Izunaso, has indicated his interest in running for the office of the National Secretary of the APC in the upcoming APC’s National Convention.
Izunaso, a Journalist – turned serious Politician, has had a chequered run in politics. He has been through successes and failures, but mostly successes.
He has held a number of political positions.
He was first noticed at the national level when he became an Assistant to the late Senate President, Chief Evan Enwerem, who was removed in controversial circumstances.
Thereafter, Izunaso pitched his tent with the Government of then Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, where he played an influential role in the Government, even though his position was not quite defined.
Thereafter, he became the Senator representing Imo West. But he lasted for only one term as he was defeated by Senator Hope Uzodimma, who went on to defeat him again for a second term. All these were under the ticket of the PDP.
He suddenly quit the PDP, and became a member of the APC. In APC, he again, rose to the National level when he became the National Organising Secretary of the APC.
Izunaso then flirted with the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, on which platform he vied for the Senatorial seat again, but was defeated by former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
When in 2019 the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was declared the Governor of Imo State, Izunaso gravitated towards him. He was at the centre of some activities. Not a few people thought he was going to redecamp to the PDP where he started, but he moved back, strongly, to the APC, when Uzodimma replaced Ihedioha, and pledged loyalty to Uzodimma and his Government.
In between his political activities, Izunaso managed to rope in education, reading law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2021. And, was celebrated no end by friends and associates.
Very focused, a go-getter and a philanthropist, using his Foundation, the Kpakpando Foundation, Izunaso has taken care of hundreds of disabled people. Now, he is going for the big apple – the National Secretary of the APC.
He is likely to be backed by Uzodimma and the Imo and South-East APC, except the Okorocha group. There is a draw-back though, many people say.
If the office is zoned to Imo State, the argument could be: Governor Uzodimma is from Imo-west Senatorial Zone, why should the office of the National Secretary go to the same Zone?
Time will tell.
