Yesterday’s inauguration of Dr. Ononogbu as the Abia APC Chairman, laid to rest the lingering controversy as to who controls the party levers in the state. As it stands, High Chief Ikechi Imenike has the party structure safely in his pocket.
But who is this Ikechi Emenike and how was he able to defeat maverick politicians and bigwigs to clinch the party structure?
Ikechi Emenike is a successful publisher and economist. His papers, the African Economy magazine and Annual Meetings Daily, have the franchise to publish for World Bank, IMF, AFDB, Commonwealth and several other international organizations.
He is the only black man that publishes for the World Bank and according to him, his mission for setting up the African Economy, was to stop the disinformation and lies about Africa and to share our story through our own perspective.
Ikechi may not be popular back home but he’s a known face across Africa as he interacts very closely with Finance Ministers of many African countries, due to his work. He’s been to no less than 63 countries across all the continents in the world.
Ikechi’s successful business endeavour has not extended to politics where he has been a serial election loser. His first attempt was in 2003 when he won the PDP ticket for the Abia Central Senatorial election. The ticket was hijacked and handed over to Adighije. .
In 2006, he left for ANPP and contested to be governor in 2007. It was then that he struck up this relationship with President Buhari that has now proved to be a masterstroke.
In 2011, he contested yet again but this time in PDP but it was obvious that he stood no chance because Abuja had promised Ochendo the ticket when he was negotiating his way into the party.
Ikechi Emenike’s political experience has been that of intimidation from those with long leg and connection in Abuja. That was how Chris Adighije robbed him. That was how Ochendo edged him out. I hear the man quietly retreated to court connection and secure the backing of powers that be.
Ikechi Emenike wants to be governor. It has been a lifelong ambition and with the party structure in his pocket and the President as his friend, it’s difficult to see him stand down for anyone. He won’t pass the last chance he has so easily.
Ikechi is principled to the point of arrogance. As a man who has seen money, there’s really nothing anyone can promise him that he doesn’t already have. He is unbending and inflexible, traits which count wrongly in politics.
Ikechi will be a hard sell because he is not so popular with the masses and the elites hate his guts. One thing is sure however, the days of PDP interfering with APC through the bad door, are over. Emenike will make sure of it!
