From the day he debuted in politics from a background so low, the story has not been anything short of success. This is the story of Chief Chukwuemeka Nkemakolam Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ihedioha
How it started
Ihedioha kicked off his political career in 1992 when he was appointed Press Officer to the then Senate President ,, Chief Iyorchia Ayu. Shortly afterwards, he was also appointed as Chief Press Secretary to the then Deputy Senate President, the late Senator Albert Legogie. But the Nigerian military cut short the life of that democratic process which affected Ihedioha’s appointment. When the ban for partisan politics was lifted, Ihedioha pitched tent with the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), which was one of the groups which formed the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998 as the Director of Publicity.
In that capacity, he played very crucial and prominent roles in the emergence of the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration at the dawn of the present democratic experiment in 1999.
At the formation of that government, Ihedioha was appointed, first, as Special Assistant to the Presidential Adviser on Utilities (July 1999); later, as Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the President of Senate (November 1999); and eventually Special Assistant on Political Matters to the Vice President (September 2001).
To other politicians craving for a place in the 360-member House of Representatives, it may be a struggle to get there but for Ihedioha, it was a call from his people of Aboh-Mbasie-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency. And so, in 2003, he answered the call and got elected to represent the people.
Finding expression in what is fast becoming an aphorism that one good turn deserves another, Ihedioma got re-elected in 2007.
A first timer, he was made Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport. He activities gave birth to Cabotage Law which drives the maritime industry today. In 2007, he headed yet another important Committee: Cooperation an Integration in Africa.
The lawmaker was to be elevated later to the post of Chief Whip.
The Imo State born politician got re-elected the third time in an unbroken stance from 2003. It was at this time that he emerged the Deputy Speaker of the House.
Ihedioha has won election to represent Aboh Mbaise /Ngor Okpala federal constituency in the House of Representatives three times since 2003. In all of those times, he was never a bench warmer as he was very visible. In fact, to most people, this was the credential that qualified him for the current office he is holding as the Deputy Speaker of the House. But having seen it all at the green chamber, Ihedioha has said he would not seek the office for the fourth time to enable the youth have a shot at the parliament.
Instead of returning to parliament, the people of Imo, his home, want him to come home and render the same, wonderful service he has given the country at large. To answer the call, the federal lawmaker, on Wednesday October 15, stormed the national secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to obtain the Expression of Interest Form.
Ihedioha’s aspiration is supported by his fellow lawmakers who accompanied him to pick the form. They included Hon. Jerry Alagbaso, Chairman of the Imo Caucus in the House; Hon. Jones Onyereri; Hon. Alphonsus Irona and Hon. Chudi Uwazurike.
The Deputy Speaker recently toured 24 of the 27 LGAs in the Imo State amassing support and goodwill of the people for his cause.
Interestingly, Ihedioha’s quest to succeed Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has the nod of key party leaders in the state. They included Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, leader of South Caucus of PDP and member, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party; two-time former governor of Imo, Chief Achike Udenwa and Chief Francis Nzeribe, both of whom are key leaders of the PDP in Orlu Zone and the state; and Chief Fidelis Izuchukwu, a former PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the party, and leader of Okigwe Zone.
Apart from the support of these eminent sons of the state, the zoning principle in the state is also in the favour of the lawmaker.
Reports say that of the three zones of Imo- Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe- Owerri zone is the most marginalized. And little wonder why the people are clamoring very strongly for power shift.
Bottom line
Though the odds favour Ihedioha, it is left to be seen whether the APC elements led by Okorocha would budge as the clock ticks towards 2015.
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