Inasmuch as we are entitled to freedom of association, right to aspiration, the decision of Hon. Chike Okafor to declare his intentions to run for Office of The Speaker, Federal House of Representatives is his right and nobody should take it away from him. But in partisan politics, every pragmatic politician should know when and where his/her rights starts and stop’s.
_Facts Hon. Okafor didn’t take into consideration before his declaration for Speakership_.
1. Hon. Chike Okafor is a member of APC and was *sponsored* by APC in the just concluded general elections for Federal House of Representatives, Okigwe South Constituency, Imo State; he didn’t run as independent candidate.
2. Hon. Okafor was given *automatic* ticket by Leadership and National Working Committee of APC as a compensation for supporting Mr. President and the party during trying times in 8th Assembly.
3. The *automatic* ticket undermined the principles of democracy but the party stood by it in fulfilment of promise made.
4. The *automatic* ticket is promise made, promise kept and promise fulfilled which requires *reciprocation* from recipient’s.
5. Hon. Okafor forgot that one of the closest young men to Presidency from Imo State is his arch rival and that if not for the promise of *automatic* ticket, Hon. Nwajuba would have gotten the nod of APC Leadership for the ticket.
6. Hon. Okafor declaration for the office of Speaker, Federal House of Representatives is viewed as an affront to Leadership of APC and Presidency after the party must have declared their open support for Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the coveted seat.
7. Hon. Okafor should have known, though, he supported the party and Presidency during the ugly days of opposition in the Lower House led by Speaker Yakubu Dogara that his not too long actions which contributed to emergence of Hon. Dogara as Speaker, 8th Assembly, Federal House of Representatives against the wish of the party is still fresh in the minds of the Party and Presidency.
8. Hon. Okafor should have learnt from what is happening to Gov. Rochas Okorocha in respect of his Certificate of Return and subsume his perceived interest.
9. Above all, Hon. Okafor as a member of APC and presently in the National Assembly (highest echelon in Nigeria politics) should be in a better position to know the character of the National Chairman of APC and how he view’s *internal opposition* within the party.
In the present circumstance, how will APC come to the aid of Hon. Chike Okafor as her candidate after he had openly *challenged* the choice made by leadership of the party through his declaration for the Speakership now that court has ruled and his Certificate of Return withdrawn and given to another person?
In the light of the foregoing, Hon. Kingsley Uju seems to be right for openly endorsing and supporting Representative Femi Gbajabiamila for the Office of Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, 9th Assembly and as at now, Hon. Uju is one of the anchor men of Hon. Gbajabiamila mobilising for his support across the country.
As we wait for decision of Court of Appeal on this matter (if Hon. Okafor goes on appeal, which I hope he will), in the spirit of *as court pleases*, I congratulate Hon. Emeka Nwajuba, Member Elect, Federal House of Representatives, Okigwe South Constituency, Imo State Nigeria.
