When the heat against the apartheid regime raged on in South Africa in the 80s, late music maestro, Sunny Okosun put a rhetoric question in his hit philosophical track, “Papa’s land” wanted to know who owns the land.

This rhetorical aphorism replayed itself on Saturday, February 22, 2014 as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his entourage arrived Imo State for the PDP Unity rally held at Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, capital of Imo State, K.O. Mbadiwe of blessed memory will in his witty remarks describe the turnout of people as a “political earthquake” which shook the foundation of the state like “hurricane cartrina”.

The tumultuous crowd of party faithful mobilized for the august event overstretched security operatives who battled to no end to control the surging crowd.  From SamMbakweInternationalCargoAirport to the streets of Owerri, the story is the same.  Owerri has never played host to such avalanche of crème de la crème of the contemporary society.

Business activities were grinded to a halt as shops, offices; both private and sundry were closed.  Hundreds of thousands of people trooped out from the nooks and crannies of the state to witness the epoch making event.

Among the top brass politicians who decamped from APC, APGA, ACN and other parties to PDP include, Chief Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo State, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Chief Cosmas Iwu, former Secretary to Imo State Government, Mrs. Ngozi Aririguzo APC Publicity Secretary, and their numerous supporters.

President Jonathan (Centre) with PDP returnees

Welcoming the returnees, Chief Barr. Nnamdi Richard Anyaehie, the new state PDP Chairman, observed that the state is PDP controlled and compliant.  He noted that his party is more dominant having won seven out of the 10 Federal House members, two out of the three Senatorial positions and 18 out of the 27 members of the State House of Assembly.

He urged them to put hands on deck to ensure that the party reclaims the state come 2015.

The sea of humanity heralding the inaugural visit of President Goodluck Jonathan since his assumption of office in 2011 could be interpreted to mean his acceptance and support by the Imo people.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, Chairman of PDP Governors Forum spoke on behalf of the Governors.  He appreciated the people of the state and urged them to ensure that the State returns to PDP come 2015.

Senators Chris Anyanwu, Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) and Chief Achike Udenwa spoke on behalf of the decampees who described the loss of the governorship to Rochas Okorocha as an accident and a grievous mistake.

Chief Hope Uzodimma, Emeka Ihedioha and Dr. Ikedi Ohakim also spoke eloquently to the admiration of party supporters.

President Goodluck Jonathan spoke after an address by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Tony Anenih, BOT Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senator Chris Anyanwu, elucidated that with Chief I.D. Nwoga, Chief Emma Iwuanyanwu and the shakers and movers of the society, the time is up for the “Emperor” at Douglas House to pack his bag and baggage.

In the address, President Jonathan while welcoming the decampees at the unity rally observed that Imo State is blessed with men of timber and caliber, caterpillars and bulldozers.

He eulogized the high profile personalities of ImoState extraction who included Senator Arthur Nzeribe, Chief Tony Chukwu, Hon. Kingsley Dumaku and Chief Arthur Eze who were described as major financiers of the party by Chief Olisah Metu, the National Publicity Secretary of the party.

President Goodluck Jonathan was highly excited at the prospects of PDP reclaiming the state. Others who accompanied President Jonathan include, the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu,  former Senate President, Ken Nnamani etc.

However, the Imo State Government has described the crowd as “a rented one,” saying that PDP hired people from neighbouring states to create a false impression before visitors that PDP has such large faithful in Imo state.

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