Bianca Ojukwu: A Test Of Ojukwu’s Legacy

Seven years after the demise of her iconic husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojokwu, Ex-beauty queen Bianca Ojukwu, on Tuesday, joined the 2019 senatorial race for Anambra South Senatorial District on the platform of the party her late husband helped founded-the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.

Bianca who was a former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and also the daughter of ex-Anambra governor Christian Onoh, made the declaration in Ekwulobia in Aguata council, during a meeting with the stakeholders APGA, in the old Aguata zone.

Her late husband led APGA for over a decade during his lifetime and was at several times the presidential candidate of the party.

Justifying her entry into the senatorial race, she linked her ambition to the political battles of her late husband for the emancipation of Ndigbo and a progressive and united Nigeria.

“I’ve come here, today, to reaffirm that I wish to represent our senatorial district at the red chamber. Why is it important? It is important because our people need to be represented appropriately.

“Igbo have suffered so much in this country, and have continued to suffer. Our leader, Dim, suffered so much for our people. Evil prevails when good people sit and do nothing; to sit down and be an armchair critic means you are at home with the evil that is why I came out to make a difference. So, if you want the evil to stop, my people, send me, and I will get our dues. We must identify with APGA, I’ve laboured tirelessly for this party and I will continue to protect the ideals of the party,” she said.

The declaration is seen by some analysts as a test of the legacy of her late husband and the election itself would be seen from this perspective. “The election itself will be seen as a referendum on the place of Ojukwu in Igbo political history,” said an APGA supporter in Abuja.

Although Ojukwu himself had a failed run for the same senatorial seat during the Second Republic, many believed he was denied the seat by the political forces opposed to what he represented, especially coming shortly after his return from exile.

Mrs. Ojukwu will have to battle with forces within and outside the ruling party in the state to clinch both the party ticket and eventually the Upper Legislative seat.

Some of the big wigs she will have to overcome are oil magnate, Ifeanyi Uba, business mogul Nicholas Ukachukwu all in the APGA and incumbent Senator Andy Ubah of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who many see as the most likely flagbearer of his party ahead of 2019.

She will also have to contend with critics who will see her entry into politics as opportunistic and self-serving. Many followers of the late Ikemba question her commitment to Ojukwu’s political ideology and legacy and her fidelity to the cause of Ndigbo.

Most people will agree that Dim Ojukwu stood and fought valiantly for the survival of his people, and in fierce defense of their rights in their quest to be treated as equal partners in Nigeria.

Ojukwu (Ezeigbo) stood for a united Nigeria where there is an equal distribution of wealth and opportunity for every citizen as well as a level playing ground for all politicians.

He also preached accountability and transparency where representatives of the people are held accountable for their promises, especially at the Federal level.

“I still believe that the one thing that will bring peace, absolute peace, to this country, the type of peace we want to be attached to development, is to liberate Ndi Igbo and there is no better act of liberation than accepting that they have equal right in Nigeria,” Ojukwu had said.

Bianca’s path to the Senate might not be smooth-sailing going by numerous controversies surrounding her candidacy.

Recall that shortly before Ojukwu’s son, Mr. Emeka Ojukwu defected to APC in 2017, he had alleged that Bianca does not stand for her husband’s principles and her ambitions are self-serving.

“I know that you are aware of what Bianca has been saying and I do not want to associate myself with her. This is a woman who wants to create an impression that she loved Ezeigbo, but while Ezeigbo was sick she chose not to take care of him and rather pleased herself until she got tired of waiting for him to die,” Emeka had said.

Claims from Ojukwu’s son seem to contradict her recent statements that she wants to follow the footstep of the great Igbo leader.

Emeka had also advised Ndi Igbo to join the politics at the center; “You need to be at the table where decisions are being made, if you are not there, you will always get the short end of the stick; you will be marginalized.

“That is the message I want to help to propagate, this is a much bigger party than the one I came from. So I put myself at your service to help us achieve our dreams.”

Bianca’s has thrown her hat into the ring, and it is now left for the people to give their verdict-a verdict that would not just be on her, but also on her late husband.