Senator Ifeanyi Ararume a well known politician who is well known due to his political pursuits since 1999 which has being complicated due to his “incapacity” and “background”. Ararume has aspired for different political positions from 1999 till date. The information below gives a concise explanation of his aspirations and allegations:
In 1999, Sen Ifeanyi Ararume contested for the okigwe senatorial position under PDP(People’s Democratic Party) and he won despite all charges of allegations forwarded towards him. So many allegations was raised against sen ifeanyi ararume after the murder of one Mr charles Opara who resides in mbano L.G.A. But it was part of his scheme to ensure that he makes a headway in his political pursuit then. He was told all manner of unthinkable things by the elderly men in mbano for sure a cruel act. They called him a fraudster, a murderer, that he was not from Imo, that he changed his name to beat the law and so on. He contested and won okigwe senatorial position after all the charges levelled against him.
The former Senator’s troubles began in February 1999 after he got nomination as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Imo North Senatorial seat. On February 4, 1999, to be precise, a group called the Okigwe PDP Youth Forum represented by one Nkeiru Ihedinma and Innocent Nwanosike filed a three-page petition against his nomination. In the petition, the group described Araraume as a “criminal”. The petition, which was addressed to the then national Chairman of the PDP, the Chairman Board of Trustees of the party and copies of which were also sent to the then INEC Chairman as well as the INEC Commissioner in Imo State, read in part: “Your nomination of a known criminal as the Senatorial candidate in Okigwe senatorial zone (Imo North) is scandalous, shameful and unacceptable”. The group alleged that “Chief Araraume was sacked as the APP Chairman in Imo state for embezzlement of about N32 million …”

Before his nomination as PDP candidate, Araraume was the state chairman of the then All Peoples Party now All Nigeria Peoples Party. On January 7, 1999 he declared for the PDP, obtained the membership card on January 13, and by early February he had became a Senatorial candidate of the PDP.

Although close associates of Araraume had dismissed the allegation of embezzlement, the opposition did not relent. Although they acknowledged that he was wealthy before then, they alleged that he had a criminal background. To demonstrate their seriousness, they cited criminal charges in various courts against him. One of them was that of “The Commissioner of Police Vs Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume” with Charge No A/453/94 Court 1, Yaba, Lagos. Another was that of “Commissioner of Police Vs (1) Cletus Avuvu (2) Mohammed Abu Igbajo (3) Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume (4) Solomon Ojeifa Edoja with Charge No. A/509/94 also at Court 1 Yaba Lagos. The group had alleged that “these cases have not been fully dried and the suspect and his accomplices hence not acquitted”.

Due to all this charges of corruption, the then chairman of the EFCC Malam Nuhu Ribadu was quoted by saying in a regular television show called “FOCUS NIGERIA” which was presented by Gbenga Aruleba that … “Araraume cannot be governor because of his past records…”

It is of evident reason that the then Economic and Finacial Crime Commisioner (EFCC) chairman is now the presidential flag bearer of the ACN and was expected to storm owerri to officially hand over the Imo state Chapter of the party to Araraume. But due to the fact that in a television chat known as “FOCUS NIGERIA” between Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu and the presenter Gbenga Aruleba, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu was said to have put up a wry smile as the presenter asked him if formally EFCC chairman’s coming to Owerri does not worry the PDP in Imo state. Chukwu, known never to suffer fools gladly, observed a measured silence and when he was done said, “Well, it will be interesting seeing Ribadu come to Imo to install Araraume governorship candidate. Is it the same Ribadu who as boss of the EFCC once said that Araraume cannot be governor because of his past records? It will be interesting to see him recant”.

This magazine gathered that Ribadu, who must have watched the programme from his home in Abuja, promptly telephoned some chieftains of his party to say that he would no longer be able to go to Imo to install Araraume as the leader of the party in the state. Ribadu was said to have admitted that as EFCC boss, he once categorized Araraume as one of those unfit to hold the office of state governor because of his antecedents. And pronto, the leadership of the ACN, which holds the former anti corruption Chairman in high esteem, cancelled the proposed Owerri inauguration.

Investigations reveal that the abortion of the Owerri event was a major set back for the Alliance camp headed by the former Senator and his ‘bosom’ friend, Chief Achike Udenwa, the immediate past governor of the state. Sources close to the camp reveal that its rank and file had hoped that the coming of Ribadu was going to be a big boost for their camp, against the backdrop of their plans to decamp from the PDP whose structure the state governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, had completely taken over. Last week, the ACN held its congresses in the state but contrary to earlier speculations, the turn out was scanty thus giving a lie to the claim that the party has mopped up pro-Ohakim members of the PDP into its fold.

In retrospect, investigations reveal that Araraume’s ordeals had to do with one Barrister Chubuzor Ziggy Azike who was beaten up by his thugs and the murder of one Mr charles Opara. Some observers, however, explain that the reasons why Ararume wasn’t disqualified from contesting was because in 1999, not much rigour was put in the screening of candidates for elections. In 2002, they say, Araraume may have escaped searchlight because, as an incumbent Senator, he was in a position to stopped prying eyes into his past. In 2007, the issues of dark secret past came up but it was bellied by the politics of the PDP governorship primaries and his wrongful substitution as candidate. In the view of many, the senator remains as vulnerable as ever and will this time around have to answer queries concerning his “dark secrets” as he aspires, once again, to have the nod of Imo people to preside over their affairs.