Am tired of asking you to post a link to your source. Secondly why is it only the Horn that publishes all these stories?

Am not a fool and i dont say things if i don't have concrete evidence. this is the link http://www.announcerexpressonline.com/?p=1792

An Owerri based Chief Magistrate Court has differed till 13th of April 2011 ruling in a 5-count charge preferred against the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) 2011 guber candidate in Imo, Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere and 18 others whether the Court has jurisdiction to hear their case or not.
When the case on charge no OW/129c/2011 came up, the presiding Chief Margistrate V.C Isinguzo said the Court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case due to the gravity of the 2nd charge which bordered on attempt to kill which is punishable under section 320(1) of the criminal code, cap C38 laws of the Federation.
Counsel to the accused persons argued that the issue of bail is at the discretion of the Court. They argued that all the charges are bailable and even the one that looks very grievous, that section 118(2) of the criminal code allows the Magistrate Court even if it does not have jurisdiction to hear it, but it can grant bail to the accused persons who have been in detention since Thursday last week.
They argued that since the complainant is Governor Ohakim and he is not in Court that the Court better grant the accused persons bail while the case can still go on or on the other hand, strike it out. More so, with the involvement of a 13yrs old boy, who is a minor which the law does not allow to be exposed to the experiences in the cell, and later urged the Court to grant the accused persons bail.
In his own reply, the prosecuting police officer C.L Iheukwumere opposed the bail application on the grounds of gravity of the charges leveled against them and to avoid a situation where the accused persons will be involved in another crime while on bail.
On the absence of the complaint, the prosecutor said that the complainant in the case is the Commissioner of Police who is ably represented in the Court by himself, the prosecutor.
He said there are some factors to be considered before bail could be granted in such cases like the nature and gravity of the offences allegedly committed, and that count II of the charges is a very serious offence with a severe punishment attached to it.
When it became feasible that the presiding Magistrate wanted to adjourn the ruling to another day, the defense counsel pleaded with the Court to give her ruling so that they know what next to do.
In her ruling, the Magistrate said she does not have jurisdiction to hear the case and adjourned the ruling on bail application to 13th of April 2011 and directed that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) to file his report while the accused persons be reminded in prison custody.
While speaking to the press after the Court Session, Barr. LUN Nwakaeti and GON okemiri sounded alike. They said they have taken the ruling as pronounced, but likely to seek the bail of their clients through the High Court.
They raised the issue of minor, a 13yr old boy who is still in detention against the laws of the land.

poll conducted for THISDAY by Ipsos, the world’s leading market research company. Ohakim PDP 21%, Araraume ACN 9%, Okorocha APGA 54%
Undecided14%

THISDAY by Ipsos OR whatever you call them. That is there own private opinions, which is not bad, if you ask me. but all i know is that Ohakim is the only ideal man for the job as it stands now. He has to put finishing touches to all the projects that is still not completed. if we elect another person, it will be starting all over again. which the people of Imo don't want. Thanks

On the 4th day of January, 2010 in an all-important stakeholders meeting held by the executive governor of Imo State. The meeting which was meant to show Imo Stakeholders a sense of belonging and participation in the present Governance of State. In the meeting proper, the executive governor of Imo State Chief Dr. Ikedi Ohakim while delivering his keynote address gave highlights on how his Administration has continued to proffer good policies towards the bettering of the lots lives of Imo people and how he intends to improve on it.
There also at the meeting, Chief Dr. Ikedi Ohakim gave Imo people what I term a New Year betterment package. The 4th of January 2010 could be said to be remembered in history by all those who really meant well for the State. On that day the Governor gave out his directives that ten thousand fresh Imo graduates be recruited into the state Civil Service. By so doing, the Governor lifted an age long embargo on employment into the State Civil Service. These embargos have been there since 1984, but successive administrations have come and gone without lifting an open embargo like the Governor has done. The worst of it all is that these successive administrations have in the past employed their relatives, friends or political allies in a secretive manner into the service.
I am reflecting on this policy today not just for the fact that I am a citizen of the state, Imo youths or as a beneficiary. But doing so on a singular note bearing in mind that posterity will not forgive me if I don’t reflect on what the truth is all about. This is very pertinent because I hear some politicians criticize the ten thousand job offer for the youth unnecessary without being acquainted on the much needed information which they need about the appraisal of such policy. These I think they do, just to score cheap political points. Our politicians should learn how to join real issues and facts in political campaigns.
My fellow citizens of Imo State, I am not yet done with my reflective story, I was opportuned to have the governor speak to us the beneficiary of the ten thousand job offer on our thank you visit to his Excellency. I quote the governor “I have great love and passion for the youths of this state, this is as I always become shocked down to the marrows when I see you youths walk around the streets hopelessly” the governor also said “I am like a scientist who plan before making policies” . Thank you his Excellency, Chief Dr. Ikedi Godson Ohakim. This is as I believe that you meant well for the state ride on the great reformer with a visionary inquest.

Chief Ugwoegbu, held that Chief Udenwa’s bid to the senate to represent Orlu zone in Imo State under the minority party CAN according to him, will not mean well for the people of Orlu zone, especially he said, in the realization of the long-awaited creation of the said Njaba or Orlu state from Imo State.
The Orlu zone-born PDP stalwart and business magnet, who outlined Chief Udenwa’s only achievement in his eight year term as the Governor of Imo State as the citing of the said Orlu International market(incomplete); Orlu teaching hospital(incomplete); and inhabited housing Estate and one single water scheme, which he said was cited in Orlu in Imo state; observing that Udenwa failed to consider any son from his Federal constituency for employment and to attract even cottage industry as a minister of commerce and industry for two years.
Speaking futher, the business mogul-turned politician in Orlu zone, expressed immense regret over the outright neglect of people of Isu/Nwangele/Njaba/Nkwere Federal constituency, according to him, in the areas of road construction, construction of even a single classroom block and none provision of reasonable appointments for the Federal Constituency.
His words: “there was a clear indication of neglect of my Federal Constituency in Orlu zone and therefore it will be sad and improper to canvass for votes from the constituency he neglected for eight years as Governor and as a minister for two years”
Udenwa hated Isu/Nwangele/Njaba/Nkwere Federal Constituency, even to the extent that the Heineken Breweries plant which was proposed to be built in the area was denied, which would have provided enormous development and employment for people of the Constituency.
Chief Ugwoegbu, therefore reported that a single vote for Udenwa from Isu/Nwangele/Njaba/Nkwere Federal Constituency would mean another opportunity for him to neglect the area. He stressed that Udenwa was an apostle of what he described as, “Don’t oppose the Government of the day”, querying why he now wants to drag the Orlu zone to opposition.
The Orlu zone political juggernaut strongly informed that the political progress made in the zone can not be allowed to be upturned by Chief Udenwa, whom he said has nothing to offer development wise. He concluding, advised the Orlu zone electorate, that a vote for the peoples Democratic Party(PDP), will ensure continuity in the foundation, which he observed the present administration led by Governor Ohakim has laid since inception in office in 2007.

The Ohakim/Onwuliri joint ticket for the return to Douglas House come 2011 has continued to receive widespread endorsement across all spectrum of Imo State. The Oganihu Mbaise socio-cultural organization, Port-Harcourt in a letter addressed to Governor Ikedi Godson Ohakim signed by its president Dr. Chief Clement Iro said the organization received with “Joy, Your Excellency’s choice of Prof. Mrs Onwuliri as your running mate for the 2011 Gubernatorial Election in Imo State”
They thanked the Governor “for fishing out this beloved, intelligent, hardworking, respectful and above all, God fearing daughter of Mbaise to strengthen” his ticket in the Governorship election, assuring him that Mrs. Onwuliri is “a very credible lady who will obviously add value to the Ohakim/Onwuliri ticket”
They asserted that Mrs. Onwuliri’s “long sojourn in the academia in particular and varied experience in public service in general will enrich the ticket and ultimately translate into a resounding victory on Saturday, 26th April, 2011”
While endorsing Dr. Ohakim for a second term, the organization thanked His Excellency for what they described as a great honour and recognition for his “unique choice of another daughter of Mbaise to hold this high office in government, the second time in four years, and the victory which it portends will open a new chapter in your Excellency’s relationship with Mbaise people.”

There is nothing we won't hear about this Ohakim people.

The answer is simply because his works are there to show for itself.

The Bishop of House of God International Church and the president of young Igbo Christian Ministries Congrees, Prof Athan Azubuike, has made public, his prophesy over the clinching of the highest position in Imo by the current Governor, Chief Dr. Ikedi Ohakim in the April 26 rescheduled gubernatorial election in the state.
Bishop Athan azubuike, handed down the hint in Owerri, while addressing a cross section of the press, making it point-blank that he received divine inspiration, which he said was put very clear to him as a vision bearer that despite contrary views of some Imo people against Governor Ohakim, God he said has decided to return him to the revered number one position in the state.
The youthful Pentecostal prelate, who stated that he has been in serious prayers, conferring with God on what tends to be the outcome of the April 26 shown down in the state, noted that though he was lost at the middle, on the politics of Imo, according to him considering the fact that all candidates are close to him in one way or the other, but insisted to enquire from God, on what the true position could appear to be.
He therefore observed strongly that his choice of disclosing the prophesy ahead of the April 26 election through various media Houses in the State was to enable the people of the State share in vision, according to him, to enable them realize in the future that God favors whom he pleases without taking recourse to human line of thought.
Bishop Azubuike, who also noted that he had ahead of Owelle Rochas declaration of interest during his birthday bash at the township Stadium in Owerri, prayed for him as a man of God and also handed a staff and Bible to him and also being a good friend of Araraume argued that when one gets at the cross roads, he start making inquiries of where to head to. Which he confirmed the lot fell on the Governor for his reelection.
The man God made references to 2006 and 2007 where such prophecies were made which he said all came to pass. The young Bishop, who also believed that many are called but only few chosen, narrated that it is expressly known that no administration can please everybody, observed that though many have been hurt either by the politics or by the programmes of the government, while reminding that all were meant for the good of the masses and not rather evil and insisted that God does not look at the outward appearances as man does.

The deputy gubernatorial candidate for All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) in the State come April 2011. Chief Jude Agbaso has been dragged to the Federal High Court in Owerri for allegedly involving in crime and jumping bail while in New York.
While presenting an originating summon to the presiding judge of the Federal High Court 1 Owerri on Tuesday 5th April, 2011, the prosecuting council Dr. Mike Ozekhome who filled a motion expertee pleading the Court to allow them serve the defendant through publications in two National dallies, specifically Thisday and the Nation Newspapers.
The counsel also prayed that the Honourable Court should give the matter an accelerated hearing due to the nature and the urgency of the matter.
The defendant council also requested that the court processes including the originating summon be published in the above mentioned Newspapers to enable those involved in the case which include Chief George Egu, the plaintiff, and Chief Jude Agbaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and INEC the defendants to have easy access to the summon. Reacting, the presiding judge of the Honourable Federal High Court Owerri, Hon. Justice F.A Olabanjo who was kind enough granted his prayers. According to Hon. Justice F.A Olubanjo, the defendants have seven days from the date of the publication to respond to their case, while the plaintiff was given two days to react to their response. The case was accordingly adjourned to the 18th of April, 2011.

Publisher of Champion Newspapers and a strong voice in Igbo politics, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has described the achievements of Imo state governor, Ikedi Ohakim as excellent.
He urged Imo voters to come out enmasse to vote for the re-election of Ohakim to ensure not only the consolidation of his laudable achievements but political stability through the support of zoning arrangement.
Iwuanyanwu made the observation when the governor visited his country home on Tuesday to commiserate with him on the death of his junior brother, Oliver.
The former presidential aspirant said it would be suicidal for the state to be governed by the opposition, warning Imo voters not to be ‘’deceived by the antics of the opposition that has nothing better to offer’’.
‘’I have been in politics for over 40 years and I can attest that governor Ikedi Ohakim’s performance so far is excellent. He is trustworthy and a focused leader. He has shown he has the capacity to take the state higher in terms of solid development and he has attracted more federal presence than any other governor from this part of the country.
‘’Ohakim’s programmes are being thoroughly implemented and you can witness genuine development in every part of the state. It is a pity that our people have the character of running their leaders down. But I will advise the governor to ignore criticism because even the late Sam Mbakwe had some of his worst critics from Obowo, his home constituency.
‘’the truth is that Imo state cannot be dragged to opposition party. How can a party that cannot field a president adopt another party’s presidential candidate and ask you to vote for them in other positions. You see them making empty promises. This is laughable and Imo people should ignore their antics’’ Iwuanwanwu adviced.

The Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim has warned that any person
or group who plan to create confusion or incite violence during the
elections in Imo State will face the wrath of the Law.
He made this disclosure in State Broadcast to the people of Imo state,
on the 2011 General Election, adding that the Imo electorate should
come out in their numbers and cast their votes according to their
consciences.
Governor Ohakiam maintained that for months now Imo state had
witnessed intense but interesting campaigns for the general elections,
thanking Imo people for keeping the peace during the rallies, against
various provocations from some politicians.
“All those planning to create confusion, incite violence or disrupt
the election are hereby warned to rethink” he said.

He warned that during the election, movements from one booth or the
other are prohibited, adding that INEC Staff, whether Adhoc or
permanent must conduct themselves with transparency and patriotism.
He said that the future of Nigeria depends on the forthcoming
election, and all Nigerians must strive to get it right this time
around.
“I urge every citizen, big or small to conduct himself or herself in
orderly manner.  Everybody is enjoined to obey the Electoral
guidelines as stated by INEC” Ohakim said.

The Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim has warned that any person
or group who plan to create confusion or incite violence during the
elections in Imo State will face the wrath of the Law.
He made this disclosure in State Broadcast to the people of Imo state,
on the 2011 General Election, adding that the Imo electorate should
come out in their numbers and cast their votes according to their
consciences.
Governor Ohakiam maintained that for months now Imo state had
witnessed intense but interesting campaigns for the general elections,
thanking Imo people for keeping the peace during the rallies, against
various provocations from some politicians.
“All those planning to create confusion, incite violence or disrupt
the election are hereby warned to rethink” he said.

He warned that during the election, movements from one booth or the
other are prohibited, adding that INEC Staff, whether Adhoc or
permanent must conduct themselves with transparency and patriotism.
He said that the future of Nigeria depends on the forthcoming
election, and all Nigerians must strive to get it right this time
around.
“I urge every citizen, big or small to conduct himself or herself in
orderly manner. Everybody is enjoined to obey the Electoral
guidelines as stated by INEC” Ohakim said.

Imo State government has approved the recruitment of additional 10,000 workers to boost its workforce.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for information and strategy, Nze Elvis Agukwe in a radio broadcast as part of decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in owerri on Thursday March 31, 2011. The Commissioner disclosed that a committee headed by the Head of Service in the state has been constituted to conduct the recruitment exercise which according to him would not require special ways of interview.
He further stated that 9,000 technicians would be employed in the state civil service and 1,000 teachers to address the problem of shortage of teachers in the state school system, adding that the recruitment takes immediate effect.
He equally announced government’s approval of N44 million for the 44 mission schools being handed over to their original owners for the rehabilitation facilities in the schools. On the election, he expressed government readiness to ensure that the April election was conducted free and fair. He expressed government dissatisfaction with the political style of the APGA Gubernatorial Candidate, Chief Rochas Okorocha who he said had attempted to incite his followers to cause violence in the state, adding that Imo state is peaceful and needs peace loving leaders to steer the mantle of leadership in the next political dispensation.
He thanked the citizens of state and PDP supporters for remaining calm evev in the face of peovocation and he urged them to vote for PDP.

If opinion polls and the negative reactions Ohakim has been receiving in the last one year are anything to go by, it seems it's the end of the road for him.

What opinion polls nonsense are you talking about, who are they to conduct the rubbish. i know its the opposition parties that are doing all that so as as to bring fear to Ohakim. Every reasonable man knows that polls conducted before the D-day has nothing to do with the eventual winner. Please tell them to stop wasting there time. Because Ohakim coming back as our Governor is already a done deal.

Please humour me. How does someone become a silent achiever?

Our dear Governor doesn't brag on his achievements so far because he believes that a leader is meant to serve the people and not the other way round. He brought developments to Imo State because he strongly believes that's how life is supposed to be. i.e when given the opportunity as a Governor of a State, you don't any option other than to work. visit www.ohakim2011.com and www.imomanylies.com.

Former President of the country and the chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has described the governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim as a silent achiever, and urged Imo people to vote for him for second term.
Obasanjo spoke Thursday in Owerri at the grand finale of the PDP campaign rallies in the state at Dan Anyiam Stadium and advised Imo citizens to beware of desperate politicians who do not mean well for them and for the state, describing Ohakim further as a performer, a man of character and a winning horse.
The former president told Imo people to be careful, and not gullible to give their votes to politicians who only make empty promises and claim to be what they are not, pointing out that the zoning system still holds in the state as long as the people of Imo state have accepted and allowed it to hold for 8 years in this dispensation.
According to Obasanjo “as long as Imo people have allowed zoning 8 years in this dispensation, it should not be disrupted for the interest of peace. It won’t be different because Ohakim has laid a solid foundation for the transformation of the state. He deserves to be allowed for another four years. You don’t allow politicians who make empty promises”.
Obasanjo thanked all the PDP chieftains who have also stood firm in the face of numerous challenges and urged them to continue to support the party, advising the people of the state to vote massively for all the PDP candidates in the April elections.

Imo state Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has declared free medical care for
everyone in Imo in the health centres scattered all over the state.

He made this declaration at the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, while
disbursing N1billion Youth Empowerment Fund in the state.

The governor disclosed that the Cooperative Societies formed in each
of the 305 wards in the state to facilitate the disbursement would be
linked up with international donor agencies with state government’s
guarantee.

Chief Ohakim disclosed that each Cooperative Society has twenty youths
as members and would have financial advisers and consultants
comprising town union members and the traditional council.

In the words of the governor, “This administration would continue to
give you dividends of democracy in the local areas. This is harvest
time to reap from all your support to this administration and the
sacrifices you have made.”
Earlier in a brief remark, the Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Kezie Ogaziechi, stated that the
event of the day would witness the handover refurbished health centres
in the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs), 27 Ambulances, generators,
waste bins and grand empowerment of 6100 youths in the 305 wards of
the state.
He stressed that the strides of the governor are eloquent testimonies
to qualify him for re-election in the April elections, adding that the
partnership between the state and local governments has been yielding
dividends of democracy to all Imo people.

I see Andrewnwa/Tochukwu/Udoagwu/Arinzeeze/Real/Iuodagwu the dunce is at it again, spreading his meaningless and futile propaganda all in a desperate bid to deceive people into voting his criminal paymaster Ohakim.
I'm so glad the people of Imo have woken up to your desperate scheme.

Rochas Okorocha 2011!! Cool

I see Areosapien at it again. you included my ID with some set of people i don't know because you have such thing happening here in NL. i know Rochas must have paid you and some set of bastards to come here to praise his name. just listen and take it back to your master(Rochas- Ogboni man) that his palns has failed and his secrets are now opened. IMO has their candidate already in the name of CHIEF DR. IKEDI OHAKIM. Vote Ohakim! Vote Ohakim!!. Ohakim 2011

Mr TochukwuC, how much did Ohakim pay u 2com to NL and deceive the undeceiveables?

i don't need to debate if he pays me or not. what i want you to get is that am not here to deceive anyone. i don't know if you reside here in Imo, but i have been in this state all my life and i have seen the difference. i don't know why people can't see. Ohakim has brought developments to our dear state whether his oppositions like it or not. But there is something that baffles me up till today, which is, Chief Achike Udenwa's administration was not rubbish this way even when he didn't do half of what Ohakim has done in his 8 years in office. Please my brother don't listen to gossips you hear from the road-side, find out time to research when you hear anything about Ikedi Ohakim. Thanks and God bless visit www.ohakim2011.org

I weep for the people of Imo State.

Weep for yourself, becauce Imo people are in the hands of God. and come April 16, God will bless the people more by re-electing Ohakim. Vote Ohakim! Vote Ohakim!

BULLET POINTS ON WHY CHIEF DR. IKEDI OHAKIM SHOULD BE HONOURED, LABOUR IN IMO STATE.
• The Governor approved the payment of N7500 minimum wage in Imo State two months into his administration. This award was not implemented for the past eight years before Ohakim’s Government.
• His Excellency approved the payment of 12⅟2 % increase on our minimum wage and ensured its implementation less than one year after assuming office.
• His Excellency also approved the payment of 15% salary increase in less than 2 years after the inception of his Governorship.
• Labour is particularly impressed because all these awards were given years before the Governor came into office. Precisely, these awards were made between 1999 and 2007 May 28.
• His Excellency injected fresh blood into Civil Service of Imo State employing ten thousand youths via teachers and civil servants in Imo State.
• Testimonies from Ministries confirm returns that these officers have started work and have been pay rolled for payment.
• The Governor on appeal from Labour leaders approved the extension service of some special Civil Servants whose career is about to be cut short by the cancellation of the circulars on period of study leave without pay.
• The transformation of the State capital into a model city state and extension of its suburban areas by major road construction and opening up of remote areas.
• Payment of workers’ salaries regularly since inception in 2007
• Recent frantic efforts to wipe out the disparity in the payment of subventions and salaries. We received with gladness, the recent completion of payment of subvention to SEMB and tertiary intuitions that are now at par with the Civil Service.
• Donation of two State of the art cars to NLC and TUC in Imo State. These cars project our apex umbrella unions at all National Meetings.
• Regular promotion of Civil Servant and lifting of the obnoxious embargo on promotion and employment. The Civil Service Commission now approved acting appointments to cover duties in area of need and such acting officer are fully paid
• Removal of the marginalization clause in the recruitment of civil servant. Before, waivers were secretly given to favor a few selected sections of the state. Toady all the 27 Local Government Areas have benefited from the recruitment/promotion exercises.
• Appointment of additional Senior Special Assistant, to make it easier for Labour/Government interaction.
• Recognition of the Labour constituency as a veritable block of interest and promise to cover the constituency in all future appointments in his cabinet.
• Approval of constant training and retraining of public servants to be more efficient and productive.
• General display of Administration competence and ability to attract federal projects to Imo State.

This guy should go and sit down,nigerians know dat ohakim is d most useless and senseless gov in nigeria. MUNBUSTU!

@Akoraye, i believe you are biased in the way you think. which Nigerian knows that Ohakim is senseless? it must be you and your type. do you read the national dailies at all or do you make out time to listen to the news. over time, Ohakim has received Awards from eminent Nigerians congratulating him on what he has brought to Imo state since 2007. The recent one was the BJAN award he got alongside Dora Akunyili. Please don't sit down and listen to gossips from people that don't mean well for themselves, we are learned so we must behave like learned people at all times. you can go to www.ohakim2011.org and see for yourself. lets vote for Ohakim because he wants to do more.

“IMO IS THE ONLY STATE WHERE GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE ARE BEGGING TO BE ALLOWED TO RULE FOR ONLY FOUR YEARS”-


BY Obiorah Okafor.


Can you react to the recent ratings about the governorship election by a leading newspaper in the country which said PDP may lose Imo State?

Those who should know have faulted the so-called opinion polls as lacking in scientific inputs. As far as I am concerned, it is a mere guess work based on rumor and gossips. How can you say that as much as 41 per cent is undecided yet on which way to vote and at the same time you reach a conclusion? Can’t the researchers see that the decision of that 41 per cent can completely alter their conclusions? Why wouldn’t the researchers hold on to see if events in the next couple of days or weeks can make those undecided to decide? The exercise is of no use to the people of Imo State. It is even an insult to such a very discernable people like Imo people.

To say that less than two weeks to the election, as much as 41 per cent of the people are yet undecided on which party to go is an insult. Our people are too sophisticated and politically alert to be associated with that type of non-challant. I hear that one of the candidates, Chief Rochas Okorocha, who was allocated 34 per cent of Imo votes, has been jumping up and down in jubilation. That’s vintage Okorocha. He is very much at home with things like that, things that confer false pretences. Being a very tentative fellow himself, he likes things that are tentative.



But in a recent interview with this newspaper, Chief Okorocha says he is the man the people want. Does that not corroborate the result of the opinion poll?

Is there any candidate who would tell you that the people do not want him? The other day at a debate organized by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, you needed to listen to the candidates. Everybody was beating his chest, even those whose parties do not have office in Imo state. They are the ones Imo people want. And as I said earlier, Chief Okorocha is known for being in love with frivolous claims.

Is it also frivolous when he talks about free education and he has something already on ground, talking about his Rochas Foundation School which he runs free?

That’s the very trap every body seems to be falling into. I have said it before that his glib talk about free education amounts to a blackmail on our people. Somebody is talking about free education as if our people have not being going to school before now.

The way Chief Okorocha talks about his free education suggests that our people have not been sending their children to school before the arrival of his Rochas Foundation schools. He sounds as if every parent in Imo state is going cap in hand begging for free education for his or her children. That’s not the impression to give about your people. The pride of every Igboman is to be seen to be able to train his children in school. Igbos do not have the culture of asking for free things. That’s why we don’t have beggars among Igbos. A fellow who probably comes from a background where people are used to having everything free should not come and paint a beggarly picture about our people. Igboland is reputed to have the highest number of educated people. Before the civil war, Igbo land had the highest number of intellectuals. It was not through free education.

In any case, tuition is free in Imo state up till Senior Secondary School Three. Chief Okorocha has not bothered to find out the level to which education is free. He makes blanket allusion to it as if nothing is on ground. And you will even discover that some other candidates have joined him in the glib talk about free education. Yet, if you ask them to articulate how they will fund free education, they will start stammering. The other day, a local newspaper reported that Chief Okorocha said he would fund free education with Security Vote and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). With over 700,000 school enrolment, it will take about N22 billion annually to give free education at all levels in Imo state. Now, the state I.G.R. is less than N420,000 per month. He talks about Security Vote. How much Security Vote?

Imo gets an average allocation of about N30 billion annually. He did not state how much of this is Security Vote. But if out of N30 billion you take N22 billion for education only, what of salary of civil servants which takes about N22 billion annually. How about the provision and maintenance of infrastructure. You see why I refer to them as talking glibly about free education? In Chief Okorocha’s three – page interview, there was no where he explained how he will fund the free education. His talk about Security Votes betrays his mind set. That’s where his eyes are: Security Votes. No serious governorship candidate talks about Security Votes. To talk feebly about it shows that that is his main target. They should stop cheapening our people. I have said nothing to suggest that free education is not good. But we should talk about it intelligently.

Chief Okorocha was appointed by Governor Ohakim to head the State Education Trust Fund Committee that was expected to raise over N50 billion for the rehabilitation of educational infrastructure in the state. That committee did not meet for one day after inauguration.

He was no where to be found. He never showed up again because he does not like to work with other people with ideas. That committee had other brilliant chaps who had ideas to contribute. But their chairman bolted away because he wouldn’t want others to make contributions. If you look around Chief Okorocha, you can hardly find bright people around him. It is only people who are handicapped so that they always look up to him as a messiah. Imo people have gone pass the messiah syndrome stage.

But Imo people seem to be sold to his rescue mission slogan.

I am happy you call it a slogan. And you know what sloganeering is all about. Most times, most slogans are empty. We have one in our hands, talking about Chief Okorocha and his governorship ambition. But it is not about slogans. Some of them confuse popularity with politics. You can be popular without being a good politician. After all, musicians are popular. Those acting homes movies are popular. If you bring a governor together with Pete Edochie or Osuofia, I am sure more people will like to stay around the actors. So, it is not just about being popular. It is about having what it takes to win an election. Imo state is a PDP state. Chief Okorocha’s party, APGA, does not have what it takes to win a governorship election in Imo state. The other day, I went home and started asking about APGA in my own local government area. There are not up to twenty people who are in APGA in my local government area. In my ward, there are only two APGA members. In my home town, there is not a single APGA member. And we have about 70, 000 voters registered in my L.G.A which happens to be one of the largest local government areas is the state. It is like that all over. Only last week, the only APGA member in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeronye, dumped the party and pitched camp with the PDP. Hon Emeronye is representing Ahiazu Mbaise, the stronghold of APGA in Imo state. The people of Ideato South local government area, where Chief Okorocha comes from, are not sold to his candidacy. Only yesterday, all the traditional rulers in his L.G.A endorsed Governor Ohakim and pointedly asked Chief Okorocha to respect the zoning arrangement in the state. So tell me, from where will Chief Okorocha get the vote with which he will win the governorship election? As I talk to you now, he has campaigned only in three local government areas, less than two weeks to the election. That’s why he is doing mostly road shows in Owerri. But you are here in Owerri. You know it is all theatrics.

You think it is only about structures, talking about the PDP? You think Governor Ikedi Ohakim has done well to earn the votes for re-election?


You are an Imo citizen. And you live here in the state. You can answer that question yourself. But I can still help you by saying a big “YES”. His opponents are opposing him not because he has not done well but because they are desperate to be governor. And how would you know they are desperate? Candidate Okorocha, for example, talks about spending only four years. Why would you want to spend only four years when there is a constitutional provision that you can run for a second term. The people that wrote the constitution are no fools. They knew the reason they made such provisions. Even in advanced democracies like the United States of America, they have provision for governors and president to run for second term.

So, if you come and you keep on saying, ‘I will do only one term, I will do only one term’, it means you are just begging the people to allow you to just test the position. Chief Okorocha and a few other candidates like him know they do not fall into the template Imo people are using to produce their governors, I mean the zoning arrangement. Okorocha knows that by that arrangement, he should not be talking about governorship now. That’s why he is begging, trying to deceive the people that he will do only one term.

Only desperate candidates talk that way. It is only in Imo state that you see governorship candidates who are begging to be allowed for only one term. Begging or trying to cajole the people to allow you do only one term is an admittance that the candidate either lacks what it takes to do two terms of eight years or is coming from the wrong angle. Chief Okorocha suffers from both. He lacks what it takes to subject himself to party discipline or team work. That’s why he changes party every election. He started with PDP in 1999, later ANPP, later he formed Action Alliance, which he abandoned before anybody knew what was happening. Now he is in APGA. Of course, such a fellow cannot sustain the loyalty of party members to make it possible for him to govern a state for eight full years. You see, people expose themselves through several ways. Chief Okorocha is begging Imo people for only one term because he knows that Imo people have a template which they want to stick to, namely that after Okigwe zone might have complete its turn through Governor Ohakim, it goes to Owerri zone, not Orlu zone where he, Okorocha, comes from.

But in that interview he debunked the zoning arrangement. In 2007 some people from Orlu zone ran for the governorship. We had Hope Uzodinma, Tony Ezenna, and Festus Odimegwu. And if any of them had won, that would have meant that another Orlu fellow would have emerged immediately after Chief Achike Udenwa. That’s why people like Chief Okorocha say that zoning is dead in Imo state.

That brings us to the crux of the matter. So, why weren’t those Orlu people elected. They did not even go beyond the primaries. Do they think Imo people are fools? Hope Uzodinma came first in the PDP primaries. Why wasn’t he given the ticket to contest the main election? The fact that a selfish money bags nurses an inordinate ambition does not mean that that is what the people want. The same way Imo people resisted those Orlu zone chaps who wanted to rubbish the zoning arrangement, is the same way they will reject Okorocha on April 16, 2011. That you have money is not the reason you should want to thwart the collective will of the people. Chief Okorocha was nobody when leaders of the state came up with that template. And I am saying that he is not in any position to change it. I have the record which shows that he visited the former President, Chief Obasanjo, on January 3, 2007, to complain that Tony Ezenna was running for governor even when he comes from Orlu zone. And he was asking Obasanjo to stop him.

But many people have said that zoning promotes mediocrity, that let the best come out no matter where he or she comes from.

May be zoning promotes mediocrity in areas where the likes of Okorocha grew up but certainly not in Imo state or if you like Igbo land. There is no local government in Imo state you will not find at least five governorship materials, not to talk about an entire zone made up of up to nine local government areas. Let the zone whose turn it is bring out their best. You see, this zoning thing is just for equity, so that all parts of the state can have a sense of belonging. If you don’t zone, many areas will never have the opportunity.

Many of the governor’s critics argue that the projects he claims to have done are not there. Things like the Wonder Lake Resort project and Oak Refinery and Petrochemical project.

You are a journalist practicing in this state. The governor has never claimed that any of these projects have been completed. He has never told anybody that he has completed the Wonder Lake project or Oak Refinery. Those talking that way expose their own ignorance. I read Chief Okorocha’s interview where he alluded to the non-existence of the Wonder lake Resort and the Oak Refinery. Of course, these are street talks. One would expect a governorship candidate to go beyond platitudes to talk more knowledgeably. You see, these people are not thorough and deep. Otherwise, they would know that it is not possible to have completed the Oguta Wonder Lake project under four years. Or the refinery. Which state can build a refinery in four years? These are mega projects that are for the future but which foundation are being laid now. The projects require a lot of planning. The paper work alone takes years.

If it were just a question of going to a site to erect a building block to announce a project, then may be they would talk differently. And that’s what our people are used to, seeing physical infrastructure before plans for a project are even concluded. And that is why we have abandoned projects. Many governments rush to begin to erect physical infrastructures even before the feasibilities studies are completed. At a stage, they discover that the project may not be viable. Governor Ohakim is too sophisticated for that type of thing. I know that a fellow like Rochas Okorocha would start by erecting buildings so that people can clap for him. So that Okada riders can hail him. Governance in the 21st century has gone beyond mere waiving of hands. Only the deep can call to the deep. The governor is not looking for cheap popularity. Any knowledgeable fellow knows that these mega projects take time. Imo citizens who have the interest of the state at heart know that. The sword turning ceremony of the Wonder Lake project was laid on January 4, this year. You live in Owerri. Just drive to Oguta Lake and see the rate of progress within three months.

You are aware of the setback the project suffered as a result of the global economic crisis and the security situation in the Niger Delta. As a result of these, some of the earlier partners experienced difficulties. Some, their home governments even cancelled approvals earlier given. We had to start afresh. Part of the delay was also because some people went to court to stop the state government from doing certain things. Take the N18.5 billion Bond the state government floated. Some people went to court to stop it. So the Bond stayed longer than we had anticipated before it was pulled through. That naturally meant that the necessary funds were delayed in coming. As I talk to you now, the federal government, through the NNPC, is partnering with the state government on the refinery project

One issue that has come up in the current electioneering campaign is that the key candidates insist that they have a pedigree of success in business and wealthy background and that this will help them manage the resources of the state better.

Which business success? And where is the wealthy background? I don’t know when being a chronic bank debtor makes one a successful businessman. Go there, you will see the records at the relevant quarters. Some of these candidates are what bankers call bank invaders. They take loans from banks, they will never pay. I don’t want to mention names but there are at least three of the candidates whom banks have taken over their property all over the country on account of loan default.

But even so, some of them cannot talk about wealth because their wealth is what we used to call Money Miss Road in those days. How many people benefited from their wealth? Chief Okorocha talks about internally generated revenue in Imo state. Ask him how much tax he pays to the state. Is it not from taxes that you get IGR? In 2009, he paid only N661,000 as tax. In 2008, he paid only N570, 000. Go and cross check, you will see what I am talking about. As a public servant, I pay much higher than that. It means a lot of civil servants pay more tax than Chief Okorocha. Yet he has the temerity to talk about I.G.R. Is that not cheating the system and the people? In other claims, people like him will not be talking because they are tax evaders. Many countries have zero tolerance for tax evaders. But here in Nigeria, anything goes. The road to his village was un-tarred until Governor Ohakim tarred it when his mother died in 2008. Chief Okorocha says you people in the media should not compare him with the other candidates. That he stands out. And you failed to ask him on what basis. He is talking about people who have sound education they received when they were in their early twenties. But Chief Okorocha flaunts a degree he purportedly got only last year, 2010, at almost 50 years of age. So, when he says don’t compare me with other candidates, he, of course, means including Chief Ikedi Ohakim. Isn’t that funny? You come from Imo state here, tell me which company he owns. All what you hear is Jos, Jos, Jos, Abuja, Abuja. He talks about transparency in the democratic process. But you are here in Imo as a journalist. Did he undergo any primary election in APGA before he emerged its governorship candidate? As far as I am concerned, personally, Chief Okorocha is planted in APGA to destroy the party. He is on a mission there. As he did in ANPP.

Lastly Sir, the election is just 10 days away. What are the chances of Governor Ohakim?

Governor Ohakim will win the election neat and dry.

Ewooo!!!  Our dear Imo State has suffered in the hands of some wicked brood of vipers. See how they’ve pictured Imo State, they see it as an egg where everyone can just come and eat from. God thanks for stopping them in 2007 and i believe you’ll never allow such people to be close to that governorship seat again.
Chief Achike Udenwa ruled imo state for eight ( years, and could not set any legacy for others to follow. All he did was to share Imo State funds and revenue to people that don’t deserve it so as for his name to be praised forever. Like other past Governors, they work efficiently and effectively so that their successor can continue from where they stop. But Chief Achike Udenwa didn’t set any path way for his successor (Dr. Ikedi Ohakim), that is why he condemns every development done by Dr. Ikedi because when he was in power, he never had the vision and wasn’t interested in taking imo state to the next level.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume is asking his God fathers to give him the opportunity to devour the state and his people. Has he forgotten that he tarnished his image when he was sent to represent Okigwe senatorial zone. OH!!! He would say that his image was only tarnished in Okigwe not knowing that bad news spread like wild fire. He showed his incompetency when he represented Okigwe zone as a senator for eight years, using funds meant for okigwe zone to address his personal businesses like opening two big provision stores in Benin and Abuja respectively, how can he now manage the whole of Imo State. With this you can know his intentions  and you would see that he wants to repeat what Chief Achike Udenwa did to Imo State. Imolites be warned!!!

Preamble:
The forthcoming general election will define two things for the good people of Imo state:
(1) Whether Imo People shall continue on the path of sustainable development. Or
(2) Return to an era of political jobbery, god-fatherism and treasury looting.

Today, there are two individuals who, for all practical purposes, want to foist the latter scenario on the state and its people. The two men are:
(1) Chief Ifeanyi Araraume and
(2) Chief Rochas Okorocha

TWO OF A KIND
There is a disturbing similarity about the antecedents of these two fellows. Imo people may not know that both men showed up in Imo State during the Abacha era with incredible bags of money. Araraume arrived from Benin with two distinct marks on his face raising questions about his origins. So did Okorocha who suddenly arrived from Jos, amid doubts about his origins in Ogboko in Ideato South. Both men always talked about their mothers, never their fathers. Both appeared in Imo political scene suddenly in not more than 15 years ago. These facts have troubled most discerning Imolites who cannot gamble their future in the hands of two political speculators without proven pedigree.

It is, therefore, not a surprise that it is these two same fellows who are swimming against the political tide in Imo state. If these two men have Imo blood running in them, why are they bent on doing things that run contrary to the wishes and aspirations of the generality of Imolites.

Zoning:
Undoubtedly, nothing else demonstrates the fact that both Okorocha and Araraume are aliens among Ndi Imo than their penchant to destroy the zoning arrangement for throwing up the governor of Imo state and which arrangement has made it possible for Ndi Imo to elect their governors in the past almost effortlessly. By that zoning arrangement, Orlu zone took its full turn of eight years through the immediate past governor, Chief Achike Udenwa. Which means that Orlu zone will have to wait till 2023 before the governorship would get to it again.

Meanwhile, Okigwe zone started its turn in 2007 with the incumbent governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The zone (Okigwe) is expected to complete its turn in 2015 after which Owerri zone will go in for eight years till 2023 when it will return to Orul zone.

ENTER THE TWO JOBMEN: OKOROCHA AND ARARAUME
ARARAUME
Araraume, who is the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the April 16, 2011 elections, is from Okigwe zone.

Now this man, as if to tell Okigwe people that he is not one of them, has rebuffed all entreaties by his people to support Ikedi Ohakim to complete Okigwe zone’s turn by returning for a second term. In response to the entreaties, Araraume says he will run for only one term of four years, to enable Owerri zone begin its turn in 2015.

But Owerri zone people have rejected this completely, insisting that he, Araraume, will never keep to that. Already, prominent Owerri zone indigenes have told him in black and white that his candidacy will not fly because it is a calculated attempt to rub the zone (Owerri) of its turn in 2015. Araraume has been asked by the people Owerri zone to return to his village, Isiebu, (really?) to allow Governor Ikedi Ohakim complete the turn of Okigwe because Ohakim’s second tenure is the only guarantee that Owerri will takes its turn in 2015.

In a recent letter addressed to prominent stakeholders in the state, a notable son of Owerri zone and Speaker Emeritus of the Imo State House of Assembly, Barrister Kelechi Nwagwu, wrote, among other things “…The people of Oweri zone are currently very passionate about the governorship seat coming to Owerri in 20115. Governor Ikedi Ohakim is the only Okigwe zone contender that is constitutionally bound to relinquish power in 2015 when he would serve out his constitutional eight years limit. Other contestants, who have been feebly promising to hand over to Owerri zone in 2015, have a constitutional right to run in 2015 for a second term. They will surely fail Owerri zone because they do not keep promise and do not respect agreements …”

Agreed that there are at least two other governorship candidates from Okigwe zone, even the least discerning reader knows that Nwagwu is referring to no other fellow than Araraume. Nwagwu’s letter was titled: “Why Governor Ikedi Ohakim Should Be Returned To Government House On May 2011”.

In case Imolites have forgotten, Kelechi Nwagwu was one of the brains behind the notorious Alliance which had Araraume and Udenwa also as leaders. Nwagwu has since left that camp even as Araraume dragged the rest to the ACN.

To demonstrate the fact that Araraume will NEVER keep to his ‘promise’ of serving only one term of four years, he carefully made sure that another kin pin in their that camp, Alex Obi, did not emerge as his running mate. The reason is simple: He believes that Obi, who comes from Owerri zone and is believed to nurse a governorship ambition, will be too strong for him to manipulate in 2015 to facilitate his continued stay till 2023. Hence, his choice of Noel Chukwukadibia who is known in the state as a ‘YES’ man.

Assuming that Araraume has his way and finds himself in Government House in May 2011 and then fails to keep to his promise in 2015, as he will surely do, the political equilibrium that exists in the state would have been altered because once Owerri zones fails to get its turn in 2015, the contest will become open once more.

ROCHAS OKOROCHA
Rochas Okorocha’s candidature proves even more fatal to the zoning arrangement and peace and stability of the state. What is more, Okorocha’s case smacks of total impunity if not a deliberate insult to the people of the state. If Araraume could get just a listening ear because he is talking about “completing” Okigwe zone’s tenure, Okorocha’s ambition beats the imagination of even the worse enemies of the state, save, of course, the few individuals who are currently in his pay roll. Orlu zone, where he comes, from took its full turn between 1999 and 2007. And the entire Orlu political establishment has told him in black and white that the zone is not interested in the governorship again until 2023.

The question on the lip of every Imo citizen has been, where is Rochas Okorochas coming from? Put in plainer language, who is beating the music he is dancing? Before February 23, 2011, this man, who is better known by what looks like a nickname (Rochas), had been going about with the tale that it was President Goodluck Jonathan that has asked him to go to Imo to “chase” away Ikedi Ohakim.

Of course, nobody believed him but typical of his con nature, he quickly printed posters carrying his photograph together with that of the President. Until the eve of Tuesday February 22, this tale bearer of a fellow was still going about telling hapless Imolites that President Goodluck Jonathan, who was billed in the state the next day to flag off his campaign, was coming to present him to the people of Imo state. Even as nobody believed him still, what happened while the President was here merely went further to prove to the deeply conservative people of Imo state that Okorocha, who claims to come from Ogboko in Ideato South local government area but believed to have his roots somewhere in Plateau state, is yet again in another political jobbery.

If Araraume’s quest for the governorship is feared as capable of altering the political equilibrium in the state, Okorocha’s entry into the gubernatorial race this period is seen by all and sundry (within and outside the state) as a complete negation of the sophistication for which the people of Imo state are known. The question has been, have things because this bad for the people of Imo state that known con men and political jobbers have descended on them with such impunity.

HISTORY OF POLITICAL JOBBERY
Rochas suddenly arrived the political turf of Imo State about fifteen years ago. Displaying an unusual ostentatious lifestyle but a questionable pedigree, the deeply conservative political elite in the state did not hesitate in throwing him out of the gubernatorial contest in 1999. Despite coming tops in the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leaders of the party roundly rejected him in preference for Achike Udenwa. This was even as he flaunted a level of affluence that thoroughly embarrassed leaders like the late Senator Emeka Echeruo, Innocent Nwoga and a host of others who kept on asking, “Where is this boy coming from?”

He returned to Orlu zone where he managed to pick the senatorial ticket of the party but was trounced by Chief Arthur Nzeribe at the 1999 general election. Since then, Rochas has been on the path of political prodigality. He always makes himself available for any high stake political jobbery involving mega money. After his disastrous outing in 1999, his sponsors recalled him to Abuja to await further assignments which came four years later.

He was conscripted into the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) for a major political jobbery in 2003. At the general elections that year, he single handedly rendered the ANPP impotent, cleverly achieving what his sponsors sent him there for.

In 2007, the same Rochas Okorocha was again recruited for yet another mega political jobbery. This time, it was the PDP where, to the surprise of all, he came second at the party’s presidential primaries in an arrangement authored by those who wanted to frustrate the transition from one elected civilian administration to another, the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.

In between this major political heist, Rochas Okorocha floated a party by the name Action Alliance, a party he abandoned without the slightest consideration for some decent Nigerian’s who, as usual, were deceived into believing in him through his uncommon lying skills.

OKOROCHA’S CURRENT MACABRE DANCE
Today, he has landed in Imo state to execute the brief of his sponsors who do not wish Imo people well. This is how he, Rochas, came to the current macabre dance he is staging before Imo people.

The Emekuku political tradesman, called Martin Agbaso, shares many traits with Rochas Okorocha. Both worship money. And it happened that Okorocha was shopping for a political shop front to execute his latest brief when his sponsors alerted him that Martin Agbaso had already put out words that his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was up to the highest bidder. Together with his sponsors, they quickly reckoned that APGA enjoys substantial Igbo sympathy and will be a perfect tool for accomplishing the dis-stabilization of Igbo political cohesion in the nation’s political mainstream. It was after he met a stiff resistance in the APGA supreme leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Governor Peter Obi, who are today President Jonathan’s ardent supporters, that he beat a quick retreat and went to print posters showing his photograph and that of President Jonathan.

A CRONIC DEBTOR
As things stand today, Rochas Okorocha is indebted to those who wanted to sponsor him for this latest political jobbery. How he will refund the money he collected for this failed bid to destabilize Igboland is just a part of a bigger headache of how to offset bank debts totaling over N25 billion (Twenty Five Billion Naira). At the last count, Rochas Okorocha is allegedly being trailed by six banks to pay up. So bad is the situation that Imo sons and daughters in the banking industry and who are in a position to know have been grieving at the prospects of this political buccaneer becoming the governor of their dear state? As a stop gap measure, he has surrendered some of his properties to the creditor banks pending the time he mounts the saddle as governor and start repayment. The properties include.
1. Property at Area 11, Garki, Abuja worth N2 billion.
2. A 40 bedroom Hotel at Wuse 11, Abuja worth N1.2 billion
3. A 48 bedroom hotel located at Garki, Abuja worth N1.5 billion
4. An office complex at Garki, Abuja worth N1 billion
5. A housing estate of 60 units at Life Camp Abuja worth N1 billion
6. A Housing Estate of 94 units located at Nyanya, Abuja worth N7 billion
7. A Guest House located at Maitama, Abuja worth N2.5 billion

Unfortunately, the total collectable from these properties add up to only N10 billion leaving a balance of N15 billion. Imo people can now see why this man called Rochas Okorocha is chasing the governorship of Imo state using all kinds of tricks in the devils book and defying the very zoning arrangement which Imo people hold so sacrosanct.

It should now be clear to Ndi Imo that the fellow who has been inundating them with sweat talks about FREE EDUCATION is a BANK INVADER, an expert in bank loans that have no plans of paying back, who will turn the state over to debt collectors from day one.

BACK TO ARARAUME
It should also be clear to Imo people why Ifeanyi Araraume is also as desperate as Okorocha in his quest for the Imo governorship seat. Both share this common trait as CHRONIC BANK DEBTORS. Not long ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria published the list of debtors who were indebted to the troubled banks. The list contained EXCLUSIVES STORES LIMITED owned by Araraume. The debt was to the tune of over N250 million. The case of N25 million between him and Chief Ferdi Achom over shares in a bank is also well known.

BOGUS CLAIMS ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
This is another thing the two men share in common. Their educational background remains a mystery. Araraume claims that he graduated from a University in the United States of America. But investigations have since shown that the University he mentioned has denied ever having a student with the name, Ifeanyi Araraume.

Characters like Rochas Okorocha who have something to hide will always claim to have studied in Universities located where Imolites cannot trace their school mates. They will never mention UNN or FUTO. It is always University of Jos or Maiduguri or Sokoto. A complex state like Imo requires someone with demonstrable track record of University education; not adult evening programme or part time programme. That is not to say that late starters have no chance but to lie about it is the moral issue that is quite reprehensible.

ROCHAS AND PHILANTROPY
Rochas Okorocha pretends to be a philanthropist but his brazen exploitation of the less privileged or physically challenged people whom he uses for personal gains is well known. All over the world, well known philanthropists do not go into politics. There is no written rule on this but the belief is that going to ask for votes from the same people you make philanthropic gestures to is like giving with the right hand and collecting with the left.

It is now a well known fact that Rochas hinges his philanthropy on political patronage. Of recent, the Owelle of Ideato asked parents and guardians of pupils in his Rochas Foundation College to sign an undertaking to support his governorship project.

Unknown to many Imolites, Rochas Okorocha does not run his philanthropy with his own funds. The sources of his ‘philanthropy’ is money donated by Foreign and Overseas Charity Organizations which give huge sums of money to Local Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to tackle vital social issues in the areas of education, health care delivery, Human Rights, Gender Equality etc.

Okorocha owns one of such NGOs into which these overseas charity organizations pour huge sums of money. Cleverly, Rochas Okorocha does not let knowledgeable people into his NGO and today, he has embarked on a political programme to exploit the best intentions of those foreign charities.

This is why today, he is exploiting the fact that Imo people pay great premium on education. Hence his glib talk about FREE education even when the schools he claims to personally own at Ogboko and Owerri are not free.

AGAIN IFEANYI ARARAUME
Ifeanyi Araraume’s claim to fame is that he was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Astonished by such an unexpected achievement, given his questionable background and criminal records, he soon convinced himself that he can go for the ultimate prize of the governor. Consumed by that obsession, he has set out to obtain the Imo governorship by hook or crook and by all means imaginable.

His waterloo, however, is that the good people of Imo state have laid before him his performance as a senator:
(1) Out of the required 1665 sitting days at the Senate, Araraume could only be present for 650 sittings.
(2) In other words, he absented for 1,140 days, to the utter disappointment and detriment of the Okigwe Senatorial zone that sent him to represent them.
(3) Araraume presented only two Bills for eight years and none of these went beyond the first reading.
(4) He did not sponsor one single Motion.
(5) The only two water projects he attracted were never completed.

What his candidature portends for Imo state is grave danger as he is not even qualified to seek public office because he is not public service oriented. His poor performance in the Senate is not surprising because this is a man who never worked in any organization all his life. And he had never carried a file his life. He never knew what it meant to report to work. He never received a query; neither did he ever give one. The highest Araraume got to was to man provision stores stocked with milk, bournvita, sugar, biscuits, soap, and condoms.

Then suddenly, he found himself in the Senate of a country like Nigeria. And the result was that disastrous outing which his people in Okigwe zone will regret forever.

ONCE BEATEN TWICE SHY
To be fair to the people of Okigwe zone, they had initially resisted his going to the Senate to represent them.

On February 4, 1999, a few days after he had been nominated as a Senatorial candidate, a group which went by the name, Okigwe PDP Youths Forum, represented by one Nkeiru Ohedinma and Innocent Nwanosike, filed a three-page petition against his nomination.

In the letter which was addressed to the national chairman of the PDP, chairman of Board of Trustee and others and copied to the INEC Commissioner in Imo, the Director-General of the State Security Service, the group wrote; “Your nomination of a known criminal as the Senatorial candidate of Okigwe Senatorial zone (Imo North) is scandalous, shameful and unacceptable”. (See, for example, The Source magazine, October 28, 2002).

One of the group’s grouse was that Araraume was sacked as the then APP chairman in Imo State for embezzling about N32 million. The group wrote: “Araraume was the Imo State chairman of APP before they sacked him for embezzlement and he crossed over to the PDP and bought his nomination with embezzled APP funds. You can confirm this allegation from Arthur Nzeribe or Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu or any other Imo son or daughter”.

Again, sometime in August of the same year, another group, Okigwe Renaissance Movement, in a letter addressed to the National Assembly leadership expressed shock that while the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Salisu Buhari, was disgraced out of office over certificate forgery and perjury, Senator Araraume sat pretty well in the Senate. Their words; “Chief Godwin Ifeanyi Araraume, the Senator representing us (Imo North) at the National Assembly used fake documents for his elections as the various certificates he presented to both PDP and INEC were all forged. He never attended or matriculated or graduated from any University in Nigeria or abroad yet he parades B.Sc, M.Sc. among his several qualifications”.

Amazingly, Araraume scaled through all these and remained in the Senate for eight years and even attempted to be governor. Little wonder, then, his very poor outing in the Senate because as the saying goes, you do not give what you do not have.

Is history about to repeat itself? Today, well meaning Imolites have expressed disapproval over Araraume’s governorship ambition. Yet he remains undaunted. Will Ndi Imo be taken for a ride for a second time?

IN SUMMARY
The above, then, is the story of the duo who are making spirited efforts, albeit under different platforms, to govern Imo State. This is the story of two fellows whose pedigree gives no one, no matter how lowly placed, any confidence. From the above, it is clear to all and sundry that:
1. Both Rochas Okorocha and Ifeanyi Araraume are agents of those who want to destabilize Imo State, nay Igboland. The ACN Araraume is flying its flag was promoted by people who ancestors subjected Ndi Igbo to untold hardship and the worst humiliation ever known in mankind
2. ACN is an off shoot of Action Group owned by the late Obafemi Awolowo, the man who said that starvation is a legitimate instrument of war; and as the then Minister of Finance made sure that Nigeria slammed a three-year old economic blockade that led to the death of millions of Ndi Igbo.
3. After the war, the same Awolowo froze the Accounts of Ndi Igbo in the banks and gave only twenty (20) pounds even if you had millions in your bank account.
It is the children and political godsons of this same man that Araraume and his ilk have brought to Ala Igbo to colonize our people.
4. Okorocha is a born con man who is out to destabilize the state. There is the rumour that what he is actually looking for is a Ministerial appointment and that the only sure way is to cause as much confusion as possible. Ndi Imo, was that how others before him got their Ministerial positions? Why must he defy all well meaning citizens of Imo State to run for the governorship election when he does not fallen into the template.
5. To illustrate how grave Okorocha’s candidature is to the polity of Imo state, even his co-traveler, Ifeanyi Araraume, told him recently that he can never be governor, describing him as an “incredible optimist”. Imo people can see that they are already quarrelling over the loot even before they get it.
6. Ndi Imo, a vote for Rochas Okorocha and Ifeanyi Araraume means a vote for backwardness, lies, political jobbery. The Choice Is Ours

In an emotional mood, the senator representing Okigwe North in the House of Senate, over the weekend announced his return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
To so many leaders in Okigwe zone, it was like a dream come true at the country home of the senator, Chief Sylvester Anyanwu.
Speaking before a mammoth crowd that gathered at Alike Obowo, in Obowo Local Government Area, Chief Anyanwu stated that no matter what may have constituted his differences with the Imo Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, should be left in the past and begged the people of Imo North for forgiveness on whatever shortcomings that many have resulted there from.
Expressing the belief that the experience of the past was a bulwark for greater understanding of the challenges and responsibilities ahead, Senator Anyanwu affirmed that Governor Ohakim has garnered the needed experience to deliver democracy dividend for the next four years, adding that now was the time to work harder for success at the April polls for all PDP candidates, pointing out that teamwork was very essential.
He proposed a ten-man committee on advocacy to other geopolitical zones of the state and advised PDP stalwarts to be faithful to the party at all times.
In their contributions, Prof. Nnamdi Obiareri, Chief Maxwell Duru, Prof. Ezeadi O. Ezeadi, Chief John Enyiogasi, Nze Law Dike, all lauded the initiative of Senator Anayanwu for the great courage he took for the reconciliation and return to PDP for the April polls.
Chief Austin Nwigwe and a chieftain of CAN, explained that there was no need for the unnecessary divisions in the Okigwe political zone especially now it was imperative to maintain the tempo of progress in the state, while chairman of Isiala-Mbano local government and chairman of ALGON Imo State, Mrs Ruby Emele prayed for the unity of purpose for all Okigwe sons and daughters and their victory come April 2011.
Responding, the Governor, Chief Ohakim, expressed his joy at the return of this big fish into the PDP fold. He extolled Senator Anyanwu for his humility and courage to retrace his steps and pointed out that the synergy between the State and the National Assembly will yield greater results soon.
It would be recalled that earlier in the day, Governor Ohakim had a thanksgiving service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Methodist Church in Okigwe accompanied with Senator Anyanwu and other dignitaries and other notable sons and daughters from Okigwe zone.

The Authorities of Evan Enwerem University, Owerri has faulted the gubernatorial candidates of Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), Chief Godwin Ifeanyichukwu Araraume and his All Progressive Grand Alliance Counterpart(APGA), Chief Rochas Okorocha who promised free education in the state, as their campaign strategy.
Apparently disturbed by such a flimsy promise to bamboozle the voters in the state, the university authority challenged all those who make such promise to name any nation in the world where they can cite as an example where education is free.
Addressing the Press in Owerri, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chidi Ibe described such a promise as a hoax. He made it clear to the politicians who promise to offer free education as their campaign strategy that there is nowhere in the world where tertiary education is free. The University Don reminded such people that qualitative education is always money intensive and required painstaking evaluation of both human and material resources.
And in order to meet up with the required standard, the university authority submitted for approval the sum of N6.3 billion to the State House of Assembly. “I did an expanded survey with the assistance of the Register and found that the school fee of 12,500 was by far the lowest, not only in the South East, but also in the entire country.”
“The consensus was that whereas primary and, to some extent, secondary education should be free and compulsory, the issue of tertiary education is a different ball game, requiring very painstaking evaluation of both human and material resources needed”.
The Pro-chancellor therefore advised that any political debate on education in the sate should rather focus on the imperative of providing qualitative tertiary education for current students and creating additional university places for the teeming JAMB graduates of the state origin.
According to him, Vice Chancellors of Universities in the South East met in 2008 and their calculations was that it would cost an average of N245,000 a year to train the average undergraduate and N129,000 for a post graduate student.
This, He said, excludes the cost of development of infrastructure. “So, rather than divert attention from the real issues about tertiary education in the state with bloated promises we should be urging ourselves to do more”

Some “DOUBTING THOMASes”often ask the question: WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR IKEDI OHAKIM AGAIN when approached to vote for Sir Ikedi Ohakim, the action governor of our dear state, Imo.

In this article therefore, I would make attempt to answer some of these questions and at the same time proffer solid, sound and infallible reasons germaine to the campaign to get Ikedi back to Douglas House for a deserving second term all encapsulated this article, 10 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD VOTE OHAKIM AGAIN.

1. IKEDI IS NOT A SAINT: There is this impression in some quarters that a public officer should be above board at all times. They should not crack jokes, get angry, go astray like others do. Sir Ikedi Ohakim is just an ordinary human male like others but one blessed by God and ordained to be governor of our dear state. Not even Barrack Obama, President of the USA is unimpeachable or free from mistakes and criticism.

Ohakim has no doubt made some gaffes if not many and attimes may have shown exuberance but in all, let us remember IKEDI IS JUST AN ORDINARY BEING LIKE YOU AND I. He is not our saviour Jesus Christ who is without sin nor has he pretended to be. We must in acessing him not on sentiments but on verifiable and critical issues not hearsay or libellous allegations being peddled by his detractors who do not mean well for Imo.

2. OHAKIM CANNOT MAKE IMO AN ELDORADO: When one approaches certain people to support the incumbent governor, they tell you- HAS THE ROAD IN YOUR VILLAGE OR NEIGHBOURHOOD TARED, DO YOU HAVE LIGHT 24 HRS, WHAT HAS HE DONE ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT? etc. The main issue here is that NO ONE SINGLE GOVERNMENT CAN SOLVE ALL SOCIETAL PROBLEMS AT THE SAME TIME. Every government comes, does its own bit and leaves. All the roads in Imo or even say Owerri municipal can never be tarred by a single government but Ikedi has done his own part and is simply asking, LET’S DO MORE for Imo State.

3. IF IKEDI GOES IMO LOSES MORE: What do I mean. No government in Africa continues or completes the projects of a preceeding administration. They upon assuming power, start their own project to get ALL THE GLORY. Often times these projects may be similar based on their objectives but yet they are abandoned as the new government desires a clean break from the past thereby making the state lose resources invested in the abandoned projects.

Operation Feed The Nation (OFN), Green Revolution, Back To Land, etc are all agricultural projects meant to give more attention to the sector but no one government wanted to inherit the project of the other. The result is that the millions or billions spent on these projects went down the drain and the nation or state in this instance suffer. Today, there are still housing projects in both Owerri and Umuahia abandoned since the 2nd republic because of lack of continuity. That the loan obtained by Dee Sam Mbakwe has not been fully paid till date and some of the projects non-functional is because the govenrments after his did not see the dream that he envisioned and could not therefore give birth to them. Imagine if Dee Sam did not complete Concorde hotel before leaving office?

Today, Ohakim has several vital, economically useful projects capable of turning the economy of Imo around for good if completed, and he has assured Ndi Imo he will do so before handing over in 2015 to Owerri zone. Let me just take the Oguta Lake Resort as an example. This project if completed is capable of making Imo a haven for investment and tourism. I visited Oguta for the first time a week ago and marvelled at the splendour and natural endowments of the area. That Tinapa is what it is today is because ex-Gov. Donal Duke completed the main aspect of the project before leaving office. Today we are all trooping to Cross-River State forgetting one man dreamt it and was given enough time to accomplish it. I see Oguta Resort as envisioned by our governor beating Tinapa as the tourist resort of choice in West Africa.

4. ZONAL ARRANGEMENT: This point has been over laboured but suffice for me to repeat that a second term for Ohakim is a sure banker that Owerri Zone would get the governorship in 2015. Who would trust Araraume with a single term? Me?, You? Lie lie!.

Rt.Hon. Nwagwu, a former loyalist and apologist of “Alliance” has recently made it clear that Araraume would go for a 2nd term. He should know better since he once had a political romance with the ACN candidate. What if Rochas who seems to have reached his roche limit with his current aspiration grabs the seat? It is good bye to equity, political harmony and unity in Imo. God no gree.

5. IKEDI chop money: Nobody wey u go vote as gofnor wey no go put han for soup pot no matter if na small meat e collect. Udenwa chop, Mbakwe sef chop, Yaradua im sef chop. We don hear as Rochas wack Blue Cross money. What of Senator, oh ooooh. That wan na wackis man. He dey chop no clean mouth sef.

Our gofnor if na chop matter, e don chop enof, if na jaguar wey dey hungry am, e don get am, if na to travel go obodo oyibo, e don do am. But for im opponents dem, one spend many many owo pursue d seat for 2007 e fail, come spend many many owo for court for 3 yrs again e fail, if una elect dis man una tink sai e no go ist recover d ego e spend before e begin work? I don hear sai court dey pursue am sake of say e borrow owo do election come open super market for our federal capital yonder. Or the other man wey don run for all d offices for our obodo Nigeria come fail dem all. E don dey see imself for dream as governor wan answer His Excellency. Dis man sef go cho belle full before e begin work as e don suffer sake of politics wey e dey use as biz. We dey hear say e get NGO we oyimbo go sen 1 million Dollars, the man go change am use 5% come dey make noise say na from im pocket. Chei. The same man i hear say because 1 paper for Owerri write say e dey Ogboni abi Ogbono e come sen thugs and im otinkpu dem go scatter the place beat day light from my friend Madu, the editor body. chei

6. IKEDI LOVES YOUTHS: JUST FEW EXAMPLES WOULD SUFFICE. He sent some youths to South-Africa to watch the World cup life. Employed 10,000 youths into civil service unlike the past government that used the back door to fill spaces with their kins men only. The governor put his oponents to shame by inviting the 10,000 youths to government house for all to “eye mark”. I have friends and school mates from Imo State University most of whom are in their early 30’s working for Ikedi ie Iyke Okoigboananwa (SSA Executive Sports), Lawrence ACHUNINE (SSA Special Duties), Emperor Iwualla (CPS To Dep. Governor), Ambrose Obioha (SSA Youth Development). Until recently, Tony Uzoukwu, immediate Sports and Youths Commissioner and Macdonald Ebere was TC Chairman Owerri Municipal. All are Imo Stars, ie graduates of IMSU.

7. OHAKIM LOVES WORKAHOLICS AND INTELLECTUALS: Prof Mrs. Viola Onwuliri, Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), Ken Njemanze (SAN), Willie Amadi,Levi Oguike are just a few example of people with outstanding intellect, hard working and deep thinkers Gov. Ohakim has attracted to work in his government.

8. OHAKIM DESERVES A SECOND TERM BASED ON HIS ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR. Clean & green Initiative, IRROMA, road projects, schools renovated and many too numerous to mention.

9. OHAKIM IS IN THE RULING PARTY. At this stage of our development, Imo cannot afford to join a minority party. APGA is already breaking in to PDP. Bianca, the beautiful wife of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu is now an aide to President Jonathan while the party has endorsed President Jonathan. What else, before 2012, APGA would join the PDP. Mark my words. What of ACN, a yoruba promoted party. The facts speaks for itself, so I would not waste time discussing party nde ofe mannu.

10. Ohakim stands for CONTINUITY AND PROGRESS. Do I need to say more bearing item 1 to 9 above?

In conclusion, Gov. Ikedi Ohakim deserves your vote, his principal opponents are not better than him nor do they have better track record. Let us support and vote Ikedi Ohakim TO DO MORE for Imo. www.ohakim2011.org
www.imomanylies.com