Frontline politician in Imo State and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Orikeze Vitalis Ajumbe has said Senator Ifeanyi Araraume deserves to be Imo State Governor.
He recalled the efforts of the senator in reviving the APC in the State. Ajumbe said the APC is making waves in Imo State because of the likes of Senator Araraume.
The former commissioner said Araraume had come to the rescue of the party in Imo State at a time Governor Rochas Okorocha had abandoned the party.
Speaking to The Nation, Ajumbe said Araraume deserves accolades for coming to the APC at a time Okorocha left it to die.
He said “ We were looking for somebody who will help us to revive the party that looks almost dead until Araraume came. Araraume was one of the people who helped Okorocha to win election. It was his structure, because it came to a point where the PDP person was almost on top until Okorocha met Araraume. Araraume brought his structure. Let me tell you, Araraume has the largest structure in Imo State politically until he came on board to revive the party. So, he may be in a situation he would not know what to do because he probably doesn’t know what to do because he probably doesn’t have money. Politics has to do with money. Now, Somebody has come in to help. What will he do? It is to align with that person who has good intention for that political party where you belong to and that is why we have aligned ourselves with Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume”
He expressed regret that the APC that is supposed to be the ruling party in Imo State is not so because the government is funding the party.
“ This is a state where the APC as a party that is supposed to be in government is now like a party in opposition, a party that has been rejected, a party that has been forgotten or that the government that the APC helped to bring in power” he said .
Reacting to claims by Governor Okorocha that he cannot hand over to Araraume and former Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, he said “ Okorocha is not God. And in the history of Imo State, no governor has ever appointed or has ever nominated who succeeds him. Imo is a perculiar state. It has been the decision of the people. Imo State has well educated people that money cannot buy”
He dismissed the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere who has shown interest in the governorship contest.
” The deputy governor is Okorocha’s boy. Let me put it at that. He was his PA, he was his ADC. He was his ADC even before he became a governor. When he (Okorocha) won under APGA, he made him deputy chief of staff until the former deputy governor was impeached. So, whatever is happening between them… I am also aware his Chief of Staff, who happens to be his son in law, is also interested to run and is doing his campaign…