Former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim who was in the news at the weekend for visiting a governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Barr. Humphrey Anumudu has explained what really transpired during his interaction with the APGA chieftain.
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This newspaper had reported that this is the second time Ohakim, a PDP chieftain and governorship aspirant is visiting another guber aspirant not of his political party.He had had last month visited Senator Ifeanyi Araraume of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
The social media had been abuzz since the former Governor went to see Anumudu with some media platforms alleging that the former Governor endorsed Anumudu for the 2019 governorship race during the visit.
In a statement by Ohakim’s Chief Press Secretary, Collins Ughalaa, he said Ohakim never endorsed the APGA governorship aspirant when he is in the same the race.
“For the record, we wish to state that Dr Ikedi Ohakim had no reason to call on Imo people to vote Barr Anumudu as Governor when he is also running for governorship in 2019, especially when he told Anumudu and his guests that he too was running for governorship in 2019.
“What happened was that His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim paid a courtesy call on Barr Anumudu on his invitation at his country home in Mbieri on Saturday, May 26, 2018. It happened that Barr Anumudu was already having a meeting with some members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). While speaking to his guests Anumudu said he is running for the governorship of the state in 2019. But looking at Ohakim he said that though he likes Ohakim especially for his intellectual capacity, he was asking that himself be allowed to be Governor in 2019.
“Few of his guests who spoke after him naturally supported his idea and went further to make the usual false claim of how it was the turn of Owerri Zone to be Governor in 2019. After that Anumudu who was visibly excited at the visit handed over the microphone to Ohakim” the statement stated
The ex governor reiterated that he was also in the governorship race.
“Ohakim stressed that the main thing in Imo State now is how to make Okigwe Zone complete their remaining term of four (4) years. He said he should be considered first for governorship in 2019 being a more senior politician, adding that after then there would be no better person than Anumudu to be Governor from Owerri Zone, being the foremost runner for governorship since 1999 and one who plays politics without bitterness.
“He noted that equity demands that he be considered first and that Owerri Zone will only have valid claims to be Governor after he had completed his term in office, instead of annoying Okigwe Zone to enter into a political alliance with Orlu Zone, which he stressed could keep the governorship of the state between the two zones of Orlu and Okigwe for a long time.
Ohakim promised to do all it takes to ensure that Owerri Zone becomes Governor after his tenure” the statement stated