BY: JOACHIM EKEOCHA
After the funeral of Late Senator Benjamin Uwajumuogu,who represented Okigwe zone at the Senate, the number of those who want to replace him at the Red Chambers has been on the rise.
Since a political leader in the zone, Tony Chukwu hosted a stakeholders meeting at his Ehime Mbano home, to brainstorm on ways of electing a new senator, the number of those who have indicated interest in the race has even doubled.
Sources said more than 12 aspirants from various political parties have shown interest including Late Uwajumuogu’s sister. The number of contestants is dailya on the rise
Among heavyweights in the contest are Minister of State, Education, Hon.Emeka Nwajiuba and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
The duo have been tagged the key contestants though they are yet to officially announce their ambitions.
Nwajiuba’ posters for the contest had surfaced recently signaling his readiness to go full throttle whem the chips are down.
Others in the race are former Speaker of Imo Assembly, Acho Ihim, a one time Senator of the zone, Athan Achonu and a former Secretary to the State Government,Mark Echendu.
Mr.Chukwu is alleged to be behind the aspiration of Mr.Eze Okoro.
This newspaper observed that there are also other entrants into the race.
At a meeting hosted by Mr.Tony Chukwu last month, stakeholders harped on the need for the zone to field it’s best to replace the late Uwajumuogu.
That call seems not to have been heeded as the race for Okigwe Senate continues to attract interest of many sons and daughters of the zone which may pitch them against one another.
A stakeholder in the zone, Samuel Okoro said he is alarmed at the high number of aspirants for the position.
“The intents of that stakeholders meeting may not have achieved anything. The idea of taking our time to get Late Ben’s replacement was strongly canvassed. But that is not happening. The race has become an all comers affair. There is no week that passes by without one person declaring interest. Some of us have lost count of those vyimg for the position.
“For me it is not a welcome development. It’s either most of our leaders have been idle or want to desperately recycle themselves. At the same time, we must not compromise the task of electing our best” he said
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