OWERRI:— A fresh political controversy has erupted between journalist and youth entrepreneur Emeka Emmanuel Chukwuma and former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha over the ownership and sponsorship claims surrounding the 2018 Imo Talent Hunt project.
The talent hunt initiative, tagged “2018 Imo Talent Hunt,” gained massive attention across Imo State at the time for its large-scale youth empowerment program which reportedly connected talented youths to international opportunities in modeling, music, entertainment, and brand endorsements.
During the week, many Imo residents took to social media to praise the former governor for what they believed was a state government-sponsored empowerment project that transformed the lives of several young people in the state.
However, Emeka Emmanuel Chukwuma, founder of Swat Communication — the company said to have organized the event — has publicly rejected claims that the project belonged to the state government.
According to Chukwuma, the initiative was privately conceived and initially funded by him before attracting international sponsors from countries including China, France, and Sweden.
Sources familiar with the project claimed that more than 100 youths benefited directly from the initiative, with at least 38 participants reportedly securing automatic contracts and talent signings in various industries.
It was further gathered that 27 beneficiaries traveled to China to pursue opportunities in modeling and music, while others reportedly secured endorsement deals with private companies and entertainment brands.
The controversy intensified after supporters of the former governor allegedly described the project as one of the achievements of the Okorocha administration.
Reacting angrily during an online broadcast, Chukwuma accused the former governor of attempting to hijack the success of the project for political gain.
“I have been organizing empowerment programs and talent hunts for years before that event,” Chukwuma stated.
“I decided to seek international sponsors that year, and by God’s grace, sponsors came from different countries. Now the government wants to claim they sponsored the event. I will not allow the Okorocha government to take undeserved glory.”
The journalist and activist went further to launch a direct attack on the former governor’s administration, accusing it of corruption and poor governance.
“Rochas government is a fraud. He is a thief. What he does is steal the money of Imo people and use it for personal interests. He cannot account for many solid projects in the state,” Chukwuma alleged.
“I will continue speaking the truth until the day I die.”
Supporters of the former governor, however, defended the administration, insisting that the government provided support and an enabling environment that contributed to the success of the project.
Political analysts say the renewed dispute reflects the long-standing tension between Chukwuma and the Okorocha political structure, especially following Chukwuma’s years of criticism against the former governor’s administration.
As of press time, representatives of the former governor had not officially responded to the latest allegations made by Chukwuma.
The controversy has continued to generate mixed reactions among Imo residents, with some praising Chukwuma for youth empowerment efforts while others insist the state government also played a role in promoting the initiative.
