Ohakim denies Anumudu, debunks rumours of endorsing Onye-Ma-Uzo for Imo 2019 Guber

The former Governor of Imo State and a strong contender for the 2019 General Elections Dr Ikedi Ohakim has debunked rumors making the rounds that he endorsed Barr Humphrey Anumudu for Governorship. Ohakim debunked the rumour through his Chief Press Secretary Mr Ughalaa and it reads as follows:

*PRESS RELEASE*

*DR IKEDI OHAKIM DID NOT ENDORSE BARR ANUMUDU FOR GOVERNORSHIP*

Our attention has been drawn to a news report that "Former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, stormed the venue (residence of Barr Humphrey Anumudu) and amid cheers announced his unalloyed support for Barr. Humphrey Anumudu whom he described as his political mentor and at same time urged Imolites to support Barr. Humphrey candidature and vote him as governor in 2019."

The false report went on to claim that "His Excellency Ikedi Ohakim charged ndi Imo particularly APGA members to see that all hands be on deck in ensuring that Humphrey is elected the next governor of Imo state".

We believe that Barr Anumudu could not have authorised this false publication. He could not have claimed to be Ohakim's mentor and Ohakim could not have said he was his mentor. This must be the work of some overzealous minions and fifth columnists desperately trying to please Humphrey, because the whole story smacks of mischief.

Ohakim has a long history of leadership beginning from his home community of Okohia in Isiala Mbano LGA in his 20s and had become a Commissioner in Imo State several years before Anumudu joined politics and ran for his first election in 1999. He was Governor for four (4) years, and it is disrespectful to refer to a former Governor of the state as anyone's mentee.

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.

Responding to the statements earlier made, Ohakim reiterated that he was also running for governorship in 2019. He told them the story of the fox and the hen. The fox had visited the native doctor on how to catch chickens since they had become scarce, but before the fox came the hen was already there asking the native doctor for medicine to protect its chickens from the fox.

Ohakim stressed that the main thing in Imo State now is how to make Okigwe Zone completes 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.

We also note that it has become the trend with some people to use Ohakim's name for political endorsement. This happened few months ago when Ohakim visited Sen Ifeanyi Araraume. This time it is with his visit to Anumudu. We therefore want to request politicians who are desperate for endorsement to look elsewhere because His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim is not ready to endorse anyone else for governorship. He has endorsed himself only for governorship in 2019.

While we encourage comradeship among political aspirants so as to eschew bitterness and rancour in politics, friendly visit among them should not be abused for selfish reasons. Perhaps this attitude separates the boys from the men. And those who are quick to hug endorsement should please grow up.

Signed:

Collins Ughalaa, Chief Press Secretary to His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim.

27/05/2018.