By Thompson Agu, Abuja/Peter Uzoma
This is not the best times for Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who is battling with the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC, over his rumoured ambition to contest the number one position in the country come 2015.
Our correspondent who has been monitoring affairs in APC learnt that the renewed quest of Okorocha moving to the national stage to vie for the presidency or vice presidential position of the party is fuelling bad blood between him and the hierarchy of the party.
Following reports that the leadership of the party where Okorocha acts as the APC governor’s forum chairman has unofficially allocated the Presidential and Vice President tickets to the North and South West regions respectively and South East having a consolatory national chairmanship of the party, Okorocha reportedly met with the leadership caucus in Abuja after the APC unveiling of party programs in Abuja, of intentions to run for the office of president.
The ambition of the Imo Governor was said to have troubled the other party leaders who requested him to drop his desire to avoid skirmishes and unwarranted disaffection within the rank and file of the party, planning to take over power from Present Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 election.
Disturbed by the retrogressive position of the national leadership to his 2015 presidential bid Okorocha who is said be considering also a second missionary journey if the national level game fails, attempted to mobilize support at the zonal South East structure and sensitize the Igbo group about his desire and need to use the zone as launching pad against calculated attempts to keep him out of the presidential race.
On getting wind of the meeting of the South East APC scheduled last weekend, presidential bid the national leaders waded into the matter by stopping the meeting and allegedly asked the state governor not to organize the zonal APC forum for South East people.
Authoritative sources close to Okorocha disclosed that the Imo governor is presently not in good mood over the subtle manner he is being kicked out of the race for Aso Rock by powerful forces in APC. The attitude of APC national leaders is said to have pitched Okorocha with those not disposed to have him for the position.
Meanwhile, Over 500 Imo students Monday besieged Imo Government House and Major streets of Owerri to support Governor Rochas Okorocha’s ambition to vie for presidency in 2015.
The students from all the tertiary Institutions of the state came out en mass with placards to praise the Governor for his transformation program as well as ask him to allow some one else to succeed him as the next Governor of the state.
While the students were moving around the major treets in Owerri, serious traffic Jam was noticed along wethderal and Douglas roads. Our reporter who monitored them said it appeared like drama as traders motorists, keke operators and people from other walks of life also joined the move.
A spokes man of the group and one of the student leaders from Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Comr Osuala Chibuzor said they came out to show their concern for the political development in Imo state, adding that the present Governor should anoint a Technocrat from the youth fold to succeed him while he makes head way to Aso Rock to be either president or vice president in 2015.
The youths later went to other stakeholders of the state to familiarize with them.
In a related development, the leaders of Mbaise have appealed to Governor Okorocha to respect and fulfill his promised to them which he made in 2015.
According to the Elders drown from the three Local Governments namely Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise and Ezinihite Mbaise, the Governor signed a single tenure agreement and promise to hand over to one of their son or daughter in 2015.
“There is no shot cut to what the Governor promised” an elder said.
When contacted to react on the issue Dr Prince Charles Onuoha who appeared to be the anointed candidate from Mbaise extraction said he is truly set to succeed Okorocha in Douglas House come 2015
