The 2015 Imo Governorship race is assuming a new turn as the immediate past Governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim concludes plan to declare his interest to run.
Trumpeta learnt that the former Governor who landed Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport yesterday at about 3.30pm with a tumultuous crowd of followers and some top shots of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, waiting him, headed straight to his country home, Okohia in Isiala Mbano LGA, where he went into a wide consultation meeting with PDP stalwarts and some locals on his 2015 Governorship ambition.
Although Ohakim has not made official statement on the matter yet, sources close to him said it is just in a matter of days before for the former Governor to make it open and will not exceed Saturday.
With Ohakim’s interest in the 2015 Imo Governorship election, it brings him face to face against his “brother” Senator Ifeanyi Araraume again, with whom he did a political battle that stretched from 2007 to 2010 in Tribunals and courts.
Araraume had earlier declared his interest to run for the 2015 election. Both Ohakim and Araraume hail from Isiala Mbano LGA, in Okigwe political zone of Imo state.
It would be recalled that while Ohakim ran under the platform of Peoples Progressive Party PPA in 2007, Araraume hoisted the PDP flag then and in the end Ohakim was declared winner after which his “brother” kept him busy in the courts for nearly four years his tenure lasted.
In 2011, both “brothers” clashed again as Ohakim went for a second term under PDP platform, while Araraume flied the flag of the defunct ACN and lost, with Ohakim also losing his seat this time around to the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
However, many political pundits believe that Araraume contributed to Ohakim’s failure in 2011 as he caused the then Governor to lose thousands of Okigwe zone votes that would have handed him a second term success.
Will both gladiators re-enact the 2007 and 2011 political imbroglio which caused Okigwe zone the Imo Governorship in 2011?
Already, political observers believe that Ohakim’s joining the fray has changed the equation, as more interested parties from Okigwe zone may join the race, even as many had believed that it was the turn of Owerri zone, and therefore kept their ambitions unhold, leaving only Araraume from Okigwe till now.
It was also said that Orlu zone will soon join the race now as Ohakim’s interest has sparked off a lot of political reactions from hitherto quiet political cells in Imo state.
However, most of Ohakim’s followers who spoke to this Newspaper believe that it was the proper thing for the ex Governor to do, by joining the 2015 Governorship race and complete his and Okigwe zone’s tenure which was cut short in 2011 through political horse- tradings, intrigues and sale-outs.
Observers believe that the die is now cast, as more big masquerades will join the Imo state 2015 Governorship race, with Ohakim’s unveiling.
Will Ohakim be the last of the masquerades? Certainly not, as more politicians are bound to throw in their hats into the ring now as the Imo political atmosphere gradually reaches the apogee.
