By Innocent Onyeukwu
The race for Ikeduru/Mbaitoli Federal Constituecy Seat has taken a new dimension with the declaration of Harvard trained industralist, Ositadinma Oparaugo (alias Tenth April) for the position.
Oparaugo, who is the founder of Tenth April manufacturing company, told newsmen at the weekend that he is fired by the zeal to offer effective representation to his people if they give him their mandate to represent him at the House of Representatives, Abuja.
He said he has remained a loyal PDP member and has contributed positively to enhance the economic well being of his people, stating that he sited a factory at Mbieri 14 years ago and employed over 100 workers mainly youths.
He promised to bring dividends of democracy to the people of Mbaike if elected into office. The Umudagu Mbieri born politician said it is painful that despite the fact Mbaike is the secong largest Federal constituency in Nigeria, there are bad roads and dilipidated infrastructure in the area.
Oparaugo maintained that Imo State remains a PDP controlled State, arguing that the party will recapture the governorship seat of the State in 2015. He dismissed the entrance of the All Progressive Congress(APC) into the political arena of the State, stating that that it is the governor’s party does not imply the APC will dominate the Imo political landscape in 2015.
In his response to a question if he will quit the race if the present member representing Mbaike at the House, Hon Bethel Amadi, decides to run again, Oparaugo said to the best of his knowledge, Hon Amadi intends to run for the Imo governorship seat in 2015.
He described his relationship with Amadi as warm and cordial, maintaining the he will forge ahead with his aspiration if Hon Amadi decides to run for Mbaike Federal Constituency seat again.
He said “ It is not left for me to decide. Hon Amadi has done well. In his first term, he did very well. In his second term, he lost his position as a principal officer because of the forces from the State who distracted him. Hon.Bethel is the only genuinue PDP loyalist. He was the one that nominated the choice of the PDP leadership for various positions in the House, but this was eroded by some forces from Imo State “
Oparaugo backed the proposed Local Government autonomy describing it as a move that will accelerate and boost economic development of the local governments and guarantee dividends of democracy for the local populace. He also lamented over absence of federal presence in Igboland.
He decried the state of Imo Airport wondering why the Federal Government has done nothing for it to function effectively as an International Cargo Airport.
ArchBishop Obinna Explodes On Okorocha (Cover)
. Express Fears On 2015, May Go On Sabbatical
. Denies Chairmanship Of ISOPADEC Youth Empowerment Programme.
. Decries Okorocha’s Attempt To Muzzle The Catholic Church.
By Innocent Onyeukwu
The Catholic Archbishop Of Owerri Diocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, last Sunday fired warning shots at politicians seeking public office just as he gave a knock on the Rochas Okorocha adminstration over cetain actions and policies.
The Archbishop advised politicains point blank, that he will not back any governorship candidate or any aspirant for any elective public office as he hopes to go on sabattical during the period of electionering during and after the 2015 general elections.
The Archbishop who spoke to a tumultous crowd of catholic faithful at Assumpta cathedral church, Owerri, said he will be less involved in the electionnering period before, during and after the elections.
He said he will wish to stay away from the next political dispensation in the State in 2015, raising alarm that in the past, some politicians wanted him dead. He said this is not possible because it is God that is the giver of life and death.
The Archbishop also strongly denied his headship of the Imo State government sposnsored ISOPADEC youth empowerment programme for youths in oil producing communities in the State. He clarified his stance on the issue, denying claims by agents of the Okorocha adminstartion that he has been given N200 million naria out of the N500 million naria for the project.
He said it is unfortunate that his name was linked to the programme, stating that if the programme was meant for catholic youths in the State he would have accepted the position.
He said he was strongly advised against taking up some government appointments by his mentor, the late Mark Unegbu recalling how the late Bishop was appointed Chairman of the a Trust Fund for Imo Airport without his consent.
The Archbishop opened up on attempts by the Imo State Governor to muzzle the catholic church especially realating to the Angelus prayer.
He alleged that the governor had directed that the prayer should be done at every hour, stating that Okorocha has no right to tell or determine for the catholic church when and how the Angelus prayer will be conducted by catholic faithful in the State.
He maintained that the Angelus prayer is the property of the catholic church and therefore not within the purview of the Governor or the State government.
It will be recalled Obinna had tactically backed the ambition of then APGA governorship candidate,Rochas Okorocha who later emerged governor of the State during the 2011 Imo governorship election.
The outcome of the governorship debate held at Odenigo centre in 2011 was alleged by many political watchers in the State to have been tailored to sway support for the catholic community in favour of Rochas to the detriment of then Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
This was compounded by allegations that the then governor Ohakim manhandled a catholic priest, an allegation Ohakim’s men has denied describing it as hi level conspiracy and propanganda designed to crumble Ohakim’s reign as Imo State governor.
Meanwhile, the two years administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha in Imo State has been described as the year of the locusts, as it has nothing to show to the people, except grand standing, without substance and dividends of democracy.
This assertion was made during the weekend, at the burial ceremony of Late Eze Theodore Onuoha, which took place at Umuaro, in Isiala Mbano Local Government.
Speaking to the mammoth crowd that turned the burial ceremony to a political carnival, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume said that Gov Okorocha has turned out to be a total failure as the electorate have now regretted the 2011 debacle, pointing out that there is nothing to show that there is a Government in Imo State, but brigandage and propaganda.
“Okorocha has failed. Is there anything to show that he has performed? I ask you people, point at any thing that has been done in the state since 2011” Araraume said.
The Senator who represented Okigwe Senatorial Zone for Eight years in the National Assembly urged Imo people to judge Okorocha based on the stupendous funds that poured into the State since 2011, and not on the make-shift projects he is using to hoodwink the masses.
The Governorship candidate of the defunct ACN in the last election in Imo State said that from all indications Imo electorate have learnt their lessons even as the Governorship election is still under contention at the Supreme Court.
Earlier, the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu had eulogized Governor Okorocha for his sterling achievements especially in Okigwe Zone where Uwajumogu said Okorocha has given the people a sense of belonging through the massive projects sited in the Area, adding that the people of Okigwe zone are happy with Okorocha.
However, the occasion turned dramatic after Senator Ifeanyi Araraume stirred the hornet nest with his criticisms of the Okorocha administration, when Chief Chikwem Onuoha, a son of the late Eze Onuoha, on whose behalf most of the politicians attended the burial ceremony, picked the Microphone to say that it was not true that Okorocha has failed, reeling out a number of projects he claimed were executed by the Okorocha administration in Okigwe Zone.
Many were shocked with Chikwem Onuoha’s open defence of Okorocha, as he is known to be former Governor Ikedi Ohakim’s closest ally, a regime where Onuoha was Special Assistant, and later Deputy Chief of Staff to Ikedi Ohakim.
However, the burial ceremony was a rainbow coalition of Imo politicians of different hews; from APGA, PDP, APC, ANPP and what have you.
Attendance was who-is-who which include Prince Eze Madumere, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu, Hon Donatus Ozoemena, Hon Kingsley Dimaku, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Hon Ogbonna Ozurigbo, Chief Humphrey Anumudu, Chief Tony Chukwu, Bar Eze Duruiheoma, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, Mrs Ijeoma Nwafor, Hon Robertson Ekwebelam, Bar Kingsley Ononuju, Sancod Okoro, Bar Emma Ibediro, Tony Black Nduka, Joe Frank and wife, Hon Emma Dike, Henry Ekpe, Gerry Ogu, Anosike-Asinu CONA, Prof Iheduru, Chinasa Nwaneri, and too many others.
