The race for Imo Governorship Seat in 2015 is to changing everyday with now entrances as the Senator representing Imo West Orlu, Chief Hope Uzodimma joins the fray.
According to impeccable sources, Senator Hope Uzodimma has already named his campaign organization, made up of political heavy weights from the three political zones of Imo state; namely Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe.
Trumpeta learnt that Senator Uzodimma has appointed one of his political allies, Chief Ugochukwu Nnawuihe to head the campaign team, with Chief Peter Mgbemelu as the Coordinator of the entire campaign team.
It was learnt that in a meeting held at the Abuja residence of the Senator, all the Coordinators in the various political zones of Imo state were present.
Trumpeta learnt that Hope Uzodimma joined the Governorship race following promptings from the PDP hierarchy that what is required in Imo state now is a politician of PDP extraction, from any part of Imo state, who can dislodge the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha from Douglas House come 2015.
Uzodimma’s campaign machine, Trumpeta learnt, is made up of a “rainbow coalation” of who-is-who in Imo politics, which has caused panic in the camps of other Governorship aspirants under the PDP platform.
The campaign committee said to be just for now, will include more people later. Meanwhile the committee fro now has a former Transition Committee Chairman of Owerri North LGA based in Rivers state, a former elected chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, a former TC chairman of Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, presently championing Owerri Governorship cause, a veteran politician cum Medical Doctor from Mbaitoli LGA, a former elected chairman of Ikeduru LGA also a Medical Doctor, two top shots of OZOPOLF, a former chairman of Imo state PDP from Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, and a business mogul from Ideato North LGA, now assured of Uzodimma’s seat in 2015.
When Trumpeta contacted a close confidant of the Senator who wished to remain anonymous, he asked if the Senator was not qualified to Govern Imo state, pointing out that with the situation on ground now in Imo state, what is of utmost importance is to remove Rochas Okorocha in 2015, and Senator Hope Uzodimma has the wherewithal to stand toe to toe with Okorocha, more especially when two of them come from Orlu zone.
When Trumpeta enquired from some of those who attended the meeting, they agreed that they were in Abuja at the time, but attended various meetings which was not limited to the one at Hope Uzodimma’s Abuja home.
A source who spoke to Trumpeta from meeting venue said an OZOPOLF Chieftain at the meeting promised to donate an initial (N 40m) forty million naira as a sign of his support to the Hope Uzodimma governorship campaign.
Speaking to Trumpeta, one of the OZOPOLF chieftains who attended the meeting at Uzodimma’s residence denied being present in such a meeting, but told this Newspaper that OZOPOLF is now looking at whoever is capable of winning the Imo Governorship election in 2015, devoid of zones, as the scenario on ground has defied looking at any particular zone to produce the 2015 Imo Governor.
He lamented that it was unfortunate that for more than three years now, OZOPOLF has been championing the Owerri 2015 Governorship campaign, sensitizing the people of the zone and lobbying other zones to support Owerri produce the next Governor of Imo state.
However, he was angry that out of the plethora of Governorship aspirants under PDP from Owerri zone, none has contacted OZOPOLF, nor involved the organization in setting up their campaign structures, instead they set up other “inconsequential” groups now challenging the authority of OZOPOLF.
The source made it clear that since these Owerri Guber aspirants are out to humiliate OZOPOLF, the group has decided to look for those serious minded Governorship Aspirants who can deliver the goods in 2015, no matter what zone they come from.
With the present scenario playing out, there is the likely hood that the Imo charter of equity may not hold water again in 2015, as various heavy weights from different political zones throw in their hats into the rings.
Already, the former Governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has indicated his interest to run in 2015. Now, it is clear too that Uzodimma is running.
While Ohakim hails from Okigwe zone, Uzodimma comes from Orlu zone. And the feeling every where is that it is the turn of Owerri zone in 2015, as strongly championed by OZOPOLF.
But with OZOPOLF chieftains now singing different tunes including supporting Aspirants from other zones it looks likely that the Imo 2015 Guber will turn out a fight of the survival of the fittest.
