By okey alozie
A fresh dimension is being witnessed in the political hemisphere of Imo state as uncertainty continues to trail every action of the governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha towards 2015 election.
Doubts about the next political dispensation of Okorocha have continued to generate mixed reactions following conflicting signals about the position the number one citizen of the state will bid for in 2015.
While indications are rife that the governor will run for a second term as Imo state governor, his body language and verbal expression clings towards the presidential race.
On Monday, Okorocha was at the Ranchers Bees Stadium Kaduna where he played guest to a Northern group known as Arewa consultative forum, who urged him to run for the Presidency.
Prior to this period nothing concrete was heard whether Okorocha has collected APC form for either Presidency or Governorship position for 2015 election.
But a disturbing revelation emerged on Thursday when indices shows that the governor may have obtained APC form for Presidency.
According to details of the Kaduna exercise monitored by our correspondent, Okorocha may have obtained APC form to join the likes of Mohammad Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Musa Kwankwaso and Isa Nda Isaiah, all Northern to run for the party’s ticket.
Trumpeta’s guess was fueled by a confirmation on the Thursday edition of a national daily where the front page picture showed governor Okorocha as APC aspirant, displaying his nomination form, in Kaduna, during a rally.
The Sun Newspaper of Thursday Nov 6 2014 edition (Vol 10 No 3007) among other put to rest controversies whether Okorocha has picked Presidential form or not. The difficulties in ascertaining if Okorocha has picked any form emerged as the exercise lacked the fanfare that has always characterized his political programmes.
While addressing a gathering on Wednesday, Okorocha told Imolites that when his contemporaries noticed his seriousness he has shown and potentials to win the ticket and go ahead to defeat President, he was extended offer of Vice-Presidential ticket which has been rejected.
However, in a contradictory statement while addressing Imo workers at Dan Anyiam Stadiums Owerri and APC stalwarts including appointees, aspirants, delegates and party officials, at the Imo International Convention Centre, IICC, Okorocha gave intention that he is not stepping out to run any position outside the state.
According to him “I am not going to leave Imo, I am not going to leave my people, I am no going to leave my projects. I am only trying to shake them. I mean, it is unfair that no Igbo man joined to seek for the Presidency”, he added.
At a meeting in Owerri, Governor Okorocha has claimed to be an anointed candidate for Presidency come 2015.
He made this declaration in a meeting with the aspirants and stakeholders of Imo APC which took place at International Conference Centre on Thursday.
The Governor explained that concerned citizens of the country have urged him to run for presidency and he has finally accepted to head to their clarion call.
He boasted that he rejected the offer to be a running mate to one of the APC Presidential Aspirants last week.
During the meeting, the Governor unveiled the names of the state APC aspirants for state and National Assembly come 2015.
He advised all the aspirants to see themselves as brothers and sisters adding that operation pull him down syndrome and campaign of calumny going on in the party should stop.
He however directed that all the aspirants should sign that the will still remain in the party (APC) after primaries that is coming up in few days time.
The Governor also raised eyebrows on the rumour going on indicating some aspirants are busy taking party members and leaders to shrine as measure to secure winning. He therefore warned that any aspirant that is found guilty of taking part in such a diabolistic act will definitely be disqualified from the race.
He advised all party members to embrace peace remaining them of the need to appreciate the delegate which he added that a tight fisted aspirant can not win the primary “Delegate election is always expensive”, Okorocha said.
He denied ever anointing any aspirant, rather he disclosed that the primaries will be free and fair.
The Governor said he is not going to leave any stone unturned as he discovered that some delegate list have been tampered with. In his reaction, Governor Okorocha ordered that the new names used for the replacement of the ward and LGA executive members who carpet crossed to other parties should be with-drawn with immediate effect. He therefore directed that a fresh congress should be conducted in such wards and local Government areas.
