The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has named Hon. Gerald Irona as his running mate for the 2019 gubernatorial election. His nomination was a product of a wide-ranging consultation with relevant stakeholders across the State.
Born in August 1st 1966, Hon Irona, an Engineer by training, until his nomination is the party’s National Deputy Financial Secretary. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 where he served as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Gas Resources and demonstrated high level of legislative competence.
He was also a member of Imo State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003 where he chaired the House Committee on Petroleum, Environment and Energy. He was appointed Chairman Transition Committee of Oguta Local Council and was elected Executive Chairman of the Council between 2004 and 2007
His grassroots base became manifest greatly in his early political career when in 1996 and 1997 he was elected a two-term councilor of Oguta Ward A.
Hon. Irona obtained Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Imo State University. He has Higher National Diploma and Ordinary National Diploma in Chemical Engineering obtained from the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu and College of Technology now Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri respectively.
Hon. Irona has Oxford University postgraduate certificate in Leadership; Raleigh University, North Carolina, United States Postgraduate Certificate in Budgeting and Budget Control.
He attended Priscilla Memorial Secondary School, Oguta, between 1980 and 1985 where he was the Senior Prefect of the school.
Some of his laurels include: 1993 NYSC National Honours, Jigawa State; Most Outstanding, Friendly and Accommodating Imo Member House of Representatives (2011-2015).
Hon Irona is a devout Catholic, humble, youthful, a versatile administrator, prudent financial manager with profound knowledge in governance and inter-governmental relations.
This ticket would stimulate a desirable path to the expected liberation and rebuilding of Imo.
However, despite his political and academic qualifications, Trumpeta learnt that Ihedioha picked Ironna as Deputy because of various factors.
One of them is his loyalty to Emeka Ihedioha which spanned from the time both men were in the House of Representatives.
Trumpeta was informed that Ironna has been loyal to Ihedioha for years, which convinced Ihedioha to trust the Oguta born politician.
This Newspaper also learnt that the PDP Governorship candidate resolved to make Ironna his Deputy because of the area he comes from.
Ironna is from Orlu political zone, which though is the largest political zone in Imo State in terms of number of Local Government Areas, but only second to Owerri zone in terms of number of registered voters.
And people also say that Ihedioha may have considered the Senator Arthur Nzeribe Factor, because Ironna is his political son.
Even though Nzeribe is getting old and slowed downed by ill health, he still wields political power in Oguta LGA, Orlu Zone, Imo State and Nigeria in general.
With the naming of Ironna as his Deputy, Ihedioha has completed one of the hardest political decisions staring him in the face.
Meanwhile, his former Deputy candidate in the 2015 Governorship elect, Rt Hon Chuma Nnaji still remains commited to the Ihedioha project, and is one of the major supporters and top PDP chieftains in the process to make Ihedioha next governor of Imo State come 2019.
Speaking to his teeming supporters yesterday in his Owerri residence, the PDP Governorship candidate had appealed to PDP members to accept his decision, even if it may not sit well with everybody, pointing out that nobody is perfect, but maintained that he choose Ironna after wide consultations.
