The emergence of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as Imo State Governor under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA would have not materialized if the claims of a frontline politician in the state, Capt Emma Iheanacho are anything to go by.
Speaking to media executives in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, Capt Ihenacho said that he was offered the APGA gubernatorial ticket in 2011 by the party leadership, before Okorocha got the opportunity later.
Captain Ihenacho while reacting on issue of zoning concerning the 2015 governorship battle in Imo, disclosed that APGA approached him to run in 2011 with the party flag before the present Governor stepped in to grab the ticket.
According to Ihenacho who has not only declared intention to go for the plum job in next general election but also oiling political structure for the onslaught, “I was offered APGA ticket to run for Governor in 2011. But I turned it down for certain reasons. One, I am a PDP man and cannot easily turn around to run in another party than PDP and again because of zoning which I know is not the turn of Owerri zone”.
Elaborating more on the issue of zoning, Iheanacho who stated that he is not a tribal jingoist and would not want to be a Governor due to zonal sentiments, noted that equity and fair play demands that Owerri zone be allowed to produce the next Governor of Imo State.
“Even as I don’t subscribe to zoning and politics of blocs, Owerri zone deserves a chance like others who have had a fair share of the Governorship position.
Captain Ihenacho opined that despite the efforts of previous administration, Imo people deserve a better deal to justify their votes. “We have had eight years of Udenwa, he did his best. Same applies to Ohakim who also contributed his best. And Okorocha too. But in all these, I think we could have done more. I am in a position to voice out that a state like this would have enjoyed more because of our potentials.
“I would have looked after my business than go for any position. But I will be answerable to the people of the state if somebody like me could not volunteer to offer myself to serve the people”.
On his ambition, Captain Ihenacho requested Imo people to reconsider issue of money politics and other primordial tendencies that had characterized past elections in the state. He asked the people to rather consider the potentials of those requesting to be at the helm of affairs in Imo.
