Imo State Government House Owerri
Press Release
Imo people and indeed, Nigerians who had followed what transpired at the 2014 Iriji Mbaise Festival held on Friday, August 15, 2014 would be shocked how or why we have decided not to be commenting on that incident after our initial and only reaction to that dishonourable act by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha in which case, we only took exception to that unprovoked verbal attack against the governor of the state, while still holding the kola he was given to present to the visitors at the event.
Since then, Hon. Ihedioha and his lieutenants have continued their media gimmicks to deceive the general public. On our part, we decided not to comment again on the issue. And we have our reasons.
One, we had discovered that Hon. Ihedioha deliberately launched that unprovoked verbal attack on the governor at the iri ji event to give the impression that he can confront or fight Gov. Okorocha in the politics of the state, even when he knows that could not be possible by any standard. He wanted to give the world the faulty impression that he has what it takes to confront the Imo Governor, when he knows that would remain a dream. And we would not like to allow him achieve by joining issues with him.
Two, Hon. Ihedioha is one aspirant out of about twenty five others on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo state and he is not, in all honesty, a rival to Governor Okorocha at the moment. It is only when he emerges as the PDP candidate in Imo for the 2015 guber election in the state that he will be Governor Okorocha’s rival, then, the debate and comments will become fruitful and meaningful. There will be questions and there will be answers.
Three, it is logical and of course, common sense should have let Hon. Ihedioha know that as an aspirant, Governor Okorocha can not hand over to him like he demanded. It is only when he becomes the candidate of the PDP and wins the election that he can talk about who would hand over to him or not. And even Governor Okorocha does not have the right to hand over to him in 2015. It is only Imo people who can do that. If he has what it takes to be elected governor of Imo state and he can do well as governor, and Imo people elect him, then Governor Okorocha will only carry out the ceremonial aspect of the exercise
But the truth of the matter is that Imo governorship is a serious business. It is not a new yam festival where people come with cultural dances and attack their visitors. We are talking of winning election in the 27 Local Government Areas in the state to become governor.
The joy is that by 2015, Imo people will go to their polling booths to elect their governor. And anybody with the spiritual eyes in the state must have known why all the guber aspirants are concentrating on Rochas Okorocha. They know that for any Imo man or woman to defeat Rochas Okorocha at the pool in 2015 would be another New Testament miracle. They know it. That is why they always tell their party members about “Federal might” and nothing more. In 2015 Imo people will speak with their votes and there is nothing anybody can do about that.
Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media
