Imo State Government
Press Release
The Imo State Government has acknowledged the unguarded repeated threats and claims by the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state following the defeat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the Ekiti state governorship election held last weekend, Mr. Kayodi Fayemi by the candidate of the PDP in that election, Mr. Ayo Fayose.
The latest of such claims was that of Nze Elvis Agukwe, also a PDP chieftain in the state who was Commissioner in the PDP last administration in the state. Nze Agukwe was widely reported in the media to have said that following the PDP victory in Ekiti state, the party will also win in Imo in 2015 because Governor Rochas Okorocha and his party, APC have no place in Igboland.”
Let us first of all state that the PDP in Imo state is somewhat becoming funny. Is it not ridiculous that the PDP in Imo state has concluded that, because APC lost election in Ekiti state in 2014 therefore the party will also lose in Imo in 2015? Or, because Mr. Fayemi lost in Ekiti state, therefore, Rochas must also lose in Imo. This logic is not only strange but lopsided to every sound mind.
The same PDP chieftains giving these threats have also forgotten that in 2011 the PDP in Imo state lost the governorship election to APGA then, and the governor then, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of PDP losing to Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Did that cause the defeat of PDP in Abia or Ebonyi state?
Again, the PDP in Ekiti state fielded Ayo Fayose who had been governor on the platform of the party because he must have done well in his first outing, hence, Ekiti people preferred him to the APC candidate. And let the Imo PDP do the same, by fielding the ex-governor produced by the party who also served one term like Fayose in recent time, and see what will happen.“
Imo people will vote for Rochas Okorocha in 2015 because he has exceptionally done well. His achievements will form the basis of his campaign. Then, what will Imo PDP tell Imo people. That the party used 12 years to drink Moet and Hennessy in the state to the chargin of Imo people?
Yes, granted that Imo PDP is desperate to come back to power in the state, having stayed out of power for 4 years which is to them like 40 years, but there must be basis to ask to be allowed to return. The party came, saw and could not conquer. And Rochas has come, saw, and has to a large extent, conquered. And only those who have conquered get the nod to fight again and not those who could not conquer.
Imo PDP cannot rule Imo state again. The 12 years given to them were grossly misappropriated. And Imo people will be playing to the gallery allowing the PDP to come back again. If Rochas had won the 2011 election against the PDP with 20,000 votes margin, that of 2015 will be 40,000 votes difference.
The facts are on ground. The Imo PDP staying out of power for at least 60 years will be the best thing that will happen to the people of Imo state. And God will do it for Imo people. Again, Imo PDP coming back to power in the state in 2015 will be like the miracle of fish swallowing Jonah and vomiting him at Nineveh.
Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media
