Former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, says he is the only aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who has four years to complete his tenure, and with the antecedents to defeat Governor Rochas Okorocha.
He made the declaration in an address to Imo indigenes in the United States through a conference call.
He recalled that when he governed from 2007 to 2011, “no single contractor ran away with one naira of Imo money and I ran the government the way it should be run.”
Ohakim described anyone else from Okigwe angling for the job when he still has four years to go as playing the spoiler game.
Projects past and new
He decried the current imbalance in Imo, a state that had won national recognition during his term. He recounted major programmes he created which received acclaim, including:
• Clean and green initiative, which won Imo first prize from the Federal Ministry of Environment for four years – 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
• Imo Rural Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA), which won the state an award from the World Bank.
Ohakim reaffirmed that he has all it takes, including lots of votes waiting to be harvested, to face Okorocha, recalling that he created 10,000 graduate jobs and 50 per cent of the autonomous communities in the state, as well as 44 development centres.
He said his administration funded town unions which have now been demolished by Okorocha, whom he also accused of removing council chairmen.
“I will allow them to serve out their term,” Ohakim pledged, insisting that “I am the only person who can defeat Rochas Okorocha.”
Ohakim pledged to reinstate 10,000 lost jobs to graduates in the first month of his administration, and to create “good jobs” in clean environment, security, transportation, education, road construction, rural development, agriculture, and healthcare.
He also promised to complete projects abandoned by Okorocha, which cost the state billions of naira, and reminded the audience that he can unite the PDP after the primaries, unlike other candidates.
Pledges to unify party after primaries
“Unifying the party after the primary election is critical and I have been tested and I am the only one who has the leadership and skills to bring everyone under the same unified umbrella,” Ohakim declared.
“I respect the rule of law and our traditional rulers because they play a vital role in the community, as they share in our commitment to protect property and lives of our citizens.
“It is important for someone like me to move swiftly to work to harmonise differences after the primary so that the PDP will go into the election peaceful and united.”
Overheating the polity is detrimental to the nation, he stressed, and counselled efforts to focus on “lifting our people out of poverty.”
Imo Diaspora as equity holders
Ohakim reassured the Imo Diaspora that, if re-elected governor, they will become equity holders in their home state, adding that during his previous term he brought nine indigenes from abroad to work in his administration.
Acho Orabuchi, founder of Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) and Association of Nigerian-American Professionals (ANAP) National Chairman, commended Ohakim for reaching out to the Imo Diaspora and pledged the support of the group for efforts to develop the state and Nigeria.
“It is a humbling experience to have you address us and reassure us that Imo will be better under Ohakim’s administration,” Orabuchi said.
 who has four years to complete his tenure, and with the antecedents to defeat Governor Rochas Okorocha.){kind=link}