Like Araraume, Partnership with Okorocha Will Harm Ihedioha’s Chances in 2023

by Ekezie T. C.

That the recent political woes of former Okigwe zone Senator, Ifeanyi Araraume, is stemmed from his relationship with former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, is no longer news.

It has been a relationship that has cost Araraume the chance to return to the Senate, following the death of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, which left the seat vacant.

Araraume suffered a massive defeat at the hands of Sir Frank Ibezim, who is believed to be a newcomer in the political scene, and would have been a pushover, had Araraume not joined forces with Okorocha.

As if it was not enough, Araraume’s recent sack by President Muhammadu Buhari, from the position of Chairman of the NNPC Board, a position he was earlier mentioned for, could also be linked to his romance with Okorocha.

In both situations, Araraume didn’t earn the sympathy of the people of Imo State, who despite some reservations they may hold for the Senator Hope Uzodinma administration, were not too keen about supporting anybody linked to the man that put Imo through eight of her worst years.

And this may soon become the fate of the former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

News broke recently, of some form of agreement between the Okorocha-led Rescue Mission political family and the Ihedioha-led Imo State Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

The initial rumour had it that a compromise had been reached with the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu Sam-Daddy, for Ihedioha and Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu to take the party to battle in 2023, while Anyanwu returns to the Senate.

However unfolding events have revealed, that Senator Anyanwu is not involved in any clandestine deals or arrangements with Okorocha.

Rather Ihedioha had seemingly confirmed the rumour, when he was spotted at the burial ceremony of Uche Nwosu’s mother, dancing with Okorocha.

A lot of Imo people are still trying to recover from the shock of seeing the man who claims to be their champion, romancing with the man who is without a doubt, the worst villain the state has ever seen.

It could be recalled that Ihedioha, during his brief eight months stay as Imo governor, had set up probe panels to look into the activities of his newfound friend Okorocha, and the committees have come up with rather damning reports that even threatens Okorocha’s freedom.

Many Imolites have started wondering, that if an agreement have been reached between Ihedioha and Okorocha, would part of that agreement include the scrapping of the probe panels and returning to Okorocha, all that has so far been seized from him, if Okorocha assists Ihedioha to return to the throne?

Imolites also wonder if there is any truth in the rumours of Uche Nwosu running alongside Ihedioha against Uzodinma, come 2023.

The very thought of having anybody no matter how remotely connected to Okorocha and his family, as the number two citizen of the state, with the craftiness to sack Ihedioha a second time and become number one, have caused great uneasy amongst keen political observers in the state.

Unlike Araraume whose relationship with Okorocha have cost him a lot in the party as warned by Chief Mrs Nnoham when he jumped from the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, back to the APC, Ihedioha’s defeat may come at the hands of the people of Imo State, who are gradually seeing his relationship with Okorocha, as an act of desperation.

Many have tried to understand the moral standing of the newfound love between Ihedioha and Okorocha and are now likening Ihedioha to any other desperate politicain, who can cut corners just to get into power.

The general notion amongst some political thinkers, is that Ihedioha probably needs Okorocha’s financial muscle for the battle ahead, but many wonder if Ihedioha is comfortable with the fact, that full account have yet to be given for the bailout funds and Paris Refunds that were given to Okorocha.

In fact, the probe panels looking into those funds, from whole reports Uzodinma hinted that the monies were converted to foreign currency and pocketed, were actually set up by Ihedioha.

Political analysts now wonder what moral standard Ihedioha would have, to probe Okorocha’s financial activities, if Okorocha eventually bankrolls his return to power?

These and many other questions from Imo people about the Okorocha and Ihedioha partnership, may cast dark shadows on Ihedioha’s chances, if he would even emerge as the flagbearer of the PDP in 2023.