2019: Why I want to be governor in Imo again —Ohakim

Former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, has formally put to rest speculations that he wants to make a return to Douglas House.

The former governor at a parley with newsmen on Sunday, disclosed that he has bowed to the pressure from Imo people to run for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

According to him, he is contesting to bring back happiness, due process, rule of law and quality to the state, as well as create the right atmosphere for investments.

Ohakim was governor of Imo State from 2011 until 2015 when he was unseated by the incumbent Rochas Okorocha, in a hotly contested election that was characterized by a number of intrigues.

But speaking on his planned comeback, Ohakim stated, that he is seeking re-election to complete many projects that his administration started, but were abandoned by the present government in the state.

“I want to come back to create the right investment climate that would credibly and consistently support current businesses and attract new investments by promoting investor-friendly reforms and providing valuable incentives, building effective partnership aimed at targeting and generating investment opportunities.

“I am returning to create a system that would place premium on justice, peace and security that would challenge the entrepreneurial and competitive spirit of the Imo people, which is the touchstone of Igbo high achievement. Above all, to add value to leadership through accountability and responsible governance.

Read also: Split in Imo Assembly deepens over endorsement of Okorocha’s son-in-law for governorship

“I am coming back to complete the Imo Free Trade Zone, Imo Freeway, the Ring Roads, the Housing Schemes, the Wonder Lake Resort and Conference Centre; to rejuvenate the tourism and hospitality sector, to boost agriculture through Agro-nova, complete the Imo Refinery and Petrochemical project in the oil communities of Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta LGAs, and other projects that were abandoned immediately I left office in 2011”.

Dr Ohakim who said he remains in the PDP at the moment said that Imo State needs a leader that has institutional memory to prevent the state from total collapse.

He regretted that most of his projects and policies, such as IROMA, ISIPA, and ENTRACO, which would have placed Imo State on the fast-track of development have been replicated in Anambra and Enugu states respectively.

The former Governor further assured that if given an opportunity to serve Imo State in 2019 he would: re-establish the Eke Ukwu Owerri Market where it was with underground parking as planned by his administration before he left office in 2011; revive the over 2000 water schemes in Imo State; bring back and empower the private sector, create jobs for the youths and bring back cleanliness to Imo State.

Dr Ohakim added that he has forgiven those who wronged him and appealed to those he had wronged to also forgive him, saying: “if we don’t get it right in 2019, it is going to be calamitous”.

He lamented that judges in Imo State are owned 16 months of salaries, stressing that such “scandalous and callous act of Governor Rochas Okorocha” should not be tolerated.

He demanded that the judges be substantially paid before March 2018, and that if this was not done he would lead a protest against the government.

He also warned that 2019 is not the time for another experimentation because the coming regime would be the time for renegotiation of the country and that governance requires people with the right calibre to be able to stand and defend the people.

He said he is ready to salvage and repair Imo State and also appealed to Imo sons and daughters to come together to make sure there is total regime change in Imo State come 2019.

Answering questions on whether he forgot anything in government house, the former Governor said: “Yes, I forgot the development of Owerri Masterplan. My vision is to transform Imo as the heartland for viable and sustainable investment in Nigeria and make Imo a leading provider of value-added support services and human and material inputs to business across Africa; thus spurring economic growth and sustainable job and wealth creation in Imo State”

Ohakim who stated that “There is no going back” on his second term project, also said, “We must get it right this time. The lives of our people would no longer be objects for experimentation”.

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