Okorocha Endorses Business Mogul, Idiga For Orlu Senatorial Zone, Slams Sen. Hope Uzodinma

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Ignatius Okpara, Latest Headlines Tuesday, December 24th, 2013

Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

In a bid to ensure that his new party (All Progressives Congress) APC completely takes over the political structure of Imo State in the next dispensation, Governor Rochas Okorocha has endorsed business mogul, Chief Felix Idiga for the Orlu Senatorial seat come 2015.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State

Orlu senatorial seat is currently being occupied by senator Hope Uzodinma, of the peoples democratic party PDP, and is also the senatorial district of Governor Okorocha.

African Examiner gathered that the recent endorsement of the business tycoon by the governor, has forced Secretary to the Imo State government, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, who was initially nursing similar ambition to shelve it.

Only recently, at a public forum the Imo state scribe, had openly stepped down his much touted senatorial ambition, to enable Chief Idiga clinch the seat.

Chief Idiga, will be doing battle with the incumbent senator representing the zone, Chief Hope Uzodinma, member representing Ideato State Constituency, Mrs. Eudora Igwe (Okwesilieze) as well as many others, who are also interested in the seat at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Speaking Monday during the grand finale of Chief Idiga’s empowerment scheme at Amaifeke, Orlu, Governor Okorocha described Chief Idiga as a genuine businessman who has used his wealth to attract developmental projects to every nook and cranny of Imo State.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Sir Jude Ejiogu, the Governor, said, “It’s important we acknowledge our sons that are genuine. There are too many fakes who use government offices to cover up. We must not allow such people to continue.”

“Idiga, has used his personal money to develop Orlu, Oguta, Mbaise, Emekuku, Mbano, name them. If he can do much using his private resources, you can imagine what will happen when he represents you. You have to ensure absolute freedom by supporting him.

“He is the kind of people Orlu people will send to the Senate to be able to get their due share from the federal government, not those who will use your money to buy Range Rover Jeeps for big men while those who voted them into office continue to wallow in poverty”.

In his remarks, at the event, the SSG, who was former Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU), said he decided to drop his ambition to enable a more capable person represent the zone.

According to Prof. Anwukah, as a private person, Chief Idiga had outclassed most elected representatives in terms of providing infrastructural development.

“But, some of our brothers are in Abuja, collecting our money without working for us. We definitely need a change because a bad man is a bad man any day”.

In his speech, Chief Idiga said he had attracted over 50 roads and electricity projects to the state especially, Orlu Zone.

He regretted that most of those roads had been claimed in the papers by some Abuja-based politicians as their achievements in the last three years.

Apparently alluding to Senator Hope Uzodinma, Chief Idiga said I’m a genuine businessman. I fought hard for every thing I have. “We’re not coming to dash our people dollars, but we’re coming to help them make the dollars. If God helps us, our children will be source of livelihood for their parents”.

Chief Idiga who had been empowering thousands of the people of the zone through his foundation, called JAFAC, stated that, the essence was not political, but to assist in reducing poverty in the land.