Action Alliance, AA Imo Gubernatorial candidate, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has made known what agreement he had with Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha before he was endorsed as the preferred successor.
In his speech to a group of political stakeholders who visited him for consultation in his campaign office in Owerri, the state capital, the AA’s gubernatorial candidate revealed that the governor is not imposing him on Imo indigenes, the people are the ones who recommended him to Okorocha.
Nwosu said: “My emergence as the governor’s preferred candidate was not discussed in a room between me and the governor and some close members of the family or political structure, but in a hall, with the greater majority of party members and Imo people. “The governor had some other people in mind outside me, but he also wanted someone who can win election and someone who is prepared enough for the task of governance. He didn’t want to support someone he likes so much, but someone who can work for Imo people.
“If the governor wanted someone he will have absolute control over, I would not have been his choice. The governor knows I can be positively stubborn.” “The governor gave all of us, his political sons and daughters, the opportunity to prove ourselves. He was looking for two things in the man who would succeed him; one of them was electability; how popular are you among the people and how strong is your natural support base?
“He wanted to know those who have used the opportunities they were given to empower the people and also keep close touch with the people. Secondly, he wanted to know who has the best temperament and mental preparedness to be governor. “He didn’t want someone who would be vindictive, someone who would become governor and get overwhelmed with power. He wanted someone who would keep Imo people together and ensure that there is peace.
“He wanted a tolerant person, a workaholic and someone who is not corrupt and selfish.He wanted someone who would not be hijacked by the elite. He wanted someone who is in touch with the masses; the ordinary keke riders, palm wine tappers, the youths, the downtrodden. “When the cards were placed on the table, I came tops. I want to tell you that there is no one among the people seeking to govern Imo today on different platforms who did not come to seek the governor’s blessings.
“Some of them sent people they think are close to the governor as emissaries, some of them came on their own. Some of them the governor outrightly told them he wasn’t going to support them, some of them he told them what his ideas of a successor is like. He told them to go out there and convince him. “Some of them he gave them assignments to do. Some of them held more and even higher positions than I have held in the government, but a number of them got carried away with small positions, others began to open war fronts in every corner, while others began to steal as much as they could, thereby sabotaging the government’s efforts.
“The governor is my mentor but he will not run my government for me. He has run his own government, and I am sure he will allow me to run my own government. He will give me a space to operate. I can tell you that he has already assured me on that and I know him well enough to know that I will be the one disturbing him to come around, and not him looking for how to control my government.
“The philanthropist urged Imolites to ignore any report that he is coming to cover up for the governor. “I have come to work for Imo people and not to cover up for anybody. I have a name to make for myself and not to hide under anyone’s shadows.”
Nwosu, Governor Okorocha’s son-in-law, contested the APC governorship ticket but lost to Senator Hope Uzodinma in a controversial circumstance.
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