– Says;He Paid Ultimate Price For Love Of Imo People
– Likens Him To Mandela Of Imo State
A socio-political pressure group, Okigwe Solidarity Movement,OSM has called on Dr Fabain Ihekweme, a former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in Imo State to join the governorship race in 2027.
The group promised to mobilize political, moral and financial support for him to ensure that he emerges victorious.
The National President of the group, Chief Leo Nwachukwu stated this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, shortly after an emergency meeting on Tuesday.
He noted that Ihekweme, who was arrested and detained for months as a result of his critical disposition to the anti-people programs and policies of the current administration in the state has demonstrated unusual courage, love and concern for the plight of Imo people who he said have never had it so bad.
According to him, contrary to the usual practice of leaders folding their hands and watching helplessly while all kinds of atrocities are perpetrated only to surface at election time, Ihekweme has consistently stood against bad governance and alleged misappropriation of public funds even at personal risk.
“He has demonstrated the capacity to govern the state fearlessly. Hence, all well meaning leaders and stakeholders in Okigwe zone have decided to mobilize support for him. Besides, he already knows the wishes, aspirations and challenges of Imo people in addition to the deceitful shenanigans of the ruling class.
“Gone are the days when money alone and not capacity determined a person’s ability to emerge victorious in an election. Ihekweme’s relentless advocacy for good governance and in depth analysis of happenings in the corridors of power has sensitized Imo people on how the state’s funds have allegedly been mismanaged with reckless impunity. That is why he is being hunted, harassed, intimidated and threatened by those whose secrets he has exposed for the benefit of the people.
“Ihekweme is the Nelson Mandela of Imo State. It is on record that no single Imo person of Ihekweme’s status in the society has had the courage to stick out his neck and speak truth to power the way he has done. Others are hibernating in Abuja and other places waiting for the next election time to come and mesmerize the electorates with their usual charade. But this time around, the bubble has burst and their antics exposed.
“We have set up a committee to meet and discuss with Ihekweme in Abuja or else where, now that it is the turn of Okigwe zone. It is regrettable that the Owerri zone is also laying claim to the governorship position in the next dispensation despite the role they played in scuttling Ohakim’s second tenure”.
Responding to a question, Nwachukwu said, “it is irrational for Okigwe zone to be content with a 4-year tenure when Orlu has had a 24 year spree. Anything short of allowing Okigwe zone to complete its 8-year tenure is not acceptable to us. We advise Owerri zone to patiently wait till 2031 when Okigwe would have completed its remaining 4-year tenure”.
