An Abuja based business mogul and political leader in Okigwe zone, Chief Mike Ejiogu has taken a swipe on some rumour mongers and falsehood peddlers in Okigwe zone whose stoke in trade is to create problem where there is none and instigating that Gov. Hope Uzodimma is in a cross road with Sen. Ifanyi Araraume over 2023 Governorship aspiration.
In a one on one chat with Iyke Ndumele, the Abuja Bureau Chief of Nigerian Horn newspaper, Chief Mike Ejiogu diffused this unhealthy propaganda being peddled to tarnish the image of Sen. Araraume and probably create an unhealthy rivalry between him and the Governor. He threw more light on the senatorial aspiration of the Isiebu multi billionaire, Sen. Ifanyi Araraume. Excerpt:
Sir can we meet you officially.
My name is Chief Mike Ejiogu. Mike is from Isiala Mbano, a business man and a political leader in Okigwe zone.
Sir how do you react to the rumour making the round that 2023 governorship aspiration has torn the relationship between Sen. Ararume and Gov. Uzodimma apart.
It is not true, my brother, this is propaganda! Bet me, there is no problem between Araraume and Uzodimma. As a matter of fact, when Supreme Court declared Gov. Hope Uzodimma the winner of the election, Sen Araraume was the first person to congratulate him and also promised to support his administration and since then, he has been supporting his government. My brother, I am Sen Araraume’s close ally, so take my words to the bank, these great Imo sons have no problem between themselves, they are enjoying a cordial relationship.
Araraume was in the senate for 8 good years
Yes.
So what did he forgot there that he wants to go and take or correct. Why does he wants to go back to the senate after many years?
The reward for a good job done, they say, is more job! Araraume is not going to the Senate in his own volition, but is responding to the call of the people of Okigwe zone who have been yelling on him to come and represent them. If he didn’t represent them well in the previous one they sent him, they wouldn’t have been calling on him to go for them again. As you can see, when he was in the senate before, he did his best in connecting the zone to National grid, virtually all the Federal roads that crises crossed Okigwe zone received attention when he was serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and this is why the leaders of Okigwe zone are beckoning on him to go to the senate and salvage them.
Chief Mike, don’t you think it’s high time to give the younger generation the opportunity to unleash their vigor, prowess and idea into our political hemisphere let’s see if this country would be better?
Listen Mr Iyke, the art of legislation especially the senate is made for mature minds the older and more experience you are in the senate gives you a better opportunity to get more dividends of democracy for you people. The people of Okigwe knew that Araraume is going to the senate as a ranking member, that is why they want him to go and represent them. We don’t want new people that will go there and be answering their colleagues sir, sir. We want men of capacity like Sen Ararume who will go there and get our share of the national cake and as well move the country forward.
Agreed that Sen Araraume is one of the respected politicians east of the Niger. but I believe that once success in life is determined by the lives he has affected positively. sir what is Araraume’s social antecedents.
If you know my type of person, you will know that I am not supporting Sen. Araraume because he is a politician or because of his wealth but because of his humanitarian life style and because of what I have seen him do for people especially the younger generation. Apart from his contributions in the structural development of both Okigwe zone and Imo at large, Araraume has made a lot of people, especially young men and women. Sen. Araraume is a man of capacity. The exclusive stores he is building at Onitsha road Owerri will employ more than 500 Imo youths. Hope you know he is erecting an industry behind Central Bank Owerri and that Industry will absorb not less than 8000 unemployed Imo youths at its first lift.
Sir very soon INEC will announce the date of the Okigwe senatorial election, do you repose confidence in the party and INEC to conduct a free and fair primaries because of the fact that Araraume just join the party shortly?
The party will conduct the primary while INEC will observe. I believe that APC will conduct a free and fair election and for your information, Araraume is a staunch member of APC and not a new person in the party. Don’t forget that he already had appointment under APC government and had to resign his appointment in NCC to pursue his political ambition and after the election, he retired back to his party APC so he is not a new person in the party and no body can supplant him. Thank God that the delegates that would vote in the primaries are from Okigwe zone and they know Sen Araraume’s performance.
Your advise to the people of Imo North regarding to the forthcoming election?
I urge the good people of Imo north/Okigwe zone to remain resolute in their decision to bring back Sen Araraume to the senate to represent them in the red chamber of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They should vote Araraume/APC so that more dividend of democracy would come to the zone.
