Beyond redemption

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha is controversially in the news again. These days, his undisguised and unapologetic efforts to have his son-in-law succeed him grab the headlines regularly.

The latest development connected with Okorocha’s politics of succession is his alleged refusal to allow his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), use the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, for the launch of its governorship election campaign. Okorocha is opposed to the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma. He is supporting his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who is running for governor on the platform of Action Alliance (AA). Okorocha and members of his cabinet made a statement by boycotting the December 21 APC campaign.

APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole asked rhetorically: “How can you explain that an APC governor will deny an APC candidate the use of the stadium that is built with taxpayers’ money from Imo State?”

It is indeed inexplicable that Okorocha would work against his own party. But it is understandable given his desperation to hand over power to Nwosu. Only a power desperado would carry on the way Okorocha has been carrying on. It is glaring that Okorocha would do anything to achieve his succession plan.

Okorocha’s response through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, only made the matter more puzzling. His spokesman said:   ”Since Governor Rochas Okorocha became governor in 2011, the Dan Anyiam Stadium has always been made available for all the political parties and candidates to use, not minding the political affiliations.”

He added: “The stadium is the property of Imo people and Chief Uzodinma would not have been denied the opportunity of using the facility for the flag-off of his campaign if he had asked or applied for it. He never applied to use the stadium, especially when a press release had been issued days before the flag-off of his campaign that the governor had directed that the stadium should be released free to political parties and candidates who would like to use it for their rallies or for other political activities."

Clearly, one of the parties is lying. Apart from the stadium issue, Oshiomhole said at the APC event: “Let me say it without fear of contradiction that those who are printing President Muhammadu Buhari’s posters, putting his face and their own faces because their faces are unknown, their party is unknown and they will put Buhari’s face and put the logo of an unknown party, those ones are fake.” Is Okorocha involved?

It looks like Okorocha is beyond redemption.