The Imo Good Governance Initiative (IGGI) has faulted the purported endorsement of the Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo (OZB), for the Federal House of Representatives seat for Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu and Njaba constituency by Governor Rochas Okorocha. It said that Governor Okorocha should resist every... ploy to lure him into endorsing puppets who lack the political will to bring development to the society.

According to the leader and spokesperson of the group, Barr Mike Egbujor, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a platform designed to accommodate every qualified individual who is desirous of representing his/her people in any position, and described as callous, uncalled for and careless the decision of the supposed leader of the party in Imo State for endorsing any person when other individuals are most qualified than the said endorsee.

Barr Egbujor, from Nwangele LGA, maintained while speaking with newsmen in Owerri that a situation where the number one citizen of the state could endorse an individual who has performed below expectation since seven years at the House of Assembly for another higher position when qualified individuals like Chief Cosmos Madugba (Odebebe Isu) and others from Njaba LGA are interested on the seat is not only an invitation to anarchy but a sheer political mis-calculation geared towards destroying the reputation of the party in the area.

He said: “Has Governor Okorocha studied the political atmosphere of Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu and Njaba federal constituency before endorsing an unpopular aspirant, is Governor Okorocha aware that Nwangele LGA where Rt. Hon Ozuruigbo hails from has occupied the position for eight years of two terms, Nkwerre 12 years of three terms while Isu and Njaba were left with nothing? Gov Okorocha should be made to know that the position is zoned to Isu LGA after which, Njaba will take her shot, he should be aware that Isu and Njaba LAGs are marginalised, how often should our Governor continues to create disaffection in APC just to curry favour to some political rodents?”

Barr Egbujor therefore called on the good people of the constituency to disregard the said endorsement, since the constitution allows every qualified individual to run.

According to him, the constituency requires individuals with proven integrity, whose wide contacts would pave way for the political emancipation of the constituency, adding that gone were the days where individuals were voted to the House of Representatives only for them to represent their personal interests. He therefore advised Governor Okorocha not to allow the Deputy Speaker to deceive him into endorsing him when he has poorly performed as the number two lawmaker in Imo State.