Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has stated that the people of the state would have to beg him and even contribute to his campaign funds before he would agree to seek re-election next year.

Okorocha, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), believes that he has done so well since he assumed office on May 29, 2011 that the people of the south-eastern state would need to convince him to seek another term.

Asked how he would finance his second term campaign since he claimed not to be making money from being governor, Okorocha told THISDAY in an interview:

“Even when I wanted to become governor, I did not spend up to N200 million to become governor and it was given to me by my wife and one other man. In fact, I have announced now that I am not going to put out posters and bill-boards; if what I have done cannot bring me back, I quit. Must I be here? Is it my father’s throne? If Imo people want it, I am happy but if they don’t, I quit. This governorship thing is a burden. I don’t even know if I am happier or just happy as President of Rochas Foundation. The only thing is that this has helped me to touch the larger society. But in terms of stress, I have more stress doing this job. If they are happy with the way I am doing this job, they should beg me to come back. I have told them that unless they give me N100 each, I mean one million people with their voter’s card, I would not run. If they don’t give me, I would not contest. And let me tell you that they are already doing it. That’s the truth.”

When the interviewer said he did not believe that, Governor Okorocha said: “OK. Come to Imo State and you will see. If they give me the money, I don’t need to campaign because they have given their words by giving me the money. That is it.”

•Photo shows Governor Okorocha.