from CHUKS ONUOHA, Umuahia

The governorship candidate of the action congress of Nigeria(ACN) in Imo state, senator Ifeanyi Araraume, say his main reason for seeking to govern Imo was to continue from Dr ikedi Ohakim’s achievement. He said that Dr Ikedi Ohakim has done so much for Imo people in all sectors, most especially in the area’s of infrastructure and education.
He said that he has watched the happenings in the state and concluded that it will be difficult to win the incumbent governor because of his remarkable and outstanding achievement in Imo state and majority of the population has his support despite all false allegations levelled against his governmental style. Dr Ikedi Ohakim has achieved what took his predecessor 8years to achieve under 3-4years.
He said that….”a perfect governor is not a governor who is relaxed but a governor who stands in the moment of challenges”…and that is one of my reasons for campaigning. He said that this is a really good opportunity to challenge him (Dr Ikedi Ohakim) despite his achievements.
“I intend not only to continue from Ohakim’s wonderful achievement but also to try and empower the masses through the supply of: motorcycle’s, buses and other wonderful means of transportation”.
He said that “the ACN manifesto has free education which frankly wouldn’t be easy to achieve in this present economic situation…
He explained that there had being massive turn-around in terms of capacity building and empowerment of people which are especially youths through: Ohakim4Youths,Imo Job Centre, 27 lucky youths to FIFA world cup in south Africa. In addition, hundreds of kilometres of rural roads have been paved by the imo Road maintenance Agency, IROMA, now being reorganized for better efficiency. He also said that Today, the courts have been facilitated with cars, high-capacity generators, internet and other vital tools.

Ararume, a two time senator from Okigwe zone, said he understands the terrain and that as a son, he is determined to replicate the wonderful achievement of Dr Ikedi Ohakim to Imo State.
He called for massive vote for his party and that voters must ensure that they remain at their polling booths to see that their votes are counted before leaving for home because this time around, every vote must count because he doesn’t want what happening during 1999 were elections then was rigged to repeat itself again.

Go to Daily Sun ON the 3rd page

from CHUKS OGUH, Umuahia

The governorship candidate of the action congress of Nigeria(ACN) in Imo state, senator Ifeanyi Araraume, say his main reason for seeking to govern Imo was to continue from Dr ikedi Ohakim’s achievement. He said that Dr Ikedi Ohakim has done so much for Imo people in all sectors, most especially in the area’s of infrastructure and education.

He said that he has watched the happenings in the state and concluded that it will be difficult to win the incumbent governor because of his remarkable and outstanding achievement in Imo state and majority of the population has his support despite all false allegations levelled against his governmental style. Dr Ikedi Ohakim has achieved what took his predecessor 8years to achieve under 3-4years.

He said that….”a perfect governor is not a governor who is relaxed but a governor who stands in the moment of challenges”…and that is one of my reasons for campaigning. He said that this is a really good opportunity to challenge him (Dr Ikedi Ohakim) despite his achievements.

“I intend not only to continue from Ohakim’s wonderful achievement but also to try and empower the masses through the supply of: motorcycle’s, buses and other wonderful means of transportation”.

He said that “the ACN manifesto has free education which frankly wouldn’t be easy to achieve in this present economic situation…

He explained that there had being massive turn-around in terms of capacity building and empowerment of people which are especially youths through: Ohakim4Youths,Imo Job Centre, 27 lucky youths to FIFA world cup in south Africa. In addition, hundreds of kilometres of rural roads have been paved by the imo Road maintenance Agency, IROMA, now being reorganized for better efficiency. He also said that Today, the courts have been facilitated with cars, high-capacity generators, internet and other vital tools.



Ararume, a two time senator from Okigwe zone, said he understands the terrain and that as a son, he is determined to replicate the wonderful achievement of Dr Ikedi Ohakim to Imo State.

He called for massive vote for his party and that voters must ensure that they remain at their polling booths to see that their votes are counted before leaving for home because this time around, every vote must count because he doesn’t want what happening during 1999 were elections then was rigged to repeat itself again.

MACJIVE01, OR WHAT EVER YOU CALL YOURSELF, YOU ARE A CONFUSED PERSON,
ITS EVIDENT THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE ROUGES THAT IS BEING PAID TO PROPAGATE FALSE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT OHAKIMS GOVERNMENT. HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALLOUS TO EVEN OBSERVE HIS ACHIEVEMENT AND VISION FOR IMO STATE, I'LL ADVISE YOU FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR TIME INSTEAD OF DEFAMING OHAKIM, BECAUSE ITS SO OBVIOUS THAT HE IS THE MAN TO BEAT DESPITE ALL THE FALSE ALLEGATIONS AND HEAP AGIANST HIM.

@ Mr comment, You really need to grow up!, what do you mean by 419? what do you know about Dr ikedi Ohakim's past? From my observation and understanding, your comments are flimsy because you dont have one single fact. Probably you might be one of those people that use to get information from "news paper stands" or from "keke riders". The truth is that you probably have a personal grudge for him, maybe for the fact that he dosen't share money like the way his predecessor did.
Try to think carefully before casting your vote cause you might be making a big mistake!

Senate Posted by admin Legislature, Raw Politics….

Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume a high wire politics in 2007 when he made an attempt to contest the governorship election of Imo State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); having lost the primaries of the party due to his deadly background. The party opted for Engr. Charles Ugwu in his place. He got a landmark ruling when the Supreme Court declared him the candidate but could not win the race. This is 2011, he is back and running under the action congress of Nigeria for the same seat. he spoke to a select group of journalists recently and Stanley Nkwocha was there. Some people allege that you are into fraud (419).
So many allegations have been raised against sen ifeanyi ararume after murdering one Mr charles Opara who resides in mbano L.G.A. But it was part of his scheme to ensure that he makes a headway in his political pursuit then. He was told all manner of unthinkable things by the elderly men in mbano for sure a cruel act. They called him a fraudster, a murderer, that he was not from Imo, that he changed his name to beat the law and so on. Ararume said, ” I am telling you today that since I was born, I have changed my name because of personal reasons, My father was a teacher and taught at a Catholic Church, I have been arrested once for one fraud cases and since then I have being mindful of what I do. I don’t engage in anything I cannot explain. I have lived in Benin and have a successful business there, cause that was were I grow up since man dad has a trace from there. I used to be the biggest importer of fish.

When you are in a place where people don’t know much about you, they begin to raise some nasty suspicions. I know my hands are not clean because nobody is perfect. I know I have records with the police for some illegal business I did years ago. But now I am a legitimate businessman with a burning desire to serve my people. It takes courage to accept the success of another friend let alone someone you regard as your enemy.

I can’t give life, I can’t take life. but I have had only one murder case in my life which was a mistake back then in 1999. The business I have pre-dated 1999. The property in Abuja housing my Exclusive Stores was acquired since 1993. This is retail business they thought was the exclusive preserve of the Lebanese, we went into it and we are doing well.

I come from a good family in Imo and benin. My mother was the only one allowed to be buried inside the Church because she lived for the Church and died for the Church.
What Happened in 2007?

Obasanjo was against my going for the governorship after the primaries. He wanted me to support him during his 3rd term tenure declaration, were he gave me and other senators 5billion.After he lost the support from senators, he requested that I should return back the money to him which I refuse. I told him that the money was gotten from the PDTF fund and was meant for the people. He now said it was not possible for me to contest for election and I challenged him; that was all. We started the legal fireworks up to the Supreme Court and they had nothing to use against me so as to stop me. If they had, they would have used it since they wanted to stop me at all cost.

What Obasanjo did to me, he did to others in Sokoto, where Shagari won the primaries and was asked to step down for the current governor to become the deputy. It happened in Niger, Rivers, Yobe and some other states. The difference is that I challenged it, Amaechi also did and I am happy I did what I did.

Macjive01, U MUST BE A NINCOMPOOP FOR BEING SHORT SITED!, ITS OBVIOUS THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PAID "LOW-LIVES" USE TO DEFAME OHAKIM'S ACHIEVEMENT.
PLEASE BE WARNED!!!

macjive01, or what ever you call yourself is evident that your blind and you lack a common sense of judgment. How can you propagate and defame the wonderful achievement of Dr ikedi Ohakim just because you were been paid? Dont you have a conscience? The picture below is one of many of is achievement and vision for the state,
Please try to be realistic and stop being sentimental. Thanks for your understanding.

Ohakim is actually the kind of governor we want. A man with aspirations, a man who acts positively without minding the consequences, a man who takes every criticism as a challenge, because they " the strength of a man is when he withstands challenges and criticisms than when he is in the moment of comfort and conveniences", for the past few years i've being in owerri, it has come to my notice that the people are actually disgruntled, because they believe in "sharing the money" which the past administration did.
I thank God that despite all this negative allegations and propaganda, Ohakim never stopped to implement his vision for the state.
Thanks.

I think you guys are actually puzzled. You have no fact,clue of the false charges you have about ohakim. What else do you want of a man who has being under pressure since becoming the governor of Imo State. If you are still in doubt about his achievement why do you visit www.ohakim2011.com or probably come down to owerri and see for yourself,

Is this how they want to rule Imo State? I guess we should rebrand Ararume's campaign as "campaign by Thugs incorporated". The behavior to import thugs to disturb a well oeganized debate is deplorable and should be condemned by any civilized person. Regardless of what, people should be allowed to present their platforms freely. I commend His Excellency Governor Ohakim for even agreeing to participate in a debate with everybody that declared his/her candidacy. The Governor showed magnanimity and demonstrated that he is committeed to a free and fair election. As the chief security officer of Imo State, he should employ security agents to make sure that people will not use thugs to disrrupt the election. All the disgruntled PDP people who left the party to other parties and will eventually return back to PDP should help the Governor to ensure a free and fair election. They know that Governor Ohakim will win reelection because there is remarkable improvement in the state and that is why they have resorted to thuggery. They will fail because Imo State under Ohakim is in God's Almighty Hand. I cannot remember when the smart people of Imo State have entrusted leadership to members of dangerous private cult. Imo people know that elections are won by programs, leadership and performance not by thuggery and belonging to private cults.
Have a nice Sunday

Please if we are talking about a credible person, a man with vision, a man with aspiration, i think Dr Ikedi Ohakim is the right person. I'm saying this based on the structures on ground. I've lived in owerri for the past 8years now and i havnt seen such an administration like the Ohakim's. take a good look at the projects on ground, his vision, i think the 'Devil we know is better than the angel we dont know'. Lets not be deceived or used by all this politicians to spread false information about the Ohakim's administration.

On Thursday 10 March 2011, the Catholic Church in Owerri under the auspices of JDPC-DCS and with Most Rev, A. J. V Obinna, Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri as the Chief host, organized a Public Forum on the 2011 General Election for Imo Governorship Aspirants. The theme was: Preparing for Rigging-Free, Violence-Free and Upright Voting in Imo State.

Ordinarily, this was a wonderful idea. The JDPC has had a record of intervention in public affairs by organizing public fora. I have had the privilege of participating in several JDPC events at their Anifowose Street hall in Victoria Island, Lagos with friends like Monsignor Matthew Hassan Kukah, who is now Vicar-General of Kaduna, Fr George Ehusani, currently of Church of Assumption, Abuja, Prof Pat Utomi and other activists. I have had the rare privilege of addressing the Catholic Bishops Conference years back at Abuja. That was apparently the day Fr. Ehusani knew I was not a Catholic. My close association with Catholics has made people assume that I was a Catholic!
But the event organized by the JDPC in Owerri on 10 March was a horrifying departure from the standard of organization associated with JDPC. It was like holding a campaign rally for 12 rival political parties in one venue at the same time! This was a surprising departure from a similar debate billed as The Great Debate organized for all gubernatorial candidates in Imo State on Tuesday 8 March 2011 by the NUJ Imo Chapter in conjunction with Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Imo State branch, of which the Catholic Church is a member. The NUJ-CAN debate which was broadcast live, observed and reasonably enforced some basic and universally accepted rules of political debate.

In the JDPC pamphlet some of these rules were itemized under the “Forum Code of Conduct”. But the organization of the Forum was such that it was absolutely impossible to enforce the code of conduct. The first sign of trouble I noticed on arrival was that the Forum was held in an open and unsecured arcade, called Obiri Odenigbo, Assumpta Cathedral and there was no accreditation of the audience! Obiri Odenigbo is a venue that hosts the famous Odenigbo Lecture series, usually delivered in Igbo language by one speaker.

All events are not the same. Different events attract different audience and different management. You must understand the character of the expected audience. Venue is always chosen to fit the event and the audience. You cannot host a gubernatorial debate in a market square! And when you put rival political contestants canvassing for votes in one uncontrolled venue, it is a mere pretence to expect decorum there! It seems to me that the organizers assumed that the hallowed ground of Assumpta Cathedral was enough to imbue the crowd hired by some of the contestants with decorum. What I saw was an event where the organizers lost control.

The only way the JDPC could have taken charge of the event was to accredit the audience. That was what the organizers of the NUJ-CAN debate did and the event achieved its purpose of giving the contestants room to address Imo people. But at Assumpta, it was like hosting a World Cup at Dan Anyiam stadium and throwing the gates open for free. You had to fight to get a plastic chair. Then you find that the small space available had been taken over by rented crowd some of who probably slept there! That was a serious breach of security at a time thugs are vandalizing opponents campaign offices and shooting rival contestants!

If the logic was that the candidates needed to directly address the masses of Imo people, it was grossly flawed. In these days of even better mass media you don’t need direct contact to reach mass audience. That could be better achieved by holding the debate in controlled environment, with an accredited audience and setting up large viewing screens for all and sundry, and televising the event live or recorded. The contestants would still have reached the masses. Therefore, it cannot be an argument in favour of poor organization that you wanted the contestants to address electorates directly. Things are not just done that ancient way anymore!

The flaws in the organization of what was ordinarily a wonderful idea began to manifest even before the first speaker. Things became so disgraceful that His Grace Most Rev Obinna had to leave his seat on the high table to go down to the audience to quell fights among volatile rented mobs rooting for some of the candidates! Things got worse when the crowd started leaving. Archbishop Obinna pleaded for people to come back, to no avail! What more evidence did anybody need to know that the event had collapsed on the heads of the organizers! As my driver, a Catholic himself observed painfully, even those who take Holy Communion from the Bishop every Sunday could not listen to him!

As the ugly scenes unfolded many observers found it curious that some of the candidates of some political parties who 48 hours before, dodged the NUJ-CAN debate that had better organization showed up enthusiastically at the Assumpta rally! I would not speculate about the motive of the JDPC-DCS and what they programmed to achieve with the Forum. I can never doubt the integrity of JDPC or Archbishop Obinna. But we are in interesting, but testy times. And I wonder if the organizers can beat their chests and say that they pulled off a great event as NUJ-CAN would or that they were fair and just to all the candidates, the audience and the Catholic Church!

I have always advised organizers of events not to plan from the point of view that everything would work out. Come that day, you find to your embarrassment that nothing works out because in Public Relations we caution that nothing happens unless you make it happen! It is always better to anticipate everything that could possibly go wrong and plan from that point of view. The JDPC Public Forum was a marvelous idea mishandled. This should be a lesson to the organizers for the future. Finally, those who breezily criticize government must learn from this fiasco how difficult it is to govern Imo State.

Please, all these paid agents and cowards masquerading under fake names to defame and spread falsehood against Dr Ikedi Ohakim should be ashamed of themselves. How can you damage another man's name so, simply because you want power? . nowhere was it mentioned in any article that Dr Ikedi Ohakim hasnt performed well, Why drag Ohakim’s name to the mud? You guys have succeeded in proving to the world that even the allegations levelled against Ohakim was a fabrication. Take a go look at this pics and see his achievements and his vision.

Rochas is a man known far and wide around the nation; this is due largely to his political pursuits since 1999 which has being unfruitful due to his incapacity.
Rochas has aspired for different political positions from 1999 till date. The information below gives a concise explanation of his ‘wide goose chase’:
In 1999, he contested for gubernatorial position under the platform of the PDP where he lost to the then Governor Achike Udenwa. Rochas Okorocha later contested for “President” in 2003 on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He later withdrew from the Presidential race and abandoned all the people who followed him into his then party ANPP, Ever since then, ANPP has remained comatose and its members more puzzled than ever.
Again it is a notorious fact that Rochas Okorocha is on the same political template with Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume. What do I mean? Like Rochas Okorocha, Ifeanyi Araraume has jumped from one political party to another in the last 4 years. He jumped from PDP to AA(Action Alliance) after Obasanjo condemned his contention due to charges of murder forwarded against him which turned out to be true. Then letter on he moved to PDP and finally AC. This has made him an unstable political quantity in Nigeria who should not be taken serious.
In 2003 Rochas Okorocha contested for senatorial position under PDP, in 2007 he contested for presidential position under PDP where he lost out to late Umaru Musa Yardua in the primarys. In 2011 he is now contesting for gubernatorial position under APGA despite the zoning agreement made by the elders of all the zone within the state in 1998. It is of evident reason that the party board of trustees (BOT) chairman Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ralph Uwazurike and Owelle Rochas Okorocha are all ‘birds of the same feather’ in the sense that they are trying to create a rift due to the fact that they all belong to the same Ogboni fraternity. It is also evident to note that during the existence of the Rochas foundation in 1999, a lot of well nurtured students who schooled there had died on the 18th of march 2001 due to the food poisoning, which was later named a mishap. But after series of investigation by police officials, a worker who worked there during the unfortunate incident name Chinwe Osuji, after being interrogated by the police said that “we were given instruction from our “oga rochas” to add food preservation…” The question is why will they add food preservation? Is food preservation not toxic to human health? This is an obvious indication that all this incidents hasn’t being a mishap, instead it is linked to the Ogboni fraternity which came to limelight recently after he was congratulated in the Ogboni confraternity site, www.reformedogboni..
Since 1999 till date Owelle Rocchas Okorocha has been contesting for different political offices but to no avail, this is an obvious case of a man without vision and purpose, perambulating from one political aspiration to another. The question now is, does Rochas Okorocha really have an aspiration? What does he want to offer to imolites been a member of the Ogboni fraternity?
It has also been noted that Rochas Okorocha has an uncompleted hotel which hasn’t been completed due to the problem he has with sponsors funding his foundation. He wants the office to fund his uncompleted hotel located along Okigwe road in Owerri Imo state and his foundation. A man who cannot define his path is not fit to rule Imo state.

Honestly, all these paid agents and cowards masquerading under fake names to defame and spread falsehood against Dr Ikedi Ohakim should be ashamed of themselves. How can you damage another man's name so, simply because you want power? When I saw this false information about Dr Ikedi Ohakim I quickly clicked on the link below and nowhere was it mentioned in the article written by false reporters. Why drag Ohakim’s name to the mud? You guys have succeeded in proving to the world that even the allegations levelled against Ohakim was a fabrication.
Besides, is this what Imo politics has degenerated to? Shouldn't all the gubernatorial candidates concentrate on issues as opposed to mudslinging? It is evident that Dr Ikedi Ohakim must be the man to beat for all these negative energies and heaps of lies against him. Please lets allow our God sent governor Dr Ikedi Ohakim to concentrate on his visions and mission for Imo State, cause he has done so much in the state most especially in the areas of infrastructural development, which is very obvious when you come to Imo state.
Gov. Ohakim being the incumbent governor has a chance --in fact opportunity to win Imo State without much hassles, i.e. based on is achievement which is on <www.imostate.gov.ng> .
Please lets try to be factual instead of posting false things about our incumbent governor.

Thank you.

Honestly, all these paid agents and cowards masquerading under fake names to defame and spread falsehood against Dr Ikedi Ohakim should be ashamed of themselves. How can you damage another man's name so, simply because you want power? When I saw this false information about Dr Ikedi Ohakim I quickly clicked on the link below and nowhere was it mentioned in the article written by false reporters. Why drag Ohakim’s name to the mud? You guys have succeeded in proving to the world that even the allegations levelled against Ohakim was a fabrication.
Besides, is this what Imo politics has degenerated to? Shouldn't all the gubernatorial candidates concentrate on issues as opposed to mudslinging? It is evident that Dr Ikedi Ohakim must be the man to beat for all these negative energies and heaps of lies against him. Please lets allow our God sent governor Dr Ikedi Ohakim to concentrate on his visions and mission for Imo State, cause he has done so much in the state most especially in the areas of infrastructural development, which is very obvious when you come to Imo state.
Gov. Ohakim being the incumbent governor has a chance --in fact opportunity to win Imo State without much hassles, i.e. based on is achievement which is on <www.imostate.gov.ng> .
Please lets try to be factual instead of posting false things about our incumbent governor.

Thank you.

After it was confirm few days ago that Rochas was a member of the ogboni fraternity, Rochas Okorocha a well know unstable politician, who is know for being a ‘wild goose chase’ in politics for over 12 years now send his thugs to attack Nigerian Horn news paper and in the process murdered one of the workers after it was confirmed in the website http: www.reformedogboni. that he was an ogboni member.
Several people in imo state have been complaining about the incident which involved murdering of an official and the abduction of the workers. According to one of the worker who was brutally injured, he said It was Prince Eze Madumere, the Chief of Staff whose intervention saved his life from what could have befallen them if the boys had succeeded in causing him untimely death.
Let me quote with 1st Samuel, 2:6-9. “The Lord kills and makes alive. He brings down to the grace and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich, He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. The pillars of the earth are the Lords and he has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of his saints but he WICKED shall be silent in darkness.
The question is, how can Owelle Rochas Okorocha rule Imo State with such an act of violence? What aspiration does he have after being an unstable politician for the past 12years now?
What does he have to offer been a member of Ogboni fraternity?

Aerosapeins u not need to be churlish!, coz it wldnt get u anywhere.
i have folllowed Rochas since 1999 till now and there is nothing tangible about his aspiration.
instead he was used by OBJ in 2003 to destabilize ANPP, and was letter congratulated with the special adviser on inter-party affairs for a work well done.
This is an evident reason that Rochas is confused and impotent in politics.

Well aerosapien, i dont understand wat u're talking about cz i believe in a violent free election or goverment.
i dnt see it as a reason for u to be using two diffrent accounts to try convince me that Owelle Rochas Okorocha is not a violent person or a member of the
ogboni fraternity. For ur information i believe in backing things up with facts. What i actually saw on www.reformedogboni. is a clear evidence that
Rochas Okorocha is a member ogboni.
The question is, why are people dying now that Rochas is contesting? why was Rochas Okorocha congratulated by is fellow member?
why can't he come out openly and denounce the fact that he is not in ogboni confraternity? why is he under investigation concerning the murder case of a pastor?
Please you really need to come to owerri and see things for yourself.
thanks for ur understanding.

I think Rochas should be apprehended for such an act of cruelty. Now i can see the facts behind the Ogboni confraternity.

NawaOOOO!!!, this is not the kind of person we want to Govern our state.

This is really appalling! GOD how can Rochas Okorocha. Now i see why he is a member of the Ogboni fraternity.