Chidi Nkwopara
13 January 2009
Owerri — Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, says he has done more than enough to show respect and loyalty to his predecessor and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa.
He also explained that he did not ask the Vice chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Innocent Chuka Okonkwo, to go on leave because he hails from Orlu, but because he is a public servant that ought to be subject to public service rules.
Governor Ohakim, who stated this while addressing a delegation of Orlu Zurumee, a socio-political organisation of Orlu people, also used the exercise to react to newspaper reports about his alleged face-off with Udenwa.
"My relationship with my predecessor is cordial. I hold him in very high esteem as an elder statesman. Only hypocrites, who dwell in mischief are trying to insinuate discord between my predecessor and I", Ohakim said.
In his considered opinion, Imo is the only state in the South East geo-political zone that retained over 60 percent of those who served in the previous administration.
"If this is not a sign of goodwill towards my predecessor, I do not know what else it is. Today, his people are abusing me for retaining the appointees of the previous administration. I retained them not because I am impotent but because of the respect i have for Chief Udenwa", Ohakim said.
The Governor also told his guests that he has been in office for almost 20 months and has resisted the temptation to probe Udenwa, adding that it was not because he cannot do it but because it was of no interest to him.
After enumerating all the big projects sited in Orlu senatorial zone and saying that there are 12 people from Orsu clan alone in his administration, Ohakim then said there was no good reason to threaten the rest of Imo State for a fight.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Orlu Zurumee, Chief Reuben Okoro, called on the Governor to among other things, work on roads that criss-cross local government areas in Orlu zone.
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