Imo 2019: President Buhari Adopts Okey Ezeh

– AS IMO STATE IS CONCEDED TO SDP

By Michael Nzeadi, Abuja

Strong indications have emerged within the week that President Muhammadu Buhari has backed the governorship bid of Sir Okey Ezeh of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Imo State. This followed appeals by high-powered delegations from Imo State to the Presidency to ensure equity in the Imo governorship election.

Imo political stakeholders, elders and religious leaders who believe that the governorship of the state should not be dominated by one senatorial district had initiated talks in high places to strike a synthesis from the myriad of contending interests in the 2019 Imo political space. A reliable source within the Presidency revealed that there is not just a pact to ensure equity but most importantly a strong drive to infuse credibility into the governance of Imo State, saying all Aso Rock cares about in Imo is the man and not the party.

The source reminded that President Muhammadu Buhari had clearly urged Imo people to act outside of political party affiliations in selecting their next governor. The source further asserted that the situation in Imo calls for caution, patriotism and concerted efforts devoid of partisanship.

In a similar reaction, a National Leader in the APC who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that SDP will be delivered in Imo State to douse the political tension in the State. According to him, of the lot that are bidding for the coveted seat in Imo State, it is only the SDP that has presented to the people a man of uncompromising integrity who has the intellectual acuity and administrative skills to reorder the course of things in Imo.

His words, “You know we are in government. We have the security file of everybody in the governorship race in Imo State. We cannot aid and abet impunity by deploying state apparatus to foist corrupt individuals on Imo people. SDP has shown a direction. We are confident that Imo people who have so clamoured for good governance will find succour in Okey Ezeh,” he enthused.

It should be recalled that the Social Democratic Party, SDP, earlier endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term, and had gone ahead to demonstrate a commitment to ensure his reelection by withdrawing its two presidential contenders – Prof. Jerry Gana and Mr. Donald Duke – from the presidential race. Analysts believe that the move by the Presidency to concede Imo to SDP may not be unconnected to that.