Traditional rulers from Uche Nwosu's Nkwere area back Hope Uzodinma's governorship bid

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State gubernatorial aspirant Senator Hope Uzodinma got a big boost to his campaign over the weekend when traditional rulers from the ancestral area of his main opponent Uche Nwosu endorsed his candidacy.

Imo State has been gripped by political turmoil after Governor Rochas Okorocha backed his son-in-law Mr Nwosu to clinch the APC ticket but after numerous battles, the party eventually settled for Senator Uzodinma as its gubernatorial candidate. This prompted Mr Nwosu to quit the APC and stand as the Action Alliance (AA) candidate with the full backing of the governor.

Since then, the two sides have been at loggerheads with the APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole insisting that the official candidate will get the party's backing. This is despite the fact that Governor Okorocha got the Imo State chapter of the APC to expel Senator Uzodinma.

As the battle rages on, over the weekend, senator Uzodinma received the backing of traditional rulers in Nkwere Local Government Area where Mr Nwosu hails from. They attributed what they described as an attempt by Governor Okorocha to run for a third term in office as the reason for their decision, notwithstanding the fact that Mr Nwosu is a son of the soil.

Over the weekend, the traditional rulers led by Eze Uzoho Emmanuel Anuruo of Umuezeanoruo autonomous community, hosted Senator Uzodinma when he campaigned in the area.  Afterwards, the campaign train also visited Okigwe, Onuimo, Ideato North and South and were welcomed by large crowds.

Eze Anuruo said: “Senator Uzodinma is our choice for governor. We are aware that one of our sons wants to be governor but we believe it is an attempt by the outgoing governor to get a third term. All this government has done is to undermine the traditional institution and we need somebody like Hope Uzodinma, who has the experience to lead our state.”

Speaking after receiving the blessings of the elders, Senator Uzodinma, who vowed to restore the dignity of the traditional institution, lamented the fact that the Okorocha administration borrowed N312bn between 2015 till date, without any visible development. He accused the governor of looting the state and using the money to bribe voters.

Senator Uzodinma said: “As we speak, the courts have garnisheed the accounts of Imo State government, so what has been happening is that the money accruing to us from the Federation Account goes into private pockets. Those in Government House now share our money as if it's their private funds.

“Today, they are going up and down paying people to vote for them. When they give you money collect it, it is our money but don’t vote for them. We will recover all they stole and give back to our people. It is a shame Rochas and his family embarked on primitive acquisition of wealth.”