Ex-Imo Governor, Ohakim Quits Partisan Politics, Expresses Worry Over PDP Crisis

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Monday, August 15th, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the immediate past governor of Imo state, has announced his “temporary withdrawal from partisan politics”.

The ex- governor, who came to power under the platform of the opposition People’s democratic party, PDP, governed the state for four years before the incumbent, Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Congress, APC wrestled power from him.

Ohakim, disclosed this on Sunday while addressing his supporters at his Okohia, Isiala Mbano council Area country home.

He said: “While we retreat to reformat, I shall devote my time to mentoring and working with the youths of my home state, Imo and indeed, Nigeria”.

“Of course, I am not the only Nigerian, both within and outside the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and indeed among members of the political class, to so desire but even more enthusiastic about our collective democratic future was the ordinary Nigerian who, though desired a change from the status quo ante, still believed that for the needed balance, the PDP should remain strong,“.

The former governor, regretted that the PDP and “its key gladiators became overwhelmed by the burden of the defeat and failed to appreciate the goodwill it still had among Nigerians, despite the challenges of its 16-year long rule”.

“The final result was the split into two factions which have remained irreconcilable despite wise counsel from well-meaning quarters within and outside the party and indeed, despite pronouncements of the law.

“Outside the PDP, the general political environment has not helped matters.

“Contrary to expectations of Nigerians that the political class has learnt the relevant lessons from the outcome of the 2015 general election, which is that the people’s preference must count.

“The latter has returned to the old antics of election rigging and violence”, Ohakim alleged