Before the conduct of the Labour Party Governorship primary in the state, there was an unconfirmed rumor that one of the leading aspirants, Senator Athan Achonu was riding on the shoulder of Hope Uzodinma after huge sums of money to overrun his closest rival, General Jack Ogunlewe (Rtrd) exchanged hands.
Little did the public know that in any rumour, there is indeed an atom of truth. This obvious truth has finally emerged.
Aside the leaked phone conversation of how Senator Athan Achonu was given $1 million Dollars through a former Governor of the state from Okigwe Zone working as Uzidinma’s foreman to purchase the Governorship form and subsequently share amongst delegates, another most convincing and verifiable fact to believe the rumour is here again.
Recall that Senator Athan Achonu has been in severe legal battle with Imo State government over the ownership of Imo Hotels situates, at the old Progress Bank premises beside, IICC building.
This controversy made successive administrations in the state to confiscate the building he claims to own and barred him, his agents, cronies and associates from trespassing into the land and the uncompleted six storey building opposite the new Garden Park Business Center, along Douglas-Ama JK road, Owerri.
Intelligence reports have it that all efforts made by Senator Athan Achonu to recover the proper from previous administrations in the state were unsuccessful. This is because, these past government never wanted to compromise government property with an individual looking for his personal needs.
Regrettably, the present APC Government of Hope Uzodinma has released the land, building and all necessary appurtenances connected to the property earlier seized by the previous governments to Senator Athan Achonu barely two weeks he emerged the Labour Party Governorship Candidate. The question is, why now? Is that a compensation to entice him to pretend to deceive the Imo people as Governorship hopeful when in actuality, he has no such genuine ambition to contest against Uzidinma abut only working to retain Uzidinma for second term.
An intelligence gathering mechanism report shows that the sudden release of the property to Senator Athan Achonu by the APC led Hope Uzidinma’s administration is to show its sincerity that his government is willing to work with him with a view to truncating the desire of Imo people to sack Uzodinma in the November 11, 2023 election.
Political pundits are asking while a man like, Senator Athan Achonu could accept to hijack the ticket of Labour Party only to trade it with financial gratification? If Senator Athan Achonu is not working for Hope Uzodinma, why then would the APC government release the property to him two weeks after his emergence in the conducted Labour Party Governorship primary?
Why would APC government release the property to Senator Athan Achonu when previous administrations in the state, i.e., Orlu Zone, Achike Udenwa 1999-2007 Rochas Okorocha 2011-2019, and Hope Uzidinma – 2019-2023 (20 years), Okigwe Zone, Samuel Mbakwe 1979 -1984, and Ikedi Ohakim 2007-2011 (9years) as well as Owerri zone, Evan Enwerem -1991-1992 and Emeka Ihedioha 2019 to 2020 (1 year and six months) refused to allow Senator Athan Achonu take over the government property?
Your guess is as good as mine, but what is remarkable here is that, Imo people will never forgive Senator Athan Achonu for further negotiating the continuous sufferings and killings of Imo people under an excruciating, corrosive, harsh and dangerous APC administration of Hope Uzidinma.
Dr Ibeyiugbala Linus
