By Chidiebube Okeoma
For introduction, Ikedi Ohakim, of Okohia community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, served as the fourth democratically elected governor of the state between May 29, 2007 and May 29, 2011.
He emerged the governor- elect of the state in a rescheduled governorship election in the state conducted by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Ohakim was returned elected having satisfied the requirements of the law, and having beaten his closest rivals- Martin Agbaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Ifeanyi Araraume of the People Democratic Party. On April 30, 2007, the environmental economist cum University of Lagos trained marketer was fully returned elected.
From his first day in office as the fourth elected governor of the state after Dee Sam Mbakwe and Evan Enwerem of the blessed memories and his predecessor, Achieke Udenwa, the New Face of Imo initiative crooner faced the biggest political opposition in the history of the state nay Nigeria.
Forces within and outside the state ganged up against him but as an intellectual that was politically, administratively and socially prepared to take on the hurdles of governance, Ochinanwata as he is widely called, braced up the challenges of governance with equanimity and delivered exceedingly.
Under his leadership, Imo witnessed the biggest transformative governmental programs and projects since its existence. Under Ohakim’s leadership, Imo, especially the state capital, was agog with the most lucrative tourist and entertainment engagements.
Infrastructurally and educationally, Imo was placed on the pedestal of excellence and pragmatism under the table New Face of Imo 9Initiative controlled by Ohakim.
The state was doing well and Ohakim was coasting to victory for a re-election until came the biggest, most dreaded and planned political onslaught and blackmail in the history of modern political interplay in Nigeria.
This highly orchestrated political pitfall was conceived by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, and depeened by a fiery popular Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka.
Politics of bring him down syndrome was launched by the Catholic faithful in Owerri Catholic archdiocese ( probably because Ohakim is an Anglican), and it was sustained and vum, Ohakim, the best thing that has happened to Imo politically, was pushed out of government house.
Backed by the owerri zone agitation that there was no more zoning in the state, Ohakim’s vision for the state was prematurely truncated.
His successor, Rochas Okorocha, fought Ohakim’s legacies for eight years that he was in power, but like a prepaid leader Ohakim was, his footprints in the lines of Imo’s political history could not be erased by Okorocha.
Years after Mbaka deceived the world, he invited Ohakim to his Adoration worship ground in Enugu and publicly apologized to him and said he was misled.
Since Ohakim was unjustly booted out of the Imo government house, the state had known no peace. The injustice done to a man who genuinely was working for the political emancipation and the El Dorado of the state, had continued to overwhelm the state.
As the November, 2027 Imo governorship election draws closer, many believe that it is time to appease Ohakim so that the state will know peace and stability, politically.