SAN FRANCISCO, August 15, (THEWILL) – A former governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim on Sunday announced a temporal withdrawal from partisan politics because he could no longer be a part of the current hooliganism and brigandage which is now the new political culture, both in his party and in the state, asserting that “I am too intelligent to be involved in the ongoing brigandage”.
Ohakim, who made the announcement when he played host to members of his political family at his country home in Okohia Isiala Mbano council area of the state, said he is withdrawing from active party politics for the time being to allow him focus on his non-governmental organisation, the Clean and Green Africa Foundation, which is aimed at producing new generation of leaders with ideas.
He stated that the trend of events, since the 2015 general elections, had shown that his party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which ought to have repositioned and play the role of effective opposition, had failed to do so.
“I opined that our party should make the ‘mourning’ period as brief as possible, limit the blame game while waiting for another opportunity to ask Nigerians for another mandate. My overall wish was, and still is, that no matter which party is in power, all hands must be on deck to help our democracy grow. But, the trend of events, since April 2015, shows that our dear party, the largest party in Africa, did not key into this general optimism. Instead, its key gladiators became overwhelmed by the burden of defeat and failed to appreciate the goodwill it still had among Nigerians despite the challenges of its 16-year long rule.”
The immediate past Imo governor explained that the party’s leadership disregarded all wise counsel to seize the opportunity offered by the unexpected loss to do away with impunity, the very thing that led to the party’s defeat.
His words, “I am too intelligent to be involved in the ongoing brigandage. In view of the current situation, I have come to the sad conclusion that I will no longer be part of this circus in the political arena for the time being.
“I am therefore, by this statement, announcing my temporary withdrawal from active participation in partisan politics. This is the fourth major decision I have taken in my political journey. I want to go on sabbatical and focus on mentoring young people and my NGO. I am not asking any of my supporters to follow me, but, if anyone chooses to follow me, he is welcome.”
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