Going by what transpired in Government House, Owerri last weekend where the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma played host to South East stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress, APC there are speculations in several quarters in the state that the governor may run for the 2023 Presidential race.
This notion is fuelled by body language of some of Uzodinma’s aides who also took to the social media to think along this line.
Uzodinma last weekend played host to a high powered meeting of South East APC leaders including the federal ministers and the person representing the zone in the caretaker committee of the party, Senator Ken Nnamani.
Even as absence of some other key political figures in the state, Senator Rochas Okorocha and Ifeanyi Araraume was observed, the salient point of the gathering was the likelihood of Uzodinma running for the plum position in Nigeria.
Though Trumpeta couldn’t get the details of the outcome of the meeting since no communiqué was issued, it was learnt that it could be the governor’s ground work to announce his arrival for the Presidency in next general election.
A source close to the governor who didn’t want to be mentioned told Trumpeta that from the look of things and with the expectation that Igbos should have a shot at the Presidency in 2023 after President Buhari, Uzodinma may be the jinx breaker for the Igbos. The source further added that the manner APC leaders spoke about the Imo State governor was a serious indication that he may endorsed by the party in the zone to carry the presidential banner on behalf of South East people.
“The South East APC leaders spoke well of our governor. And it appears he has become the rallying point to go capture the presidency for the zone”, the source further added.
Another factor suggesting Uzodinma may start warming up for the Presidency is an online post by one of the governor’s media aide. The Senior Special Assistant, SSA, one of the recently appointed simple added in his Facebook timeline after the Owerri meeting; Imo Presidency 2023. How about that? The likes of Onwa Oyoko is needed. Senator Uzodinma is fondly called “Onwa Oyoko” because of his chieftaincy title.
Though, the aide didn’t go further to elucidate why he made the post, but his view corresponds with those within the corridors of power in Imo that suggest Uzodinma may go for the highest position in the land in the next election.