Imo poll: LP’s Achonu says $100m from Uzodimma won’t make him drop out of the race  

Imo poll: LP’s Achonu says $100m from Uzodimma won’t make him drop out of the race  

Athan Achonu, the governorship candidate representing the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State, is resolute in his belief that he is the top contender in the race and asserts that not even the incumbent, Hope Uzodimma, can persuade him to withdraw his candidacy.

Speculation has arisen in some quarters suggesting that Achonu might merely be a temporary candidate and could be lured to step aside, but he is committed to seeing his candidacy through.

“The people of Imo State already know the truth. They are rallying behind me. How could I be a stand-in for Hope Uzodimma? Offer me $1 million? That’s not even a possibility,” he declared during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“I have a well-established presence in this country. I can vouch for myself. I have a reputation in this nation. I am a person of integrity. Not even $100 million from Hope Uzodimma can influence me. It’s out of the question. No one can purchase my loyalty. Money cannot sway me.”

Athonu, a former lawmaker, confessed that running for the Imo governorship was not originally his intention. However, due to the insistence of his supporters and his desire to effect positive change in Imo State, he decided to re-enter the political arena.

“They expressed their concern that if I were to step aside, they would be left with no viable option. That’s why I ultimately entered the race. I didn’t initially aspire to become a governor,” Senator Achonu disclosed.

The LP candidate expressed his frustration with the complexities of doing business in the South-East region and indicated that his aspiration to rewrite history motivated him to enter the governorship race.

“Igbos have essentially been displaced from their own land. It feels like an occupied territory. There’s a police checkpoint and customs checkpoint every half a kilometer, which severely hinders free trade,” he observed.

He went on to discuss his initiative called “Akwu Ruo Ulo” (Let the wealth reach home), which encourages Igbos to invest in the region despite the obstacles in their path. He believes that this will lead to the emergence of effective leadership capable of dismantling these barriers. Achonu added, “That’s why I decided to step forward.”