Okorocha absent as S/East Govs seek Obi’s successor

A meeting of governors of the South East geo-political zone of the country ended yesterday in a deadlock as the chief executives could not produce a successor to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state as chairman of their Forum.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, the only All Progressives Congress (APC) governor in the zone did not attend the meeting which sources said was primarily called to select a successor to Governor Obi who would be completing his second term as governor of Anambra State on March 17.
The Governors present , left the venue of the meeting in Enugu after protracted closed door deliberations without taking  a group photograph or addressing newsmen as had been their practice, fuelling speculations that they could not agree on the choice of Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji, who before the meeting the odds favoured.
Those who attended the crucial summit were Governor Obi, the host, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state who made a surprise appearance at the meeting after prolonged absence from office owing to alleged health challenges and Governor Orji of Abia State.
Also in attendance were Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi and the in-coming governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano.

Governor Obi, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has held the position of chairman of the Forum which has three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors  and one APC governor.
Many believe that the politics of the 2015 general elections and the up coming National Conference are factors that have come to play as the governors search for who would step into the shoes of Governor Obi.
A source close to the meeting told Daily Champion that the governors would meet again soon to resolve their differences and put forward a chairman that would be agreeable to all of them and who would also champion the cause of the geo-political zone as resolutely as Governor Obi has done.
The source, a leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo who pleaded anonymity said that “the governors have no choice.  They must put self aside and put the Igbo nation first.  That way they would have no difficulty in settling for the person who would continue the race from where Governor Obi would stop as chairman of the Forum.