Okigwe vacant senate seat: Pressure mounts on Uwajumogus widow, Eillen, to join race
Pressure has continued to pile on Lady Eillen Uwajumogu, widow of the demised Senator representing Okigwe zone (Imo North) to throw her hat into the ring in a bid to succeed her husband, Rt. Hon. Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, who was in his second tenure as Senator of Imo North senatorial district before the cold hands of death suddenly gripped him, leaving the seat vacant and eliciting a jostle by both Tom and Harry in Okigwe senatorial zone.
A close family source to the Uwajumogus had informed the Community Watchdog Newspaper in Ihitte/Uboma LGA headquarters, Isinweke that those mounting the pressure on Mrs Eillen Uwajumogu cut across the entire federation with some of his former colleagues at both the State House of Assembly and Senate, urging her on to take the bold step with assurances to provide the necessary logistical support for the mobilization of Okigwe electorate to support her well desired aspiration.
The initial reluctance by Uwajumogus widow was reason Acho Ihim decided to join the race and would be willing to back down and support her the moment she makes up her mind to accept the challenge which is presently tearing Okigwe leaders apart over the choice of who best fits or deserves to be enthroned as senator. There is even an Abuja angle to the enticement with most senators and top National leaders of APC and his business associates falling on top of each other on whose pressure would eventually break the ice and lure Mrs Eillen Uwajumogu to throw her hat into the ring and decide to run for Okigwe senate.
It was also learnt that the Regina CherlyTony Chukwu, Ifeanyi Araraume debacle stemmed from a disagreement over the need to compensate the acknowledged pious and virtuous lady with the senatorial seat as a way of assuaging her frayed nerves and soothing her feelings of loss and loneliness. Araraumes refusal to think in line with Tony Chukwu, who publicly testified to sponsoring Distinguished Senator Ben Uwajumogu for his second term victory, invariably forced the business magnet to draw the battle line and vowed never to support Distinguished Senator Araraumes comeback bid to the senate.
It was also observed that some National leaders of the party view late Senator Ben Uwajumogu as a jinx breaker, who was the only APC senator from the entire South East and South/South geopolitical regions at a time many viewed the party with disdain and as a pariah. The leaders are of the opinion that the greatest tribute to Ben Uwajumogu is to ensure that his widow, Lady Eillen who is eminently qualified, takes her rightful position of honour in the senate bearing in mind how hard her late husband fought to demystify the likes of Patrick Ndubueze, Ifeanyi Araraume, Athan Acholonu, Attorney Charles Onyirimba and late Emenike to emerge victorious at the hotly contested and severally repeated senatorial election.
Feelers from Aso Rock Villa expressed the readiness of the authorities to accept Lady Eillen Uwajumogu as replacement, bearing in mind her husband died under Buhari, like his late father, Chief B.O Uwajumogu, who died in 1985 under General Muhammadu Buhari, as Military Head of State.
It will be recalled that Rt. Hon Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu was even called names by his detractors and opponents for not just joining APC but in trying to mobilize support for General Muhammandu Buhari in 2015. The detractors had wished that the ugly death of his later father under Buhari befalls him which eventually came to pass, hence President Buharis willingness to accept his widow as senator far and above all other considerations from Imo North.
Locally in Imo State, a group of concerned Okigwe Youths under the auspices of Okigwe Zonal Progressive Minds, during their Easter celebration meeting on Monday, which held at Isiala Mbano LGA, unanimously agreed to call on Lady Eillen Uwajumogu to run for the Senate seat of Imo North Senatorial District.
Comr. Chijioke Seth Nwokeiwu, the President of the organization, who spoke on behalf of the entire members of the organization, said that Mrs. Eillen Uwajumogu has demonstrated serious level of compassion and keen interest in the affairs of humanity and development of the society.
He went further to say that Okigwe Zone (Imo North) deserves a mother, who is full of cares, love and compassion and that she would never compromise her integrity in pursuit of the welfare and development of Okigwe zone.
“We must appeal and plead with Lolo Eillen Uwajumogu, though we are conscious of her mourning mood, to kindly come and contest for this seat as we assure her of our maximum support and readiness to partner with her towards the development of Okigwe Zone. As we await her response, we urge all Okigwe sons and daughters to support our clarion call for Lolo Eillen Uwajumogu to come and represent the zone at the red chambers of the National Assembly. We are also aware of all she has done within the zone and across the state, as wife of the former Speaker and Senator which never got adequate publicity” declares Comrade Nwokeiwu.
The organization also agreed to open an account with any reputable bank for donations to assist Lolo Eillen Uwajumogu as they remain optimistic that she will answer the clarion call.
Comrade Seith Nwokeiwu cited the case of late Ogbonnaya Uche’s (OGB) wife who was offered the ANPP senatorial ticket to replace her husband as candidate for Orlu zone after OGB was gruesomely murdered. He contended that Uche Ogbonna’s widow would have won the election as Orlu senator except for the refusal of her husband’s killers to allow her victory. Lately, late senator Chuba Okadigbos wife was given similar consideration for which she successfully served out her tenure as senator of Anambra North and today remains a top notcher in APC. It was as a result of the precedence that Nwokeiwu swore that Lady Eillen Ben Uwajumogu’s case will never be an exception.
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