I am Not a Murderer – Sen. Ararume

Posted by admin Legislature, Raw Politics, Senate Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume fell victim of high wire politics in 2007 when he made an attempt to contest the governorship election of Imo State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); having won the primaries of the party. But the party opted for Engr. Charles Ugwu in his place. He got a landmark ruling when the Supreme Court declared him the candidate but could not win the race. this is 2011, he is back and running under the action congress of Nigeria for the same seat. he spoke to a select group of journalists recently and Stanley Nkwocha was there.
Some people allege that you are into fraud (419).

So many allegations have been raised against me. But it was part of the scheme to ensure I did not make a headway in my political pursuit then. They said all manner of unthinkable things. They said I was a fraudster, a murderer, that I was not frm Imo, I changed my name to beat the law and so on. I am telling you today that since I was born, I have never changed my name. My father was a teacher and taught at a Catholic Church. I have never been arrested for any fraud case. I am mindful of what I do. I don’t engage in anything I cannot explain. I have lived in Benin and have a successful business there. I used to be the biggest importer of fish.

When you are in a place where people don’t know much about you, they begin to raise some nasty suspicions. My hands are clean. They can check my records with the police. I am a legitimate businessman with a burning desire to serve my people. It takes courage to accept the success of another friend let alone someone you regard as your enemy.

I can’t give life, I can’t take life. I have never had any murder case in my life. The business I have pre-dated 1999. The property in Abuja housing my Exclusive Stores was acquired since 1993. This is retail business they thought was the exclusive preserve of the Lebanese, we went into it and we are doing well.

I come frm a good family in Imo. My mother was the only one allowed to be buried inside the Church because she lived for the Church and died for the Church.
What Happened in 2007?

Obasanjo was against my going for the governorship after the primaries. He wanted me to go back to the Senate and I told him I contested primaries for the governorship, not the Senate. He said it was not possible and I challenged him; that was all. We started the legal fireworks up to the Supreme Court and they had nothing to use against me so as to stop me. If they had, they would have used it since they wanted to stop me at all cost.

What Obasanjo did to me, he did to others in Sokoto, where Shagari won the primaries and was asked to step down for the current governor to become the deputy. It happened in Niger, Rivers, Yobe and some other states. The difference is that I challenged it, Amaechi also did and I am happy I did what I did.
Is that what is driving you into contesting the 2011 governorship?

In 2007, they didn’t like my face because of my guts. But then we are alive to contest again. To me, this is important. And I am using this opportunity to tell my kinsmen that I am contesting again and this time around, we shall get the mandate of the people to contribute our best to the development of the state.

They did all they could to frustrate me, but here we are again. That is important and we have another opportunity. I am ready to serve now. We have a governor in the saddle now who is not a product of the people’s mandate but conspiracy. Those who worked against me then now know better and they are regretting. They now realise that there must be a change in 2011 and I am the change they desire now.

I am prepared to right all the wrongs in Imo State when voted into office. I have toured all the 27 local government areas in the state and what I saw was really an eyesore which should not be; in view of the money the government of the day borrowed for projects that could not be sighted.

The situation in Imo State is pathetic, nothing has been added to what the former governor did except deteriorating infrastructure that dot all the nooks and crannies of the state. Frm education to health and the social sector, it is all stagnation. We cannot afford to wait to stop the rot.

The danger is that if the situation is allowed to continue beyond 2011, it will be too devastating for the people and disastrous for the state. We just have to change the government. Businesses are fast leaving Imo State due to the inclement business environment coupled with multiple taxation without infrastructure.

The federal government, under late President Yar’Adua, had said that no state governor should borrow money which repayment will outlive its tenure, but in Imo, the amount of money that has been borrowed cannot be repaid in the next 20 years.

They say Sam Mbakwe also borrowed, but we all see what he used the money for — physical development. Where are the structures now to justify the recent huge borrowing?

Ours is service to the people, we will create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. We have been in business, we know what it takes for businesses to thrive and we will do all these. It is not for me to leave the state and be governing frm outside, I will stay in Imo and solve the problems.

I am happy at the level of encouragement and support we have been getting; it only shows that they are eagerly yearning for a change, they have seen what is on the ground and ours is very attractive, we shall make it by the grace of God.
What is your party platform?

I was in the PDP. We watched to see what the national secretariat would do on the status of the state executive of the party in the state. The party platform is really not the issue as much, but the person. We have seen it happen in other states. But I appealed to the people of the state to put the past behind them and open a new chapter and work towards having a new government that will give them the desired hope and meet their aspirations. Today, God willing, I am running under the Action Congress of Nigeria and committed to bringing the desired change in Imo State.

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