By Adesina Soyooye
If the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, had his way,  the non-career Ambassador, nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari from Edo State,, would have been disqualified. He wouldn’t have been confirmed by the whole Senate.
Okorocha, now the Senator representing Imo West is a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee which screened Buhari’s nominees before they were presented to the whole Senate for confirmation.
The nominee from Edo State,Yamah Mohammed Musa, hit a raw sore with Okorocha and, the former Governor was so angry he not only warned him, but threatened to petition against his nomination.
Trouble started when the nominee was asked to tell the Committee what qualified him to be an Ambassador.
Confidently, in answer, he told the Committee, that he was a member of many APC committees which conducted election primaries in many states of the Federation under the National Chairmanship of the now sacked Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
That stung Okorocha like a new. And, even though Imo was not mentioned in a couple of States the nominee reeled out, the Senator hit the roof. And roared like a lion. The mere mention of Oshiomhole’s name was like poison to Okorocha.
He warned the nominee never, ever, to mention in public that he took part in the conduct of Primaries under Oshiomhole.
He said Oshiomhole committed atrocities, all over Nigeria, using people like the nominee. Oshiomhole, he said, presided over the worst conduct of election primaries ever in Nigeria. He said if he mentioned the Primaries as an achievement again, he would petition against the nominee. He further told the nominee that if that was his achievement, he would dent Nigeria’s image outside.
Okorocha: ” This is not the best way to compensate you. Because peradventure you go to a country and behave in the same manner, then that will tarnish the image of Nigeria.
“I advise you, never, don’t ever mention anywhere that you conducted the Primary for APC anywhere. Because, most of you who did that, the former Chairman just sent you to commit atrocities, all atrocities you committed everywhere.
“Don’t remind people of that by saying that you conducted election anywhere for APC.
“And, if that was the basis for your nomination, then, I will make a petition against you.”
Okorocha’s outburst is understandable.
Ever since the APC, under Oshiomhole, denied Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, the APC Govermorship ticket in 2019, the former Governor has been bitter, and has not forgiven Oshiomhole for the loss he considers as monumental.
