Earlier this year, especially as political activities stirred across the country, Governor Imoke was quoted as saying that he would not contest any political position in 2015 contrary to the groundswell of insinuations that he would seek again a Senate seat. Imoke was a Senator between 1992 and 1993.
He was just 31 then. Transiting from governorship to the senate is a norm in Nigeria. At present, over 10 governors including Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and Governor Gabriel Suswam among others are girding their loins in preparation for the senatorial election. Imoke does not want any of this. Not again.
However, for a man who has spent the last 22 years of his life in the corridors of power and understands and appreciates the importance of wielding political power, it beggars understanding why he suddenly does not want to have anything to do with it again. As if that was not enough, he said he would not support anybody to succeed him.
“I don’t want to carry another person’s political wish. People say I am looking for someone that would protect me. Am I stupid? Only a fool would look for someone to protect him. Wouldn’t it be great if Cross River State gets a good governor? I would not mind if whoever takes over does not even call me until the end of his tenure so long as the person does what is right for the state.”
If people thought that was the exemplary way of statesmen, then, they didn’t know any better. No politician wants to be without power. And Imoke is no exception. The truth is that Imoke is sick, terribly so. When he walked into the venue of the 50th birthday ceremony of talkshow host and Ebony TV founder, Mo Abudu, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, last weekend, many let out gasps of shock and surprise. Though he has not lost his famed handsomeness, he looked gaunt and sickly. His well-tailored suit hung loosely on him as his hands appeared whitish and wizened. All through the event, the Buckingham University-trained lawyer avoided alcohol. Yet, he is no teetotaler as he was known to enjoy expensive whiskeys and vintage cognacs.
Though Imoke has spent the last one year without any major health crisis, Nigerians have not forgotten that for many months in 2012, he was away from Nigeria to see to his health. When, for several weeks, there was no word from him, rumours made the rounds that he had died from cancer complications. He would later return to his seat but those who know him closely say he has lost his shine and sparkle; that he is no longer the fun-loving governor they used to know. Sources in Calabar say Imoke cannot wait for May 2015 so that he can hand over and relocate permanently to the United States to take care of his kidney-related ailment.