Practising journalists of Imo State extraction  working in Rivers State , have joined the train to celebrate the victory of the Governor-elect, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, declared as governor last Saturday after the supplementary election held in four local government areas in the state.

The event, which was held at the secretariat of the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), attracted journalists from both government and private media organisations in Rivers State. They  called on the governor-elect  not to  disappoint the trust of the people by going the way of the outgoing governor ,Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

Speaking at the occasion, Vice Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Terver Akase praised the courage of the people of Imo State for voting and ensuring that their mandate was not stolen during the governorship election in the state.

Akase, who described Okorocha,the Governor elect, as one of the most privileged Nigerians to be alive and received encomium from his people expressed the hope that the governor- elect would take the state to a greater level within the next four years.

In his speech, Mr Francis Onyeukwu said the occasion was not the celebration of the downfall of the outgoing Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim,but to appreciate the fact that the people’s votes had counted.

Onyeukwu noted that Governor Ohakim was not able to meet the aspirations of the people. “ the insecurity of the state  was worrisome as it became  impossible for indigenes living outside the state to go home”

In his speech, Mr. Chukwudi Akasike advised the governor-elect to sustain the philanthropic posture, which he had been known for and ensure that he brings the state back to its original glory.

Mrs. Ann Godwin urged the Governor elect to pay more attention on road projects ,stressing that this would improve the lots of the people.

Others who spoke  at the occasion include, Ms. Clarice Azuatalam and Mr. Joe Ezuma who said the gathering was  a show of happiness that the votes of the people of the state counted during the just concluded governorship election which will translate to freedom from oppression from the ruling class.

They challenged the governor-elect not to toe the line of Ohakim  in order not to lose the love and trust of the people of the state.

Meanwhile,  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a pat on the back from Imo indigenes residing in Rivers State for conducting “transparent” supplementary election last Friday.

The Tide reports that Imo electorate overwhelmingly voted for Chief Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance  as a protest against incumbent Gov. Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Reacting to the outcome of the supplementary polls, an Imo indigene living in Port Harcourt, Mr Gozie Chigbu, told The Tide on Tuesday that INEC deserved commendation for conducting a free and fair election in Imo.

He said that President Goodluck Jonathan and Prof. Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman, had shown Nigerians that a credible electoral process was feasible in the country.

Another indigene, Mr Lucky Okafor, said: “In fact, everybody was confused in the process, but at last INEC had helped us out of the confused state of things.”

Okafor said Nigeria would soon become one of the leading democracies in the world because its political process had produced leaders such as Jonathan and Jega.

Similarly, Mrs Chiemena Eze told The Tide that Nigeria could become one of the best democracies “ if we can display enough patriotism and conduct free, fair and credible elections like the 2011 elections”.

She commended the president and the INEC chairman, saying that the duo had proved to the international community that “Nigeria still parades honest and sincere leaders”.

Another indigence, Mrs Nnenna Obi, said the Imo governorship election had proved to the entire world that “there is no imposition of candidates in these 2011 general elections in Nigeria”.