The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Imo State, Athan Achonu has said that no amount of persuasion from the incumbent governor of the state, Hope Uzodinma would make him drop his gubernatorial ambition.

The LP flag bearer’s statement comes amidst speculations that he is a placeholder and will be bought off soon

However, Achonu has stated that he will be going all the way to the finish line.

Achonu said this during Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He argued that even if Uzodinma offers him $100 million he will still refuse to vacate his position as the party’s candidate.

According to him, “The people of Imo State already know the truth. They are following me. How can I be a placeholder for Hope Uzodimma? Give me $1 million? That’s not possible.

“I have been around in this country. I am very well known. I can say that for myself. So, I have a reputation in this country. I am a man of integrity. Hope Uzodimma can’t buy me even with $100 million. It is not possible. Nobody can buy me. Money can’t buy me.”

Speaking further, the former lawmaker explained that contesting the Imo governorship poll was not something he wanted to do.

He said that his supporters asked him not to retire from politics and the desire to change things for the better in Imo State made him give in to their demands.

“So, they said if I abandon them, they would not have any place to go. That’s why I really went into that race. I didn’t want to run for governor,” Senator Achonu added.

The LP candidate, who lamented the bottlenecks of doing business in the South-East, said the quest to rewrite history pushed him into the governorship contest.

“Igbos have been chased out of Igbo land. It is like an occupied territory. So, every half a kilometre, you see a Police checkpoint, you see a Customs checkpoint. So, people cannot trade freely,” he added.