Uneasy calm and tension and pervading Government House, Owerri, Imo State over the reported sour relationship said to have taken over the once rosy affair between the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere.
After several years of unmitigated relationship buoyed with political romance, the center can no longer hold again for Okorocha and his Chief Lieutenant as grapevine sources in Government House, Owerri, give indication that both men are at crossroads at the moment.
Despite feeble efforts put forward by aides of the Deputy Governor, which appeared more like a decoy to distract unsuspecting Imolites from the schisms in the seat of power in Imo, Trumpeta can reveal that all is not well between the power brokers in the state.
The seeming altercation may have come into public knowledge following the unexpected absence of the Deputy from public functions following his recent travel abroad. The suspicion that there could be differences between the Boss and his aides became intense when the Deputy Governor reduced his public function appearances. It was observed that even as he manages to observe state functions, the manner Okorocha disregards his contributions speaks volume of the love lost situation.
The development has forced political appointees to keep sealed lips and watch how Madumere, a power broker in the Okorocha political dynasty is fast losing grounds to new found political oracles in Imo.
Trumpeta further gathered that apart from the Governor, members of the Okorocha family are no longer comfortable with the rising profile of the Mbieri-born politician who they suspect may pose a joker to the governor’s quest for a return ticket in 2015. There is the belief in Okorocha’s camp that should the pressure from Owerri Zone kick against Okorocha’s second term bid, Madumere may be handed the APC ticket since he is from Owerri Zone.
To dislodge Madumere and keep him off the track, unsubstantiated charges and accusations have been leveled against him to sour his image before the Governor.
Uneasy clam has however continued to pervade Government House, Owerri, over the unscheduled abroad movement of the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere penultimate week.
This is sequel to speculations making the rounds that the sudden soured relationship between the Deputy Governor and his boss may have prompted his sudden and unannounced travel to United States of America, USA.
Although, unconfirmed sources have it that the Deputy Governor traveled to USA, for medical attention, Trumpeta gathered that it could be another smokescreen to keep prying ears away from the matter since Madumere’s absence has created a yawning gap in Government House. For the single reason that there was no statement and the late confirmation from his quarters about his whereabouts, was an ominous sign that they are at crossroads.
It would be recalled that the trouble between the Governor and his Deputy started shortly after Eze Madumere was alleged to have started setting up structures to actualize his Governorship ambition in 2015.
Although, Eze Madumere denied the allegation, sources disclosed that it did not go down well with Governor Okorocha who not only frowned at the move but also said to have placed sanctions on him.
In his absence, all functions related to the office of the Deputy Governor were transferred to Chief of Staff, who is reported to be a possible replacement for the Deputy Governor, Chief Jude Ejiogu if there is a change of guard.
According to Government House sources, the Chief of Staff, Chief Ejiogu has been acting as the defacto Deputy Governor of the state for the past three months now. This situation has left Eze Madumere in limbo as he no longer undertakes any specific government function but floats with responsibilities attended to his office which now looks ceremonial.
