By okey alozie
The centre cannot hold again in Imo APC following mutual suspicion and cold war ranging among the stakeholders in the state over holding of the ward congresses in the state.
Trumpeta learnt that the quest to control party structure at ward, local and state levels is tearing apart the party. Worse hit is the interim party chairman Marshall Okaforanyanwu who may in a few weeks time cease to act as the head of the party in the state.
The rumoured second term ambition of Governor Rochas Okorocha is said to be the bone of contention as his plot to have another shot at Douglas House is having a devastating effect on the chances of Okafor Anyanwu retaining his as seat substantive party chairman. For the sake of Okorocha’s interest, the party chairman of APC has been zoned to Orlu. And Anyanwu who is from Orlu zone same with the governors in a lurch to lick his wounds.
Despite desperate efforts of some party faithful loyal and sympathetic to Okafor Anyanwu and clamouring that he be retained, those asking Okorocha to run for second tenure and the governor’s henchmen in government are pushing out Okafor Anyanwu and backing Owerri zone man.
This plot came to the fore last Thursday evening when the party met at the Government House Owerrri, to fine-tune strategies of harmonizing the lists of ward delegates ahead of the Saturday event. Trumpeta learnt that the grand design to frustrate Okafor Anyanwu’s chairmanship ambition was hatched at the meeting where the prevalent word on the lips of most APC party Chieftain was for the chairman to come from Owerri zone.
Efforts by Okafor Anyanwu and his foot soldiers who were also available at the meeting to punctuate the development put him on collision course with the governor said to be tactical about declaring second term interest.
Trumpeta learnt that the Thursday meeting almost ended on sour note when Okafor Anyanwu almost challenged the governor when the issue of zoning the party chairmanship to Owerri zone, particularly, Mbaise clan, came up. It was gathered that Okaforanyanwu voiced out to express grievances that nobody has the right to change him based on zoning arrangement.
The development gives credence to an earlier story carried by Trumpeta that Okaforanyanwu’s days as APC chairman was numbered in view of the fact that a seasoned politician with rich pedigree in party issues from Owerri zone would be given the chance to pilot the affairs of APC in the state.
Competent source revealed that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Interparty Affairs, Alan B Onyemaechi is being tipped to replace him.
The decision to draft in Alan B is to whittle down the chances of a governorship aspirant under APC Dr Charles Onuoha who is also from Mbaise.
Our reporter who monitored events at various local Governments revealed that the party leaders in almost all the local government areas did not embrace the harmonization principle as directed by the state Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
It was also discovered that some leaders held a kangaroo congresses to protect their interests in the 2015 election and this was against the directives given by the Governor and the party’s state executive members.
At Ohaji Egbema, it was like show of shame between the party leaders and their followers.
Hon Luke Chukwu, and Hon Goddy Esomobodo could not agree the process of harmonization.
Moreover, the concerned citizens of the place rejected vehemently the list that was submitted to the Governor by Hon. Okee Okoro, Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment on the ground that it was few people that made the lists to suit their own interest.
The TC chairman who supported the rejection of the list of the ward executives insisted that collectives interest of the people must be above that of one man.
It was against this back drop that Governor Rochas Okorocha appointed the Deputy Speaker Imo state House of Assembly, Hon Pherm Donatus Ozoemena to invite all the party leaders of Ohaji/Egbema LGA and settle their differences.
Our reporter also covered the harmonization meeting which took place at the Ojukwu centre.
While at the meeting, the Deputy Speaker directed all the leaders of various wards to go out and discuss and finally present their harmonized lists of ward executives in order to settle the matter ones and for all but this instruction was opposed by many and at this point the trouble was said to escalated into free for all. The latest was that misguided youths used the opportunity to ensure confusion and insult party elders and those they regarded as opponents.
Some of the youths who spoke to our reporter said they are aggrieved because some leaders wanted to impose criminals on them as party executives.
The same thing was recorded in different parts of the state during the various meetings held for the ward congress harmonization last week. It was finally agreed that those wards who could not settle their differences amicably will today stand for ward election to produce the right people as executive members.
