The desire of the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to have his Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu as successor in office come 2019 is raising confusion in the state as members of his cabinet and followers of the governor’s Rescue Mission government not disposed to the plot becoming targeted species.
Since unveiling Nwosu as the anointed successor in waiting, the centre can no longer hold in the governor’s political family following subsequent disapprovals that have been greeting the development.
Trumpeta can authoritatively reveal that Okorocha’s decision to insist that only Nwosu from his camp has the capacity to succeed him in office has not only broken the chord of trust between the governor and his trusted lieutenants but has also caused serious disaffection in the Rescue Mission political family.
A clear manifestation of the troubles bedeviling Okorocha’s camp is the governor’s new found aggression against former political soul mates for allegedly not backing the governorship bid of Nwosu who is also his son in-law. In the same vein, Okorocha has commenced a vengeance war against some of his loyalist not disposed to joining him to back the son in-law.
Among his loyalists at the receiving end of the extreme brushes the governor is dishing out to the perceived non conformists loyalists are his Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, former Secretary to the Imo State Government, Chief Jude Ejiogu and the Imo APC Restoration team led by the governor’s former Information commissioner, Dr TOE Ekechi.
Moments after he lamented to a selected group of journalists in the state how his Deputy and the likes of Ejiogu have turned their backs at him over the Nwosu project, Okorocha swung into action to victimize his second in command in government by removing the Transition Committee of his Mbaitoli LGA, Chief Odoemene and replacing him with another appointee said to be Uche Nwosu compliant.
Similarly, the state’s commissioner for Sports, Dr Martin Ohiri in a dramatic fashion was also shoved aside in place of another appointee from the area said to be sympathetic to the son in-law’s ambition.
The removal of the two appointees from the Deputy Governor’s locality may not be unconnected to festering cold war and breach of trust ravaging the relationship between the former political soul-mates.
Okorocha it would be recalled had gone after one of his allies and appointee, Ichie Best Mbanaso for joining forces with the Deputy Governor and a member of the APC Restoration Group that appended their names to the “Imerienwe Declaration” which condemned Okorocha’s plot to foist the in-law on the party and go ahead to deliver him as his successor.
In a move likened to be draconian, the Okorocha led government without prior notice marked Ichie Mbanaso’s property in New Owerri area of the state capital for demolition. Mbanaso had served as Commissioner for Commerce and latter Works before appointed as SA on Market Devt Affairs.
Others affected by the new onslaught have their official cars marked for retrieval while various forms of threats are said to be sent to them.
