Crisis of confidence and uneasy calm is reigning among members of Imo State House of Assembly over the purported romance between the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and some lawmakers of PDP extraction.
The budding cold war, which had been brewing for months now became open recently when reports reached members of the House that the few PDP members were part of the Governor’s team to the Congress meeting in United States of America, USA.
Trumpeta learnt that the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt Hon Ben Uwajumogu, some principal officers and members of APGA extraction are uncomfortable with the unusual rosy affair.
Governor Okorocha attended the USA Summit where Honourables Ikenna Emeh, SamDaddy Anyanwu and Simeon Iwunze reportedly paid glowing tributes to the scintillating performances of the Governor. The three ranking lawmakers reportedly spoke while presenting a report of Okorocha’s development programs during an interactive Town Hall Meeting in Queens New York, by the Imo indigenes.
Apart from the recent trip to USA, the three lawmakers have been enjoying “special treatment” from the state Governor who constituted Special Committees recently where Iwunze, Anyanwu and Emeh were made Chairmen of the affected committees along other largesse like Hilux vehicles with fitted sirens.
It would be recalled that the three-man cabal was part of the adhoc Committee constituted by the State Assembly to probe the alleged N458m bribe-scandal against sacked Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso which however led to his eventual impeachment.
Many members of the House are aggrieved that Emeh, Iwunze and Anyanwu who were elected from the main opposing party are being treated like “sacred cows” by Okorocha to the detriment of the loyal APGA members who have been strategic partners to the Executive arm of Government.
What further irked the aggrieved APGA lawmakers was that the trio had at the inception of the present House allegedly conducted themselves in a manner that would have obstructed legislative activities capable of destabilizing the State and possibly lead to the impeachment of the Governor. A source, who preferred anonymity, noted that it was unconfirmed fears from the PDP lawmakers buoyed by suspected external influence that prompted the APGA members to go into a separate allegiance over the reported oath-taking to protect the interest of Governor Okorocha against external aggression from the PDP lawmakers and their allied forces.
The aggrieved lawmakers regretted that those who initially posed as a threat to the smooth operation of “Rescue Mission” are the ones being “Rescued” and considered worthy to benefit from the Executive arm.
Some noted that the three lawmakers seem to be working with the wife of the Governor, Mrs Nkechi Okorocha as they not only attend social functions with her but also were part of her entourage to the various LGAs during the “She Needs A Roof Project” (SNARP) tour.
The unpleasant romance is breeding bad blood and disaffection between the APGA lawmakers and the Governor, as fear is said to be tormenting the APGA lawmakers including the principal officers.
Worse hit in the fear of the unknown is Speaker Uwajumogu, his Deputy, Pharmacist Ozoemena and Adaku Ihuoma, the Majority Leader. The fears stem from the fact that they may be trade off in the political re-alignment and horse trading between the Governor and the three lawmakers. Speculations are rife that the Governor in bound to make them APC compliant and be part of the Rescue Missionaries, may dangle them Imo Assembly apex positions. Iwunze may be considered for Speaker since he hails from Okigwe Zone same with Uwajumogu, while Emeh and Anyanwu from Orlu and Owerri respectively will be handed the Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader positions.
The development is creating tension and indirectly widening the various camps which had been divided into various sections in the past.
