The ongoing political maneuvering of the Okigwe People’s Political Movement (OPPM) may have turned to a political battle ground following the unprecedented action of Chief TonyBlack Nduka who discourteously interrupted and snatched microphone from the Leader of OPPM and Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu. The incident occurred while Uwajumogu was delivering a speech to announce for the official hand-over of eighteen-seater Bus donated to OPPM, Obowo Council Area Chapter, by the leadership of the forum.
The melo-drama which took place at Amaraku Secondary School in Isiala Mbano Council Area on Sunday during the inaugurating of 163 OPPM grassroots coordinators generated a lot of negative reactions from the concerned citizens in the area.
Some of the angry members who did not want their names in print described TobyBlack’s action as breach of protocol and order of hierarchy. They asserted that TonyBlack Nduka as the Coordinator General of OPPM and Mayor of Okigwe Zone should be oriented on certain roles and behaviours expected of him as public functions.
Confirming the incident, the SSA to the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly on Protocol and Special Events, Hon. Chukwunyere Iruno maintained that there was no leadership contest between TonyBlack and Speaker Uwajumogu adding that Uwajumogu remains the political leader of Okigwe Zone and unopposed Leader of OPPM while TonyBlack is the National Coorodinator of OPPM and the host of the event. Hon. Iruno disclosed that TonyBlack as the Chief Host of the event reserves the right to express his omitted points as nobody talks again immediately the Imo Speaker concludes his speech.
He described OPPM as a political umbrella organization aimed at galvanizing, strengthening, propagating and supporting good governance in Imo State.
The event attracted some frontline politicians within and outside the zone including, Chima Akuzie, Chikwem Onuoha, the immediate past Commissioners, Deacon Chike Okeafor, Mrs Adaora Ijezie among others.
The Imo Speaker assured his people that Amaraku will wear a new look before end of October this year. Rt Hon Uwajumogu disclosed that APC would be the answer to the political struggle of Ndigbo in 2015 adding that the ruling political party in Nigeria PDP has failed the entire Igbo nation as it has no prominent position for Ndigbo in the present political dispensation.
He enjoined people of the zone to support the present administration in Imo State noting that the just inaugurated grassroots coordinators of OPPM would be expected to admit more 30 members in each ward in order to enhance a formidable political structure in the area.
