There was intensive rumble in the Imo State House of Assembly on Tuesday when the state lawmakers gave a clean bill of health to all the Commissioner nominees and Chairmen and Members of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, and State Judiciary Commission.
While all the nominees were cleared and confirmed for inauguration, that of Prince Callistus Nwokoma, from Ohaji/Egbema and ISOPADEC board-member designate suffered a setback, no thanks to the member representing the area, Hon Chief Luke Chukwu, who asked that his confirmation be stepped down for undisclosed reason.
Chukwu’s action stunned his colleagues on the floor of the House and witnesses at the public gallery who could not believe that the Speaker, Rt Hon Ben Uwajumogu could reverse himself and authority of the Speaker after hitting the gavel foreclosing the confirmation of the nominees.
Trouble started when the Speaker after concluding deliberations on the nominations requested for comments. Immediately, Chukwu rose up and asked that since Nwokoma is his constituent, his confirmation be suspended and stepped down.
Trumpeta learnt that the action of Chukwu stems from the age-long rivalry between the duo since they found themselves in one political family. It was learnt that during the committee job for screening of appointees chaired by Mrs Ngozi Pat-Ekeji, who represents Aboh Mbaise, Chukwu ensured close scrutiny of Nwokoma’s credentials.
Apart from the close scrutiny of certificates, Chukwu reportedly told his colleagues that it would be difficult for Nwokoma to scale through the screening hurdle since he was among Ohaji/Egbema APC/APGA leaders who recently not only signed a document for his vote of no confidence but also made moves for his recall. He was said to have showed the committee the purported letter where Nwokoma allegedly appended his signature. In defense, Nwokoma noted that it was the decision of the leaders which he was part of and could not have failed to be part of the decision since it was a collective action.
At this juncture, it was further gathered that Chukwu vowed not to allow Nwokoma succeed since it was time to take his own pound of flesh from the ISOPADEC nominee, who joined to seek his recall from the Assembly.
Another reason that influenced Chukwu’s uncompromising approach is the struggle for control of APGA/APC structure in Ohaji/Egbema. It was however learnt that Chukwu’s trouble with Nwokoma began during the formation of the caretaker committee for the Members of the Community Government Council, CGC, where there was clash of interest over candidates for the various positions, especially in Nwokoma’s Umuokanne autonomous community of Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
Despite repeated visits Nwokoma was said to have paid to Chukwu through various forms, there is no end in sight to their rivalry as the state legislature turns down confirmation.
However, it was learnt that Nwokoma has been cleared at last
