Though the next general election in Nigeria will come in 2019, politicians who think far have already began making preparations, while those holding political positions, like Governor, have started dreaming on who will take over from them after leaving office.
Inadvertently lowering his thanks, the Governor of Imo state Owelle Rochas Okorocha on May 29, 2015 at Dam Anyiam Stadium Owerri, during his swearing-in for a second term in office let the cat out of the Bag, by saying that his Deputy Prince Eze Madumere will “continue from me when I get tired”.
Political pundits at the celebrated ceremony decoded that Okorocha has anointed the Mbieri born Prince to succeed him in office in 2019.
Trumpeta learnt that Okorocha will be at peace if Madumere succeeds him as the next Govenor of Imo State. Apart from the fact that Madumere has remained unconditionally loyal to Okorocha now for over twenty years, Okorocha is certain that Madumere will cover his back while he is gone, and will not play the Theodore Orji\Orji Uzo Kalu debacle in Abia state, where the former Governor, Orji Kalu brought Theodore Orji from cell and made him Governor, only for the diminutive Chief Executive to turn a thorn on Kanu’s flesh.
Sources told Trumpeta that Okorocha so much trusts Madumere that he can not leave him, after he had understudied him for eight years, and look for another alternative.
It was also learnt that Madumere has shown too much loyalty to Okorocha that the gods will not be blamed, if Okorocha gambles to hand power to any other person, than Madumere who has worked for Okorocha dreaming of becoming Governor in 2011.
Trumpeta was informed that one of the reasons Okorocha wants Madumere to succeed him is to leave a peaceful Imo State.
In 2019, as any attempt to deny power to Owerri again may not be taken for granted with the emergence of young Turks of Owerri politics before 2019. Therefore, Madumere who hails from Achi Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA fits into all the criteria Okorocha may be looking for.
Although it is said that Okorocha has confidence in the new secretary to Imo State Governor, Sir Jude Ejiogu, but for now Madumere is his preferred choice except some thing happens as time goes on.
Meanwhile, Okorocha’s confidence in Madumere, since after the May 29 declaration is causing confusion in the camps of Chief Jery Chukwueke and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, both men who feel that Okorocha will hand over power to them in 2019, and therefore abandoned their party, PDP, at the last election, to team up with APC and return Okorocha as a second term Governor of Imo State.
Meanwhile, both Araraume, and Chukwueke are not of the “Rescue Mission” Dynasty, and are bound to pursue their own personal agendas that may rubbish Okorocha’s legacies, as the Governor does not want any body to demolish any of his structures, as he has destroyed buildings and abandoned infrastructures initiated by his predecessors, right from Mbakwe to Ohakim.
“Araraume and Chukwueke are too big to take instructions from Okorocha after he may have left Douglas House. Those men are wasting their time to believe that Okorocha will hand over power to them in 2019 where there is Eze Madumere and Jude Ejiogu.
Okorocha at Dan Anyiam on May 29, 2015 had read to the hearing of the mammoth crowd that “You shall work with me (talking to Madumere). You shall continue from where I stop if I am tired” while Madumere nodded his heads in obedience.
