Even as it is less than forty-eight hours to the inauguration date of the 8th Imo House of Assembly, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the new members of Imo House of Assembly are yet to arrive on those among the twenty-seven of them that will be made Principal Officers to run the affairs of Imo Legislature.
According to impeccable sources, the Governor, whose party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has the majority of members, is bent on picking who will replace Rt. Hon Benji Uwajumogu as the Speaker.
Not only that, Trumpeta learnt, Okorocha wants to plant the entire Principal Officers of the New-Assembly, which has placed the Governor and the New Assembly men at loggerheads.
Trumpeta learnt that while Okorocha is using every tactics to coarse the new Lawmakers to dance to his tune, by allowing him foist their Leaders, the incoming Lawmakers are said to have resisted, saying that Okorocha should allow separation of power to manifest, by letting the Legislature produce their own Leaders, even as they asked the Governor not to entertain any fear, as they will cooperate with his administration.
This Newspaper learnt that in a final parley Okorocha had with the out-gone Lawmakers before their valedictory sitting, he lambasted them, saying that they got Jeeps and other enticing emoluments, but warned that the incoming Lawmakers “will not get ordinary motorcycles.”
A source told Trumpeta that Okorocha at the meeting singled out Hon Dan Ikpeazu of Owerri North LGA and Hon Hon Obinna Okwara from Nkwerre constituency for lambasting, for shunning all entreaties from him to abandon APGA and PDP respectively for APC.
Therefore, following the news of Okorocha’s altercations with these former Lawmakers, the present ones resolved to elect their Principal Officers themselves, to avoid being manipulated by the Governor like robots.
A source told Trumpeta that left for the members they want Hon Acho Ihim from Okigwe constituency as the Speaker, based on the fact that he comes from Okigwe zone where the Speakership position is zoned, and also is a high ranking member, having spent four years already in the Chamber.
The members are said to also favour Hon Ugonna Ozurigbo (OZB) from Nwangele LGA and Orlu zone for Deputy Speaker, Hon Lloyd from Owerri North for Majority Leader, while Hon Obinna Egu from Ngor Okpala LGA for Minority Leader.
But unfortunately for the New Lawmakers, the Governor wants Chinedu Offor as Speaker, with Hon Henry Uzoma Obidiaro as Deputy.
While Offor is from Onuimo LGA in Okigwe zone, Obidiaro hails from Oguta LGA in Orlu zone.
Meanwhile, Trumpeta learnt that the Governor will still have his way, even though his permutations to produce Imo House of Assembly Principal Officers is not for the general good of the people, but for his own selfish end to run the state without questions from any quarters, including the Legislature which should act as a balance against excesses from the Executive.
Whether Okorocha will succeed in foisting a lame duck in Imo House of Assembly is yet to be seen as the poor New Members battle for survival in a new environment they found themselves, just months after coming out from an election that drained their energy and pockets.
