By Onyekachi Eze
A new wave of political trend is sweeping across Okigwe zone following the emergence of Rt Hon Acho Ihim, as speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.
Against all predictions, a political leader in the area who recently made a volte face about his political destination, Ifeanyi Araraume has reportedly kept away from the new speaker, Ihim, even as war of supremacy between people from Okigwe LGA, the constituency of Speaker Ihim and appointees of the immediate past, Benjamin Uwajumogu over appointments in the office of the speaker.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s absence at a reception organized for rt. Hon Acho Ihim at his Umualumoke country home, Okigwe was conspicuous when notable leaders from the area and zone identified with the new speaker of Imo Hous of Assembly.
Trumpeta learnt that the non-appearance of the two-time senator who represented Okigwe zone at the National Assembly raised concern among top Okigwe zone politicians at the event. More disturbing was that while the likes of Chief Tony Black Nduka, Emma Ibediro, Kelechi Okpalaeke and Chinedu Nwajiuba who are not from Okigwe LGA trooped to the new Speaker’s community, Araraume the new bride of APC in the zone and the leader expected to propel the future of the party in the senatorial district, was absent alongside many of his acolytes from the area.
There was heightened tension that contrary to belief in several quarters, Ihim may not have received Araraume’s blessing to become Speaker, hence the absence of the ex-senator.
At the reception attended by high profile persons like APC State Chairman, Hilary Eke, Prof Nnamdi Obiareri and Jude Okorocha, Ihim promised to serve the interest of the masses by encouraging quality and healthy debates from all members.
According to him, the 8th Imo Assembly under his leadership will be guided by effective legislation to produce people-oriented results.
In another development, war of supremacy is ravaging the office of the Speaker as appointment seeking aides battle for positions in the office. As at the time of this report, there is no end in sight yet for the struggle.
Our reporter who observed proceedings in the renovated complex on Tuesday revealed that the war is between aides who served Uwajumogu and Okigwe people to loyal to the new speaker, Acho Ihim.
It was noticed that Uwajumogu’s aides who were reported to be making overtures to either get fresh appointments or retained by Ihim Barricaded and took charge of the Speaker’s office and allegedly went extra-mile to lock the Speaker’s office. Aggrieved Okigwe LGA persons who claimed they worked for Ihim during the elections and contributed to his emergence as speaker however fought back to dismiss Uwajumogu’s aides.
The Ihim sympathers alleged that the Uwajumogu aides should give way to allow the new Speaker select his aides similar to what the former speaker did when he stepped into office in 2011.
A concerned Okigwe LGA staff who joined her people to stop Uwajumogu aides, informed Trumpeta at the complex that during the time of the former speaker, he allegedly appointed only his constituents form Ihitte Uboma who only appeared at the House during monthly collection of allowances. The source who offered anonymity disclosed that the animosity prosecuted against non Ihitte Uboma persons in Uwajumogu’s office then, may have been responsible for the brutal killings of two prominent aides outside his constituency who died while serving the former Speaker.
It took the timely intervention of Ihim’s security aides to open the speaker’s office.
