An Unconfirmed story said to have emanated from the Social Media has it that there is an alleged plot hatched by the Chief Executive of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha targeted at his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere.
Even as the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere has refuted the said report as “lies from the pit of hell concocted by faceless and unscrupulous elements”, Trumpeta learnt that it could be the handiwork of underground political developments coupled with desperation of some politicians who want to instigate crisis in the political system, especially in APC political family.
The report whose source remains unknown indicate that Prince Madumere, a holder of MFR National honour was “alleged to be under pressure to resign or be impeached over allegation” related to embezzling of pension fund.
This newspaper gathered on a good authority that there is a calculated attempt by some suspected persons to institute anarchy in the APC family by subtly pitching Madumere against his boss.
Investigations have it that the inability of Okorocha to name a successor ahead 2019 has thrown up openings for the governor’s lieutenants to seek means of attracting the favour of the governor. In view of the mixed feelings to make his Chief of Staff and son-in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu, the next governor of Imo State, there are indications that Madumere has a chance to be backed by his principal (Okorocha) for the governorship seat if the issue of where Nwosu comes from becomes a factor. Nwosu is from Nkwerre, in Orlu zone where the present governor hails from and after Achike Udenwa’s eight years followed by another two tenures of Okorocha, majority of Imolites, especially those from Okigwe and Owerri zones are strongly objecting to an Orlu zone person to take over from the governor in 2019.
This development has given Madumere an advantage to be adopted by Okorocha because of the number of years both politicians have had together and considering the affinity existing between them.
To disrupt the likely hood of Madumere gaining advantage, forces said to be opposed to the Deputy Governor benefitting from the idea of Okorocha picking a successor from Owerri zone are said to have cooked up the impeachment story.
It was also gathered that the growing influence of Madumere Fans Club, a pet project of the Deputy Governor suspected to be an underground political structure is said to be sending shivers down the spines of other stalwarts and their followers warming up for 2019 election.
Madumere fans club is a social organization where likeminded youths disposed to the Deputy Governor gather to tender social services to people. It cuts across all strata of the society and spreads across the 27 LGAs. The existence of structure is a source of worry to others who are plotting to dismantle it with all manner of political strategies.
The recent appointment of Commissioners’ nominees where the names of the 13 persons forwarded to the Imo State House of Assembly do not have any link to Madumere is said to have sparked fresh row that Okorocha is against his Deputy.
Trumpeta findings discovered that allies of the Chief of staff to the governor Chief Uche Nwosu made the list but there was no person from Mbaitoli, the LGA of the second in command in the State. The development gives cause for those opposed to the Deputy Governor to allege that there is plot to impeach Madumere. It would be recalled that apart from previous attempts to keep the Deputy Governor in the dark about appointments, the new TC Chairman of Mbaitoli is said not to be his making while the leadership caucus of his Mbaitoli/Ikeduru (Mbaike) political block is made up of those not favourably disposed to him.
The same forces working against Madumere and drumming the impeachment crusade were instrumental to the premature deaths of few socio-political organizations like the New Era political platform, which he was suspected to be part of.
In the ensuing drama, Madumere, through his media aide stated that “It is really interesting to note that twenty-four hours after the Opponents of the Rescue Mission Government in the State had invaded the Social Media and some local tabloids with the claim that the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has sacked the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM, Eze Samuel Ohiri which was far from the truth, they came up again with another balderdash that the governor has approved the impeachment of his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere”.
“Our Concern in all these is the public especially those who may swallow some of these lies hook line and sinker without subjecting them to scrutiny or to common logic to know the possibility of their being true or false. And that has been the reason we devote time responding to some of them”.
“On the issue of Prince Madumere and the reported approval for his impeachment, there is no iota of truth in that source-less report. It is not true that the governor has approved for his impeachment especially where there is no reason for anybody to think along that line”.
“The Opponents of the administration in the State have become so frustrated that they have nothing else to cling on except falsehood and weightless propaganda. Their future in the Politics of the State with particular reference to 2019 is very bleak. There is no light at the end of their Political tunnel and they have begun to resort to moonlight tales and games.”
“For the sake of strengthening the truth, and burying falsehood, the governor has not given any approval for the impeachment of the Deputy-Governor. And you do not impeach anybody through approvals. Those behind all these gimmicks are uninformed and lazy. They have nothing serious to keep themselves busy. Hence, all these cock and bull stories. They have our sympathy”.
