By Onyekachi Eze and Peter Uzoma
In apparent fear of being sacked out of office for failure to show solidarity to the ambition of the Chief of Staff to the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, all appointees serving the administration have systematically joined the Ugwumba Movement.
Ugwumba Movement which started more like a socio-political organization has grown to be the pseudo campaign machinery of Nwosu, who is also the governor’s son in-law.
On Tuesday, Trumpeta newspapers spotted all the aides and appointees at the Ugwumba Movement main office on All Season’s road in New Owerri, holding meeting. No appointee of the governor was absent at the Ugwumba Movement office signalling that all have succumbed.
This newspaper recalls that an ill wind that blows no one any good is currently sweeping across the Okorocha political family with those not compliant to the son in-laws at the receiving end.
With the change of a TC chairman of Mbaitoli LGA, Odoemene reportedly not to be disposed to the ambition of Nwosu and the follow up removal of the Sports Commissioner, Dr Martin Ohiri because of their affinity to the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, all appointees playing hide and seek game over Nwosu’s bid has now come out in openly to declare their support.
The appointees comprising Commissioners, Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Special Assistants (SAs), Advisers, Trumpeta gathered have finally collapsed in “Ugwumba Movement” for the purposes of championing the governorship bid of the governor’s son in-law.
A large gathering of stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at the Ugwumba Movement campaign office along New Owerri, this Newspaper observed presence of virtually all the Rescue Mission appointees.
Some House of Assembly members were not left out, as few of them were spotted, comfortably seated in the deliberations of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu’s 2019 mandate.
Information gathered from a Director General of Ugwumba Mandate, indicate that they converged for the progress of the APC Party.
Trumpeta was authoritatively informed that part of the meeting’s agenda was to embark on grassroots mobilization and sensitization tours across the 27 LGAs of the State, and to preach on the relevance of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the upcoming general elections.
Meanwhile, the political machinery of APC in Owerri West LGA is gradually grounding to a halt as it is now a case of one week, one trouble.
The latest trouble now is the defection of the Director Rocha’s Mandate, Hon Sir Sampson Ogbos from APC to APGA in Owerr West ward 9 comprising Amakohia- Ubi/ Ndegwu/Ohii autonomous communities.
Hon Ogbos who was the Secretary, organising committee of the just concluded Owerri- West cultural festival ” Igbuhe Uzo Ubi/Igbatu Oba Ji” left for APGA with about two thousand, supporters from the three autonomous communities.
The defector popularly called ” Aluma-aluma” was a former Councillor in the area from 2004–2007 under PDP, former Chairmanship aspirant in 2009 under PDP, former APC Ward Coordinator in 2013 and CLO for Umunwaoha political bloc in Owerri-West LGA.
Receiving the defecting politicians, the Owerri- West APGA Chairman, Chief Emeka Nkwoada described the occasion as a dream come true adding that initially he thought it was a rumour but now happy that it has manifested.
Chief Nkwoada who was represented by his Vice, Hon Samuel Nwarie nicknamed Chief Ogbos “Oke Agu” and welcomed the defectors and in his words, “with this development Umunwaoha political bloc is totally secured”
In their speeches, two House of Assembly aspirants Sir Kevin Akanador, Chief Dubem Uneze and a former PDP Councillor in the area Hon Paschal Iheme described Hon Ogbos as a big fish whose name has been ringing bell in politics in the area.
Presenting Party cards to the defectors, the Ward Chairman on behalf of his twenty- one man Exco assured them of equal rights in the party pointing out that their entry into APGA meant that the war was over.
In his brief speech, Hon Ogbos revealed that he was switching over because the present administration has failed to deliver on its mandate.
He condemned the ongoing misery citizens of the state, especially the traders, pensioners and artisans have been subjected to, in whatever guise, and pleaded with the injured to take solace in the believe that APGA on ascension would wipe their tears.
