By Peter Uzoma
Developments trailing the Rescue Mission arm of the Imo State Chapter have caused further friction among the key stakeholders leading to aggrieved persons finding their ways out of the group.
Okorocha had on Monday organized another Mock Primaries where some aspirants for elective positions received endorsements to run for the office under APC.
The Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha with his group of followers in the APC of the state drawn from his appointees and sympathizers known. Events have shown that the centre can no longer hold in the Rescue Mission following allocation of tickets to some of the members of the group at the detriment of some aspirants.
Trumpeta learnt that some aspirants got endorsements alongside President Muhammad Buhari. According to the reports, while Okorocha was given the mandate by those present to run for the Senate of Orlu zone, two of his serving commissioners; Prof Nnamdi Obiareri and Chief Emma Ojinere were granted the supports to run for the Senate seats of Okigwe and Owerri Zones respectively.
Others said to have also merited from the endorsement bonanza are the Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu, the member representing Okigwe South, Chief Okafor, and the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo. Deputy Chief of Staff Kingsley Uju was adopted for Federal House of Reps, Ohaji/ Egbema, while a serving House of Reps Member, Hon Nnanna Igbokwe also got the nod for a third term in the Federal House of Reps. Dr Paschal Obi who is the Principal Secretary to the Governor was adopted by the Rescue Missionaries for Ideato Federal constituency.
Trumpeta however gathered that majority of the House of Assembly members who are of the APC extraction have been subtly given upper hand to pick the party’s ticket among other challengers.
The distribution of the elective offices to persons in the Rescue Mission group without party primaries and a level playing ground for the choice of candidates has further sown seed of discord in the governor’s camp.
It would be recall that before now, some architects of the Rescue Mission group had bolted away due to the decision of the governor to project only the son in-law for the governorship position in 2019. Okorocha’s second in command and the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere has turned his back at the Rescue Mission group after he flung away the trademark muffler that had occupied his neck since it became a follower of the incumbent Governor of the State. Madumere has broken away with his followers who the governor and his agents are gradually relieving of their appointment with the Imo State Government.
Apart from Madumere, notable former commissioners, advisers and other categories of appointees have parted ways with the governor due to his insistence on the candidacy of Nwosu as successor. Major allies in the past reported to be behind the electoral successes of the governor like Ichie Best Mbanaso and Dr TOE Ekechi have already engaged in open verbal war against Okorocha to show disengagement from the Rescue Mission team.
The latest Mock Primaries occasioned by endorsement has created room for more breakaways from the Rescue Mission with aggrieved persons who didn’t get endorsements willing to pitch tents with other camps.
Trumpeta reliably learnt that one of the persons who have been part of the Rescue Mission for a long time but in the mood to desert Okorocha is, Chief Gibson Chigbu. Chigbu aspired to run for the Orlu Zone Senatorial contest under APC in 2015 before Senator Hope Uzodinma shoved him aside to pick the ticket. Reports had it that Chigbu was Okorocha’s favourite ahead Izunaso and the backing he gave the Nkwerre born politician was instrumental to the breach of trust between him and the Senator. Only recently, the Rescue Mission compliant Chigbu erected billboards to appreciate the administration of the governor hoping that he would be rewarded with a senatorial ticket of the APC for the zone from the governor’s camp. But the governor’s insistence to run for the Senate of Orlu and further endorsements he received has sent Chigbu out from the camp.
Following Chigbu is the former Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC Managing Director, Dr Henry Okafor. Okafor remains the creator and leader of the “Owelle Show Us This Man and Go to Sleep” mantra and notable apostle of Okorocha’s government.
Trumpeta was informed that despite the effects he has created to attract the attention of the governor to endorse him as the man to pick APC ticket for for Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency contest, Okorocha is disposed to his Deputy Chief of Staff, Kingsley Uju. Uju instead of Okafor. This newspaper gathered on good authority that for Okafor to make his House of Reps ambition real, he has to quit the Rescue Mission and seek another favourable camp in APC to forge ahead. Already, unconfirmed reports has it that Okafor was accused by the governor of romancing with Izunaso which has created some frictions.
The choice of Chike Okafor to retain the Reps seat of Ihitte/Uboma, Obowo and Ehime Mbano for another term come 2019 is leading to another mass pullout of supporters from the Rescue Mission as those in support of a great philanthropist and political mobiliser, Emenike have concluded arrangements to move out from the group. Before now, Emenike who is poised to challenge Okafor in the Rescue Mission family for the Okigwe South ticket has been identifying with the Uche Nwosu Ugwumba movement crusade.
Trumpeta further gathered that the Rescue Mission may only comprise those Okorocha granted endorsements to run for elective offices, as those not favoured are on their way out from the group.
