By Peter Uzoma
The last may not have been heard of developments trailing the conduct of the All Progressive Congress APC Ward Congresses in Imo State, as the number of casualties who have lost their positions have increased.
Trumpeta recalls that barely 24 hours after last Saturday’s Ward Congresses to elect party officials at the grassroots level, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ehime Mbano was fired by the Governor based on a letter from the Office of the Principal Secretary to the Secretary, manned by Dr Paschal Obi.
The governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who on return after an unsuccessful attempt to get the Imo State ward congresses cancelled lamented that he lost out following internal sabotage and betrayal from those he had trusted before now.
It was learnt that the new disposition of the governor, may have fired him on to go further to remove appointees suspected to be working in concert with his opponents. This newspaper learnt that a special investigative committee has been raised by Okorocha and charged with the responsibilities to verify the roles of some suspects and others believed not to be Ugwumba Movement compliant. Ugwumba Movement is the pseudo campaign outfit of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Uche Nwosu is a son inlaw whom the governor is advocating to become his successor.
Moments after the sack of the Ehime Mbano TC Chairman, that of Mbaitoli Council Area followed with the Secretary, a notable die hard apologists of the governor’s Rescue Mission administration, removed. Further, aide to the governor on Security for Owerri Zone was also fired.
Though reasons for their abrupt removals from their positions were not made public but Trumpeta reliably learnt that it might not be unconnected with the conduct of the Ward Congress where it was reported that the governor lost out to other contending forces fighting for the leadership of the APC in the State.
The recently sacked members are said to be those suspected to be linked to the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere who has since fallen out with Okorocha when it became clearer that the governor is bent on sticking to Nwosu, who is his Son in-law as successor.
Further information has it that more heads will roll as the searchlight of the special investigative committee on the conduct of suspects not working in tandem with the aspirations of Rescue Mission are being identified and shall be forced out from the group.
Already, a new list of appointees suspected to have links to the Deputy Governor, and other leaders of the party like Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Osita Izunaso, Ben Uwajumogu and others not in his group is been compiled and would soon be made public.
This newspaper was further told that before the end of the week more appointees shall lose their positions in the ongoing reorganization.
Among them are some Commissioners who were accused of being too weak to challenge Okorocha’s opponents in their areas. Others were accused of looking the other side, while Okorocha’s opponents had field day during the last congress.
Said to be facing sack is Chief Emma Buka, a former APC chairman in Ehime Mbano LGA, who was elevated to position of Commissioner in order to make him dump Senator Araraume.
But sources said Okorocha is not happy with him, Buka he could not do anything to challenge the Araraume tsunami which Bulldozed Okorocha’s Allies off the way last Saturday.
Also marked for sack is Mr Blessing Nwamerenini, Okorocha’s Commissioner for Labour. He is said to be absolutely anonymous in Ngor Okpala LGA where he hails from.
The story against Nwamerenini is that he is weak and not in touch with events in his area, that he usually looks isolated and aloof even in his own community.
To go also is Bar (Mrs) Ngozi Njoku. She is said to have lost touch with events politically in Orlu and Nwangele LGAs where she come from and married respectively, and is not tough for the kind of political Battle facing Okorocha and his Allies soon.
Njoku, the Commissioner for Women and Social Development is accused of having her soul in Rescue Mission Group of Rochas Okorocha, while here spirit is with Araraume’s Destiny Group.
Penciled down for removal includes Dr Mrs Angela Uwakwe, the former controversial Head of Federal Medical Center Owerri, who was “promoted” to Commissionership by Okorocha.
The woman running for Federal House is said to have realized that her ambition will end in failure if she does not follow the winning team, which is Araraume’s Destiny Group, especially from the place she comes from, Isiala Mbano LGA.
Therefore, sources said that Uwakwem has been under investigation by Okorocha and may be removed to face her political ambition.
Hon Louis Okechukwu Duru, the Commissioner for Okorocha’s-created Community Government, who hails from Njaba LGA will soon be sacked.
He is said to be weak, infective without the political “BuBuyaya” to convince the people of Njaba LGA to queue behind Okorocha.
Chief Cyril Okafor (Cympox) is another Commissioner billed to leave. The old political war Horse from Orsu LGA is said not be comfortable with Okorocha’s idea of Leadership, and being an out-spoken politician, he may have been recorded, and reported to Okorocha, who told his confidants that “Cyapox has betrayed me”.
