The story of how outgoing governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha failed to impose his son in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu, on Imo people as successor cannot be told without mentioning names of some key players who played vital roles in caging the governor from making real his intentions.
Apart from boasting in several fora that his son in-law, would emerge the next governor, Okorocha at occasions spoke of plans to use 2019 election as an avenue to retire some political stakeholders in the state.
In response, those Okorocha vowed to relax from politics acting in concert with other play makers outside the state became instrumental to the governor’s unceremonious outing.
The key players are as follows
EMEKA IHEDIOHA
The efforts of the governor-elect can’t be erased from the list considering his persistent desire to oust Okorocha from the position. Ihedioha gave Okorocha a fight for his money in 2015 where he dragged the battle to re-run election before the governor was elected. However in 2019, Ihedioha after a robust campaign was able to defeat the son in-law to Okorocha. He has become the instrument, Imolites used to end the plan of the governor to foist his in-law.
ADAMS OSHIOMOLE
The APC National Chairman played vital roles in keeping Okorocha at bay in the governorship race. Despite his affinity to the Imo State Governor during the party’s congresses as one of his major supporters, Adams Oshiomole stood his ground in stopping Okorocha to produce Uche Nwosu as APC governorship candidate.
The APC National Chairman’s effort at stopping Okorocha frustrated the governor’s plan to succeed, which forced him and his allies to move into a relatively unknown Action Alliance, AA, where the son in-law became the governorship candidate. Further to his action, Oshiomole led National Working Committee few days to the election handed him a suspension from the party. The sanction was another blow that weakened the governor from getting support.
IFEANYI ARARAUME
The problems of Okorocha producing a successor started from Senator Ifeanyi Araraume. When it appeared Okorocha was the owner of APC in Imo State and willing to pocket it for the interest of the son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, it was only Araraume that strongly objected to the act within the APC family. Araraume started creating a different political arrangement in APC with a strong support base. His activities caused friction in party leading to the creation of G16 faction; a group of the APC LGA chairmen loyal to the two time Okigwe zone Senator. Araraume’s plot to stop Okorocha manifested during the APC congress held last year. It would be recalled that crisis marred the exercise in the state because of the battle the Araraume led Coalition and Okorocha faction. It was gathered that Araraume was behind the struggles leading to the formation of Coalition, otherwise known as the Allied Forces. Even as he left APC for APGA, Araraume used his Destiny Organization Campaign out fit to sustain the battle against Okorocha and emergence of son inlaw using the Okorocha party.
HOPE UZODINMA
The APC governorship candidate continued from where Araraume stopped in the struggle that stopped Okorocha having his way. There is no gain saying the fact that Uzodinma gained from the initial structures and arrangements put on ground by the Coalition Forces.
After fighting Okorocha to a standstill in APC, Araraume left the party before the primaries, but Uzodinma came in to proceed the fight. With the aid of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, the APC Returning Officer for Imo Governorship primaries whose magic returned the Orlu zone Senator, Okorocha was frustrated. It became a ding dong affair which forced the governor to go for court remedies. After the court failed him, the only remedy left was to run away from the APC Uzodinma controlled and landed in AA, where they met their waterloo.
EZE MADUMERE
Okorocha’s out of favour Deputy Governor will also be included among those who played major roles leading to the governor’s failure to produce a successor of his choice. For those not familiar with history of their relationship, Okorocha and Madumere are Siamese twins and political soulmates.
Their political affinity had spanned more than two decades, it was learnt that Madumere was the “brain box” of the Okorocha political empire from the days he was his private Chief of Staff, till they entered Govt House, Owerri he emerged Chief of Staff and later Deputy Governor.
The decision of the governor to show support to Nwosu his in-law, other than his ally of many years, distorted their relationship before Deputy Governor bowed out of the camp in annoyance. Madumere joined those opposed to Okorocha. It was believed that the exit of Madumere crippled Okorocha’s political strategy to succeed beyond 2019. It was gathered that as a former Master tactician to the state governor and associate he knew his weaknesses and strength. And provided tactical weapons to cage Okorocha,
TOE EKECHI
A former Commissioner in Okorocha’s administration, the flamboyant politician was strongly opposed to Okorocha producing son in-law as successor as well denying Owerri zone Chance in 2019. TOE Ekechi provided the lethal weapon to shoot Okorocha down with the famous “Imerienwe Declaration” when it appeared those in Okorocha’s political line up were afraid to open up on their dislike for Nwosu as successor, Ekechi didn’t hesitate to assemble like minds within the governor’s camp to publicly reject Nwosu and another Orlu zone governor mandate.
Despite intimidations and threats including attempts to eliminate his life, TOE Ekechi kept going in the struggle to stop Okorocha. At a time he became spokesperson of the Coalition group and watered down all arguments the governor’s followers tried to put in support of Nwosu in public sphere.
UCHE ONYEAGOCHA
Similar to the role Ekechi played in pushing Okorocha to the wall, former Reps member for Owerri Federal constituency, Uche Onyeagocha is among the heavy weights that said no to the governor’s plans to dominate affairs of the state. Onyeagocha a former Okorocha’s appointee was the first to bolt out of the governor’s camp when he called it quits from the Special Adviser position after the discovery that there was a grand design to have Nwosu as successor. Onyeagocha never hid his ill feelings towards the governor as he spoke uncontrollably at the manner Okorocha managed the affairs of the state, attempt to deny Owerri zone 2019 governorship and the Nwosu project. Onyeagocha became guests to security agencies on several occasions for speaking out over Okorocha’s alleged misdeeds and unpopular policies against Imolites.
It was in the process that he dumped APC for APGA to battle for governorship title. After he lost the APGA guber ticket to a person from Okigwe zone, Onyeagocha kept faith with the Owerri zone for Governor agenda and embraced the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha. It wouldn’t be a mistake to brand the former Federal lawmaker the “Hero of the struggle” if his yeoman’s job at INEC governorship election Collation Centre in Owerri is considered. When he discovered that the result from Ideato South LGA was to be announced, Onyeagocha not only kicked against it but also tore the paper prompting the suspension of the announcement. Onyeagocha, a lawyer and activist was said to have suspected that the result was fictitious and bore over bloated figure. When the result was now calculated, Onyeagocha was vindicated as it got reduced in number as total votes cast for AA.
