While many Imolites were jubilating over the return to Imo State by Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha from oversea treatment, after a minor auto crash, his top Aides were busy engaging in battle of supremacy.
An impeccable source informed this Newspaper that Governor Okorocha, who arrived the state via PortHarcourt International Airport, on Monday night, was received on arrival by only the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Prince Eze Madumere.
It was alleged that Madumere left without informing others, like the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Tony Anwuka and Chief of Staff, Chief Jude Ejiogu.
This development rankled both Anwuka and Ejiogu, who felt that Madumere intentionally did it to spite them before the returning Governor.
Trumpeta however, was told that no body should blame Madumere for the action as he may have been working on instruction from “the Oga on top”.
Trumpeta learnt that, Owelle Okorocha who left London for another foreign country had suddenly informed his Aides of his return journey home on Monday.
Following this information, all the top Aides of the Governor gathered at the Government House waiting for the right time to go and pick His Excellency, the Governor.
Within this period, Prof Anthony Anwuka and Ejiogu were all in their offices waiting for the signal to proceed to PortHarcourt.
Unfortunately, both men were surprised when they learnt that Madumere had left to pick the Boss leaving them behind, while waiting at Government House in vain.
Out of anger, Anwuka and Ejiogu had vowed to vent their spleen whenever the Deputy Governor arrived with Owelle Okorocha.
But, when the Governor arrived, Anwuka and Ejiogu could not muster the courage to confront Madumere who kept a straight face. Sources said that why Anwuka and Ejiogu could not face Madumere was because the arrival of the Governor made every body happy, while another source said none of them could confront Madumere.
“Let me tell you, Madumere is not Jude Agbaso. You can’t try nonsense with him. Prince Madumere is Okorocha, and Okorocha is Madumere. He loves and trusts the guy because he has tested him for years” A source told Trumpeta.
Many had expected Okorocha to arrive the state with pump and pageantry, as he was arriving from a medical treatment. Instead the Governor chose to “sneak” in, only to make a press appearance the next day.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, a source from Government House Owerri said that it was not true that only the Deputy Governor received the Governor at the airport, saying that it was a “full house” of Governor Okorocha’s aides.
However, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Tuesday, said he is fit and sane to pilot the affairs of Imo State.
Okorocha who spoke to newsmen on his return from London after a medical trip shortly after a car accident at Orlu, said he has fully recovered from the injuries he sustained from the accident and has been certified fit and healthy by medical doctors abroad.
Okorocha said “ I want to say to all of you that I am fine and healthy and I am grateful to Almighty for giving me the opportunity to reexamine my head because of some of the Rescue Mission activities I’m doing make me like a look crazy man. Thank God the Doctor confirmed after checking my head that my head is correct”
Okorocha jokingly said while in a London hospital, he asked his doctors to examine him on the basis of his rescue mission programmes and that the doctors after examination confirmed he is sane and fit.
While thanking God for sparing his life, he assured that he will not rest on his oars by ensuring that most of the projects he embarked upon under the rescue mission agenda are to be completed.
He promised to accelerate efforts to increase the pace of work of several public hospitals across the State in order to reduce the burden and task of traveling abroad for medical purposes.
He appealed to road users to be careful while driving on the road, stating that if such an accident can happen to him, it can equally happen to anyone.
He apologized to Hon Nnewuike, the Mercedes Benz driver, who rammed into his vehicle, promising to make available the sum of N200, 000 to him to repair his damaged Benz. The Governor said while abroad for medical treatment, he instructed the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Katsina to release Hon Nnewuike from detention.
The Governor, who was flanked by the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and other top government functionaries, thanked God for sparing his life and acknowledged the sympathy from the people of Imo State during his ordeal.
Also, speaking at the event, Hon Nnewuike narrated his ordeal after the accident saying he was unconscious after the accident and expressed unhappiness over the manner he was manhandled and detained for a week by the police after the incident. He also thanked God for saving his life.
Answering questions from journalists, he said he was on his way home after dropping off his children at school but lost control of the car and rammed into the vehicle of the governor and did not know what happened thereafter only to see himself in the hospital.
