.Group adopts deputy governor
By Our Reporter
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is said to be having sleepless nights not because of non-performance but over who succeeds him.
The choice he made publicly to succeed him, his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, is said to have caused a rift in the family, as other in-laws from Owerri zone are also claiming right to the exulted position.
Our source revealed that trouble was caused by the purported support of the wife of the Governor, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, for her son-in-law, Hon. Uche Nwosu, against the desire of other members of the family. It is said that the unfortunate development has divided the once united family owing to Nwosu’s alleged arrogance and disrespectful disposition.
It was gathered that against the will of the family members, the wife of the governor insisted on her son-in-law, the reason perceived as not only selfish but egoistic ambition of handing over to her daughter as the the next wife of the governor of the state.
This development has endeared enmity to the family from different quarters, bringing the image of the family to disrepute.
To scuttle and salvage the image of the family, sources said, some members of Okorocha’s family decided to support Chief Chuks Ololo, the husband of Governor Okorocha’s younger sister, Mrs. Ogechi Ololo, who is the Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment.
Ololo, who has declared his interest to contest governorship election, said that he was unstoppable.
He was said to have insisted that he was the senior brother-in-law who was there before Uche came around coupled with the fact that he comes from Owerri zone. He has vowed not to step down for anybody.
Okorocha is said to be confused as to how to get around the raging issue even as he is said to have threatened the Commissioner of Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment of sack, which seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, it is being insinuated from close family members that there is palpable fear that the scramble to succeed Governor Okorocha from within the family may end up tearing the family apart with other in-laws also jostling for one thing or the other in the government that is to be formed in 2019.
Our source gave an instance of the son of the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka’s son’s, Uzoma Anwuka, who is married to Okorocha’s second son, is positioning himself for the office of the Chief of Staff, come 2019.
He is presently the Medical Director, Government House clinic.
The family issue may not be unconnected with the recent attack by the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through its Chairman, Chief Charles Babatunde Ezekwem, accusing Okorocha of recklessness, corruption, callousness, nepotism, thuggery and irritating deception.”
Recently, a group under the aegis of Coalition for Restoration of All Progressives Congress led by Chief Theodore Ekechi rose in resistance to Governor Okorocha’s plan in foisting his son-in-law on Imo people, saying he is inexperienced and knows nothing about governance, wondering why it must be a family member.
Imo State as it stands today is on the precipice. The latest in the development is the Deputy Governor of Imo State who is said to have resolved to fight to change the tide and save the party from a possible failure, come 2019 and having come from Owerri zone with the needed experience and exposure on administration and governance.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Owerri Diocese of Catholic Church, His Grace, Archbishop AJV Obinna has also cautioned Governor Okorocha over his intention to foist Uche Nwosu on Imo people, a resistance that has generated a lot of heat in the state to the extent of threatening the Archbishop for voicing out the stand of the faithful.
Besides, the governorship ambition of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, has received a boost as the National Democratic Mandate Group (NDMG) has adopted him as its sole candidate for the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.
The endorsement was took in Owerri at the group’s State executive council meeting.
The Director General of NDMG, Hon. Isaac Udeh expressed gladness for the honour Madumere had done the group, describing him as the most humble and accessible leader, who is down to earth.
Introducing the deputy governor formerly, he described him as a great leader whose antecedent of performance speaks volumes, adding that his contributions to the development of the state cannot be over emphasized.
He said that Madumere has remained a staunch believer of NDMG, a structure he said was not strongly rooted in the state but has strong presence in the 36 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital territory, Abuja.
He therefore presented the deputy governor as the only leader who is holding a political position the group has chosen to associate with because of his impeccable credentials devoid of negative past.
High point of the event was the decoration of Madumere as the National Patron of NDMG, as he was pronounced the only gubernatorial aspirant they will work with. The DG of the group and other leaders took turns to shower encomium on Prince Madumere.
Responding, the deputy governor commended the group for its vibrancy, saying it remains one of the most organised associations he has ever seen. He also commended the integrity and intellectual capacity of the leadership.
Madumere stressed his interests in micro economic blueprint that will bring food to the table of the downtrodden, saying he has been involved in such policies even with his exposure to the best approach to governance.