Following protests against Imo State House of Assembly’s moves to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, there are fresh moves by powerful forces in Imo and Abuja to frustrate the move, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu
SINCE the Imo State House of Assembly formally served an impeachment notice to the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, on Tuesday this week, the battle of supremacy between his supporters and those of his principal, Governor Rochas Okorocha, has assumed a new dimension. Today, top officials of the Federal Government in Abuja, according to our sources, have intervened to frustrate the move and save the embattled deputy governor.
The notice, in which the lawmakers accused the Deputy Governor of gross misconduct, was servQed on Madumere through substituted means (newspaper publications) in Owerri. It was signed by the Speaker, Acho Ihim and 13 other lawmakers, including Ugonna Ozuruigbo (Nwangele), Chinedu Offor (Onuimo), Ikechukwu Amuka (Ideato South ), Lawrence Duruji (Ehime Mbano), Uche Ejiogu (Ihite Uboma), Henry Ezediaro (Oguta), Maxwell Odunze (Orlu), Lloyd Chukwuemeka (Owerri North), Chika Madumere (Nkwerre), Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba), Ngozi Obiefule (Isu), Victor Onyewuchi (Owerri west), and Arthur Egwim (Ideato North).
Months before the lawmakers’ latest action, alleged plan to remove the Deputy Governor over new calculations for the 2019 governorship race had dominated interest amongst observers of Imo State politics. It dates back to initial speculation that Okorocha had resolved to support his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him as against his deputy, Madumere, who many had over the years seen as Okorocha’s choice. The matter had generated so much tension until the governor finally made the declaration publicly.
That declaration marked the final parting of ways between the two close associates as Madumere, citing the interest of his people, insisted on contesting for the governorship position on the ticket of APC, in spite of Okorocha’s decision.
The initial negotiation: Senate or governorship?
The Nation gathered that before the hitherto close associates finally parted ways, Okorocha had the burden of settling his political family, especially his deputy, who, we gathered, was the real coordinator of the political family since Okorocha came to power. Sources within the family confided that the issue of what to give Madumere was a very difficult subject even for Owelle. At a point, the source said, the governor toyed with the idea of settling Madumere with the Owerri Senatorial ticket, as a way of making way for Nwosu. “That idea did not work because Madumere with other important Owerri stakeholders and many others, who supported the deputy governor within the family, saw it as an unfair deal and so they probably advised Madumere not to accept the offer. This development deepened the crack as the governor viewed the attitude of the deputy and the concerned members of the family as a direct challenge to his authority as the leader,” he said.
Considering the proximity of the impeachment saga to the failed settlement negotiations, it seems the result was the plan to cut the deputy governor to size through formal impeachment. But our source explained that some lawmakers vehemently opposed the idea, leading to the intrigues that preceded the service of the impeachment notice. It would be recalled that while the two sides were still denying any knowledge or plan to impeach Madumere, five lawmakers, known to be his supporters, were suspended in very controversial circumstances. After the first four lawmakers, were suspended, another one was finally suspended, bringing the number of pro-Madumere lawmakers suspended to five. At this stage, it became clear that the state House of Assembly was set to impeach the Deputy Governor.
So, when on Tuesday, this week, the lawmakers served the impeachment notice to Madumere, in spite of the subsisting legal battles over the matter, a new round of intrigues and efforts to save the deputy governor commenced.
Madumere’s response
Madumere had since responded to the allegation in a statement signed by Uche Onwuchekwa, the Special Assistant/CPS to the Deputy Governor of Imo State. The statement reads: “The office of the Deputy Governor of Imo State has received the notice of gross misconduct circulating round the State and shared in various platforms on the social media signed by 13 members of Imo State House of Assembly that bothers on the following:
- Absence without official reason or permission duly obtained from office for a period of three (3) months.
- Failure to perform any of the constitutional function of Office of Deputy Governor of Imo State, including but not limited to:
- Failure/refusal to attend constitutionally mandated proceedings of the State Executive Council;
- Failure/refusal to attend constitutional mandated proceedings of the State Security Council.
- Refusal to attend, and to hold meetings with the Governor and Commissioners of the Government of Imo State for the governance of Imo State made compulsory by and under S.193 (2) of the 1999 Constitution
- Concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as eligible candidate of Office of Deputy Governor, Imo State, having been convicted and imprisoned for theft in the United States of America.
We hereby respond as follows:
- The first claim of absence is rather an old ploy of calling a dog a bad name to hang it. Fortunately, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere is an administrator per excellence who does not joke with his duties, especially his constitutional responsibilities. As such, he has never absconded from office the period so claimed. He is constitutionally saddled with the responsibilities of superintending Boundary Commission. By our records, the Deputy Governor of Imo State has never abdicated from such responsibility. Considering the period under review People of Umuoma of Ihitte-Uboma local government, Ihube of Okigwe local government among others can testify of the Deputy Governor’s sagacity in crises resolution with particular reference to April 11, April 16 2018.
His Excellency also participated in one day retreat for Stakeholders in the management of Nigeria boundaries, which held in the Airforce Conference Center, Abuja on May 7, 2018 in the company of the Surveyor General of the State and the Principal Secretary to the Deputy Governor.
- A. Refusal to attend Constitutional mandated proceedings of the State Executive Council is also one of the allegations that cannot stand any administrative procedure. There are laid down procedures through which a Deputy Governor or any member of the executive Council can be invited for Executive council meeting. We hereby state that the Deputy Governor has never been invited for such meetings either through a memo or any official notices and thereby cannot stand against the deputy governor with the period in review.
- As stated above, the Deputy Governor can only attend a meeting he is officially invited to and he is no spirit to know when meetings are slated except he is duly informed.
- Refusal to attend, and to hold meetings with the Governor is to say the least another exercise in triviality as the Deputy Governor cannot force himself on the Governor, especially when he has been tagged a pariah in the Government circle. We state here that Governor Okorocha has never created such opportunity to meet with the Deputy Governor to discuss the programmes and activities of the Government other than the once we embarrassingly hear by the road side and other sources. To this extent, where the Deputy Governor’s inputs are needed, there are right procedures through which he could be reached either through his Principle Secretary and other principal officers or directly to the Deputy Governor.
- The most embarrassing, among the spurious allegations, is the annoying allegation of concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as eligible candidate of office of Deputy Governor of Imo State. This is not only astonishing but an extreme show of lack of due diligence. The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, has never been convicted of any civil matter let alone theft.
We are pained to state that two times the Deputy Governor had to go through the pains of losing his freedom in detention were all in the course of saving Owelle Rochas Okorocha from public disgrace. He rather had to carry Okorocha’s cross and bore his shame. It will be recalled that Prince Madumere shortly after Achike Udenwa’s victory at the polls in 1999 where he had to face contempt of Court for failure to make it to the court. He was in detention in the United States for about one month all because he was delayed by Governor Okorocha. To the glory of God, Prince Madumere was acquitted of any wrong doing.
The second time he had to stoop that Governor Okorocha may be spared of the humiliation of getting incarcerated, Prince Madumere again yielded and was detained for almost two months on phony charges, which he also been absolved of all charges.”
Fresh moves to save Madumere
Soon after the ‘newspaper’ notice was published, supporters of the deputy governor took to the streets to formally protest the move and seek ways of stopping the impeachment. They took over the streets of Owerri as early as 6 am, singing various anti-Okorocha songs, even as they accused the governor of masterminding what they described as kangaroo charges against his deputy.
They carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “Okorocha leave Madumere alone;” “Okorocha, must you foist your son-in-law on Imo people?”; “We are in a democracy not in ‘familiocracy;’” “We say no to Okorocha’s third term agenda;” “APC will not accept the imposition of family candidate;” “NWC, rise up before we lose Imo to PDP;” and “We appeal to President Buhari to intervene in Imo situation.”
“Okorocha controls the House as his personal estate, without reference to the feelings and aspirations of the citizenry,” they said.
They said Madumere was innocent of the charges levelled against him. It was the first formal effort to frustrate the move.
Though the impeachment notice, titled, ‘Notice of gross misconduct,’ alleged that the deputy governor had “concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as an eligible candidate of office of deputy governor, Imo State, having been convicted and imprisoned for theft in the United States of America,” among other charges, the protesters declared Madumere innocent, accusing the lawmakers of abandoning their legitimate duties to do the bidding of the governor. They also described the move against Madumere as a grave injustice, saying that the allegations were trumped up charges aimed at impeaching the deputy governor for daring to oppose Okorocha’s position to install his son-in-law as the next governor of the state.
Not impressed by the demonstration, the House, during its Wednesday’s sitting, however ordered the Clerk, Chris Duru, to write the state Chief Judge, Paschal Nnadi, to probe the allegations and ascertain if the deputy governor was guilty of gross misconduct as contained in the petition signed by 13 members of the House.
They also described the state House of Assembly as the worst Imo had ever had, calling it a mere rubber stamp in the hand of Okorocha.
They also described the state House of Assembly as the worst Imo had ever had, calling it a mere rubber stamp in the hand of Okorocha.
Aside the protesters in Owerri; Prince Madumere has received support from unlikely quarters. In Imo, most of the outstanding members of the opposition have openly spoken in support of the deputy governor, a development some observers describe as a signal that if the lawmakers succeeds in impeaching Madumere, there may be major alliance between the state APC and some major opposition parties and leaders to battle Okorocha.
Senator Victor Umeh’s decision to add his voice to the growing opposition, according Chief Christian Uba, has further expanded Madumere’s support beyond Imo. But in Imo, prominent leaders like former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Zeek-Martins Nnadozie and former Governor Ikedi Ohakin are among prominent Imolites that had openly berated Okorocha and the House of Assembly over the impeachment moves. They described it as undemocratic.
Ihedioha alleged that the impeachment process was masterminded by the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha. According to him, Okorocha’s interest in Madumere’s impeachment was because Madumere had expressed desire to contest the state governorship which was contrary to Okorocha’s preference for his in-law, Uche Nwosu. “This unfortunate development is particularly alarming and indeed worrisome to all the advocate and defenders of democracy and the rule of law.
“It is therefore, incontrovertible that this move, being undertaken by Governor Okorocha and Imo House of Assembly is a colossal assault on all known democratic tenets, including freedom of choice, freedom of association and the right of an individual to aspire to any political position in the land.”
A source close to the Imo State Government House, who confirmed the intervention of the presidency on Friday said it is certain that the planned impeachment has been stalled. “It cannot hold again. This is because the presidency has intervened. The presidency is of the view that the allegations against the deputy governor were not proved and so he cannot be impeached on the basis of such spurious allegations. They believe he is innocent. According to the them, ‘the man has not been found wanting, so why must he be impeached at this point, considering the likely implication of that action on the party’s fortunes in 2019.”
Asked if the PDP and APGA leaders in Imo and Anambra states, who are also against the move are working with the presidency on this matter, the source said: “No! They can’t be working together but it is just that what is not justifiably cannot be justified. The Imo PDP and APGA leaders opposing Okorocha on this matter simply see an opportunity to get at him ahead of the 2019 elections. This is what the APC leaders from Abuja may have seen and have therefore decided to intervene,” he said.
The source however revealed that it is not the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of APC that is intervening now to stop the impeachment. According to him, “The new National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has so far shown no interest in resolving the matter. He has not made any concrete move to intervene. The people working hard now to stop the matter and save Madumere from the impeachment move are directly from the presidency. I am not allowed to name them. But they are the ones that are concerned to save APC in Imo. They have said that the House should not continue with the impeachment since the Chief Judge has not constituted the required committee and since there seem to be no justifiable reason to commence the process.”
