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Tag: Madumere

  • Madumere remains impeached, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday said his embattled deputy, Eze Madumere, remains impeached until the determination of the appeal against the High Court judgment that nullified his impeachment.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor said: “Until the appeal is decided, Madumere remains impeached. And recognising him as the deputy governor of the state with the appeal pending would mean jeopardising the appeal.”

    Okorocha was reacting to a statement credited to Madumere who criticised the governor for not recognising him (Madumere) during a recent event in the state.

    The statement said: “We have read a report in the media credited to the former deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere, quoting him to have said that he had appealed to Senator Osita Izunaso to forgive Governor Okorocha’s embarrassing attitude during the mother’s funeral rites.

    “According to the report, what Madumere referred to as ‘the embarrassing attitude’ of the governor was his non-recognition by the governor as the deputy governor of the state during the governor’s speech at the burial service for the mother of Senator Izunaso last weekend.

    “As a matter of fact, the failure or inability of the governor to recognise Madumere as the deputy governor at that event was not an oversight. That was the proper thing to do because there is an existing appeal at the Appeal Court against the High Court judgment that quashed the impeachment of Madumere by the House of Assembly.

    “So, until the appeal is decided, Madumere remains impeached. And recognising him as the deputy governor of the state with the appeal pending would mean jeopardising the appeal. He should have known this fact, and if he had asked his lawyer, he would have told him that the governor acted rightly in the circumstance.”

    It added: “Madumere declared war against his benefactor or mentor because he wanted to be governor, using the issue of zoning as his bet. Today, Madumere is not the governorship candidate of any political party nor the deputy governorship candidate.

  • Imo: Madumere may serve as running mate to Uzodinma

    •Flays refusal to restore security, alleges threat to life
    •Owerri calm as Okorocha’s loyalists maintain silence

    There are indications yesterday that the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, has been pencilled to serve as the running mate to Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election in the State.

    A top party official in the state told The Nation that “the decision to pair the two was part of the party’s diligent plan to ensure that every interest is adequately taken care of.”

    The APC official, who did not want to be named, said the party in the state is sure that the two can work together. In the primary election presided over by Ahmed Gulak, Uzodinma garnered a total of 423,895 votes to top the list, while Madumere came second with a total of 128,325 votes.

    Also, according to the source, the party leaders reasoned that “Since Uzodinma hails from Imo West Senatorial District (Orlu), the same zone with Rochas Okorocha and Madumere hails from Imo East Senatorial District (Owerri Zone), pairing the two will neutralise any negative campaign against the party as it will also soothe the concerns of the Owerri zone.”

    As at yesterday afternoon, supporters of both Uzodinma and Madumere were still waiting eagerly in Owerri for their return to Imo from Abuja. Our source said the two had been in Abuja for some time now, working together to ensure that nothing went wrong and that they are expected to come back to the state together any moment from now.

    The Nation noted yesterday that notwithstanding APC’s final submission of Uzodinma’s name as the party’s governorship candidate, Owerri, the state capital, was particularly calm. It is not yet clear why Okorocha loyalists, who have been vocal since the political horse-trading began, refrained yesterday from responding to the development.

    But a statement from the Office of the Deputy Governor, by Madumere’s Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, yesterday alleged threat to the life of the Deputy Governor.  The statement regretted that 12 members of staff in the Deputy Governor’s office were suddenly posted out in October through a memo with reference number HIS/S. 29/S.1/t.3/1/807, signed on behalf of the Head of Service by Emole K. O.

    Alleging that “some members of the domestic staff of the Deputy Governor were approached to be used as agents of death to poison the Deputy Governor,” the office said in the statement, “we wish to state categorically that the sudden posting of the operational staff of the Deputy Governor is a careful plot to compromise the security of Madumere.”

  • Nwosu in early lead as Madumere, Uzodinma boycott exercise

    There was massive turnout of card- carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 305 Wards of Imo State yesterday during the governorship primary.

    Voting commenced across the Wards as early as 10 am.

    The exercise followed cancellation of the results of the Ahmed Gulak- led Committee, which produced two candidates after the chairman absconded.

    The new Committee is led by Ibrahim Agbabiaka.

    There was tight security at the venues of the congresses all over the state.

    Results at most of the Wards visited by our correspondent, who monitored the exercise, showed UcheNwosu, who is Governor RochasOkorocha’s preferred aspirant, was in comfortable lead.

    Deputy Governor Eze Madumere and Senator Hope Uzodinma reportedly boycotted the exercise.

    Madumere, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, said he will not be part of the exercise because it has been concluded.

     

  • Okorocha, Madumere and judiciary

    IF Nigerian democracy is embroiled in controversies, it is not because the constitution is so irredeemable that it cannot be managed, amended, or even understood, notwithstanding its hidden nuances and the perennial conflict between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. If democracy is endangered in these parts, if it appears not to be working, it is because those saddled with implementing it, rather than those saddled with interpreting it, have shown little appetite for discipline. This sad, undisciplined orientation has accounted for the many malfeasances woven around the constitution, particularly the hasty and angry resort to the tool of impeachment. The constitutional provision relating to impeachment is probably one of the most misused.

    Imo State is the most recent example of the use of that problematic constitutional provision. Before that state, a number of states during the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency had repeatedly deployed the otherwise sensible, fail-safe device in such an acrimonious and unlawful manner that the image of Nigeria and its standing in the international community were sullied. The courts reversed nearly all of the impeachments; but the reversals have not proved a sufficient deterrent. It is not clear what it will take for politicians to use the provision sensibly as demanded by the constitution, but in any case,  a few weeks ago, Imo State’s Governor Rochas Okorocha was not dissuaded by constitutional strictures from malevolently deploying the same provision to sack his disputatious deputy, Eze Madumere.

    The misunderstanding between Mr Okorocha and Prince Madumere did not begin a few months ago. They began much earlier, only intensifying existing fissures in the relationship between the two politicians, fissures that are probably connected with determining who wields supremacy in the party and who succeeds the governor in 2019. Importantly too, the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is fractured because of the obvious determination of the governor to have his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, succeed him. Prince Madumere and other leading Imolites, however, seem set to thwart the governor’s intentions. It is unlikely peace will reign without either the politicians submitting to the governor or the governor submitting to the apparently powerful and intransigent wing of the party. The problem is not that Mr Nwosu desires the succession, he can desire anything he fancies; but the problem is how he and the governor are peremptorily plotting the succession.

    But beyond the fractures within the party and the amateurishness with which the governor has plotted the succession is the judicial net being woven around the dispute. The party schism will endure for some time; but what is more important is how the case is being tried in the courts and the courage and erudition judges have brought into it. Without prejudice to the ultimate end of the case, or whether the lawmakers who have acted like mannequins so far could still find novel ways of frustrating or neutralising Prince Madumere in case he surmounts all judicial hurdles, it is important to note one or two issues that have drawn public attention.

    First is the ruling of the trial judge, Benjamin Iheka, of an Imo High Court. Justice Iheka ruled that the chief judge who empanelled a seven-man committee to look into the House of Assembly allegations against Prince Madumere erred in law, describing the steps he took as “invalid, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect”. The point, it must be restated, is not that the chief judge erred or that the trial judge had the courage to contradict his boss, but that the impeachment demonstrated the urgent need to delink the judiciary from the executive arm, to ensure that judges can call their souls their own. If the legislature and the executive are not obeying the law, as the impeachment case showed embarrassingly, a chief judge must have the courage to resist their blandishments or pressure.

    Second is the benumbing desperation shown by Mr Okorocha himself. He has the legitimate right to support anyone he pleases; but he has a bigger responsibility as a political leader to project his biases and preferences within the ambit of the law, within the boundaries of common sense. Not only did Mr Okorocha pervert the law in his quarrel with his detractors, as indeed he did in 2013 when he orchestrated the sacking of his former deputy governor, Jude Agbaso, he inconsiderately dragooned the legislature and a section of the judiciary into his controversial cause. He has acted as though there is no tomorrow, unmindful of the kind of legacy he wishes to leave, as if sometime in the future he could not be ensnared by the same subversion of the law authored by him. Hopefully, now that the judiciary has been virtually freed from the stranglehold of the executive in terms of their funding, they should be able to withstand the unconstitutional assaults of politicians like Mr Okorocha.

  • Okorocha, Madumere in war of words

    The face-off between Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his estranged deputy, Eze Madumere, still persists even after the court nullified Madumere’s impeachment.

    Madumere was impeached on July 31.

    Imo State High Court in Owerri, presided over by Justice Benjamin Iheaka, yesterday quashed Madumere’s impeachment.

    The court said the House of Assembly did not comply with constitutional provisions in the process.

    It, therefore, dismissed the impeachment as unconstitutional, and of no legal effect.

    But barely 24 hours after the judgment, Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said Madumere “is confused and does not know what next to do”.

    The statement reads: “The judgment on the impeachment of Prince Eze Madumere was delivered on September 25. We withheld our reaction because we needed to acquaint ourselves with the crux of the judgment. We have read it, and the crux of the judgment by Justice Benjamin Iheaka is that the chief judge constituted the seven-man panel outside the seven days approved by law.

    “We read a statement by Madumere himself, but the fact remains that he is confused and does not know what he wants. He signed the statement as deputy governor and is still  parading himself as a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially about 48 hours to the primary.

    “Madumere thanked two other aspirants – Ikedi Ohakim and Emeka Ihedioha – for their contributions to his victory, but insulted the man who took him up from the floor to the level he is today.

    “He said his offence was that he stood by the people for justice. May we ask Madumere when he became an apostle of justice and over what? He was chief of staff and later deputy governor, meaning that from 2011 till he was impeached about two months ago, he was the second in command in the government. And now he is struggling to remain deputy governor and aspiring to be governor. Men like Prince Madumere are bitter or ugly case studies.

    “Okorocha’s only offence is that he did not anoint Madumere as his successor. And you now ask whether it is compulsory that every deputy governor must succeed his boss as governor. If the answer is no, then Madumere should count his teeth with his tongue.’’

    But Madumere said he was being victimised for opposing the government’s “anti-people policies”.

    He said: “I thank God for his grace. Truly, it has been a journey of grace, and it is a victory for constitutional democracy. I hail the judiciary for the courage against all odds because the judgment is historic and it has reinvigorated the people’s faith. Indeed, the judiciary has proved that it is the last hope of the common man. It has been a battle against intimidation, threat, oppression but the truth has prevailed.

    “My crime was that I said no to anti-people policies, and it has been intimidation and threat all this while. But it is a journey of grace and we shall succeed.”

    Justice Iheaka chided Chief Judge, Paschal Nnadi, and the Attorney-General Militus Nlemadim, for not adhering to Section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended in the impeachment proceedings against Madumere.

    He lampooned Speaker Acho Ihim (ninth defendant) and the Assembly (10th defendant) for violating an interim order he issued stopping the impeachment process.

  • Madumere petitions IG over withdrawal of security aides

    Embattled Imo State Deputy Governor Eze Madumere has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris over the withdrawal of his security details by the Commissioner of Police Dasuki Galadanchi.

    He said his life is under threat following the police opening of his office after his impeachment.

    Madumere was impeached by 19 of the 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly for alleged gross misconduct.

    A statement by Madumere’s Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, called attention to the withdrawal of his security aides

    The statement reads: “We wish to draw the attention of the public and the Inspector General of Police (IG) to the continuation of utter disregard for Rule of Law by the Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galandanchi, who has withdraws the security aides of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, thereby making him susceptible to attacks.

    “The Office of the Deputy Governor condemns the action of the Commissioner of Police for yielding to being an instrument of oppression in the hand of the governor and ready to do his bidding too.

    “The police commissioner, in the wake of the failed swearing in of the new deputy governor, withdrew all police officers attached to Madumere.

    “We view such action as deliberate and playing-out a sponsored script to harming the Deputy Governor and take his life.

    “In the same spirit of impunity and recklessness, strange looking policemen without any recourse to the restraining court order of August 1, sealed the entrance to the office of the Deputy Governor without any reason advanced for their action. They claimed they were sent from the Governor’s Office; workers were humiliated and chased out of the office.

    “This illegality is not limited to the Office of the Deputy Governor; it has also extended to Madumere’s official residence, with his relatives and workers denied access to the facility and their personal belongings.

    “We hereby appeal to the Inspector General of Police to call the Imo State Commissioner of Police to order and direct him to restore Prince Madumere’s security details without further delay.”

  • Imo Assembly begins impeachment process against Madumere

    The Imo State House of Assembly has begun the impeachment proceeding against Deputy Governor Eze Madumere over allegations of gross misconduct and dereliction of duty.

    A petition submitted by the Deputy Speaker, Nnanna Ozuruigbo, and signed by 13 of the 27 lawmakers, accused Madumere of absconding from his office for more than three months without permission.

    Other allegations were his refusal to carry out official duties assigned him by the governor, refusal to attend State Executive Council (SEC) meetings, refusal to hold meetings with the governor and commissioners and imprisonment for theft in the United States of America (USA).

    Madumere has been having a running battle with his boss, Governor Rochas Okorocha, for his governorship ambition which saw him aligning with other politicians against the governor.

    The Speaker, Acho Ihim, said the petition has met and surpassed the required one third votes, as provided in Section 188 (2) 11 of the 1999 Constitution.

    But Madumere, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Uche Onwuchekwa, denied the allegations of misconduct.

    The statement reads: “The claim of absence is rather an old ploy of calling a dog a bad name to hang it. Fortunately, the deputy governor is an administrator per excellence who does not joke with his duties, especially his constitutional responsibilities. He did not abscond from office during the period so claimed.

    “Allegations that Madumere refused to attend State Executive Council meetings 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 meetings. We, hereby, state that the deputy governor was never invited for such meetings, either through a memo or any official notices.

    “The allegation of concealment of felonious conduct affecting the presentation of self as eligible candidate of office of Deputy Governor of Imo State is not only astonishing, but an extreme show of lack of due diligence. Prince Madumere has never been convicted of any civil matter, let alone theft.

    “We are pained to state that two times he lost his freedom in detention were all in the course of saving Governor Rochas Okorocha from public disgrace; he carried Okorocha’s cross and bore his shame.

    “Madumere, shortly after Achike Udenwa’s victory in 1999, faced contempt of court for failure to appear in court because he was in detention in the United States for about one month because he was delayed by Okorocha. But thank God he 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.”

  • Uche Nwosu will do better than me as Governor –Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that Chief Uche Nwosu who he has preferred to succeed him would do better than him as governor because he has known all the secrets behind the success story of his governorship in the state.

    Okorocha spoke when the leaders and stakeholders of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Mbaitoli Local Government Council where the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere comes from came to endorse Uche Nwosu for 2019 guber, weekend, at the Nick Banquet Hall with the governor stating that the story of the amazing achievements of the Rescue Mission Government in the State would not be complete without the outstanding role of Uche Nwosu.

    His words, “there is no project of this administration that Uche Nwosu didn’t make contribution in terms of ideas and dedication to see the Project completed. He knows the secret behind all the successes we have recorded. He knows how we have done all we have achieved without complaining of paucity of fund like those before us had done”.

    He continued, “If I allow any of these people aspiring to become governor in 2019 to take over, it won’t be long before Imo people would begin to regret my exit because I know the sacrifices we have made to achieve all these as a government. But for Uche Nwosu, he knows the whole secret and I have no doubt, he would do better than me. And when that happens Imo people may begin to forget me. But I want him to do better than me”.

    On the Deputy-Governor, Prince Madumere, the governor said he is his son but noted that the issue of who succeeds him as governor in 2019 goes beyond certain sentiments because the fate of the state and her people is paramount in taking decision to that effect, adding that he knows who is who in the Rescue Mission Political family.

    He continued, “I want someone who would continue with the laudable achievements or programmes of the administration like free education. Someone who would have regard for all classes of people including the markets women, artisans and so on. Someone whose head would not be blown up by power. Someone who would allow the Government House remain open for all categories of people. Someone who would not witch-hunt or go after those who criticize or abuse him. Uche Nwosu is the man”.

    He added “If you are a father with many children, you should know each of them who has the capacity to do what. And when you are giving them responsibilities you put your findings into consideration. You try as much as you can to put a round peg in a round hole to avoid leakage. That is the truth”.

    He thanked Mbaitoli people for their support and also reminded them that the local government is one of the major beneficiaries of the administration’s major projects and major programmes, commending them for coming in their large number with their leaders to endorse Uche Nwosu because they have seen he is the best.

    He challenged some politicians in the state trying to make out issues from Uche Nwosu’s endorsements to bring out whoever they think is better than Uche Nwosu so that Imo people can select between the two.

    He stated “Our people should as much as possible avoid this blind politics of division called Zoning and embrace all inclusive politics, than to polarize political power along zonal or ethic section. What Imo needs is a governor that can drive the state wholesomely and continue the developmental strides already established by this Rescue Mission Administration and deliver further dividends of democracy to the yearnings of our people”.

    Speaking on behalf of the leaders and stakeholders from the Local Government, Chief Ugochukwu Onwusereaka told the governor that they have looked at all those aspiring to be governor in 2019 and that Uche Nwosu stands out as the best option and that is why they have come to join the rest of Imo people to declare support for the Uche Nwosu Project.

    He said it was not surprising to anybody in the state that Uche Nwosu is the man adding that the avalanche of endorsements from all quarters were clear indications that most people know that the pendulum would point to his side, commending the governor for all he has done for Mbaitoli people.

     

  • Madumere rejects Okorocha’s Senate offer

    Madumere rejects Okorocha’s Senate offer

    •‘I can’t jettison my ambition’

    Imo State Deputy Governor Eze Madumere has rejected Governor Rochas Okorocha’s offer that he should contest for the Imo East Senatorial election in 2019.

    Okorocha asked his deputy to vie for the Senate instead of the governorship, to pave way for his Chief of Staff and son in-law, Uche Nwosu, who he has endorsed as his successor.

    But Madumere, who is from Owerri zone which has not produced a governor since 1999, insisted that he is determined to contest for the governorship.

    He vowed that there is no going back on the decision, saying the ambition is not just about him, but the entire Owerri zone which has been sidelined and marginalised.

    Madumere, in a statement by Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, said he has chosen his path towards realising “God’s given vision to better the lot of Imolites”. He added that his fate “is in no man’s hands”.

  • Madumere: I’m the most qualified to succeed Okorocha

    Madumere: I’m the most qualified to succeed Okorocha

    Imo State Deputy Governor Eze Madumere has reiterated that he is still the “most qualified and experienced” to take over as governor.

    Madumere said he has garnered the requisite experience and exposure to pilot the the state and consolidate on achievements of the Rescue Mission administration.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, said he has “the right spirit and is well prepared to take over the mantle of leadership”.

    It added that he has the “right temperament and experience” to stir the ship of state.

    According to Onwuchekwa, the deputy governor has “equally gathered more experience on the job than any aspirant, coupled with his exposure to the world best standards in governance”.

    Madumere has continued to receive endowments from political groups in the state, including women and youth organisations.