The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • ‘I am still in charge of Imo APC structure’, says Okorocha

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday insisted that he is still in control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, despite the gang up against him by the ‘Coalition Group’, a pressure group within the state chapter of the party.

    The Imo governor said that the plot by members of the group to manipulate the party congresses in the state, will amount to naught, “as the APC constitution abhors such brazen criminality”.

    He pointed out that despite the claim by the ‘Coalition Group’ of concluding the Congresses in the state, the APC is yet to “conduct any Congress in the state”.

    The governor blamed the current crisis in the party on weak leadership, stating that, “yes we have some issues in the APC and this is because the leadership of the party is weak. The National Chairman of the party, Odigie Oyegun and the National Organizing Secretary, Osita Izunaso are responsible for the crisis in the state chapter of the party.

    “Because they wanted their tenure of office to be elongated and I opposed it, they decided to give the sensitive materials for the Congresses in the state to some people to go and write names in the bush. That is not the spirit of the APC, most of them are master election riggers in the PDP and they brought that mentality into the APC but they will soon leave the party”.

    The governor cautioned against voting some members of the group nursing governorship ambition into office, adding that, “those fighting me today are not happy because they no more have access to the coffers of the state, they have been starved of public funds for the last seven years and they are desperate to return so that they can resume the business of squandering the state resources but we will not allow them”.

    He continued that, “People like Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Hope Uzodinma and Emeka Ihedioha are simply no go area, there only reason for wanting to become governor is to loot the resources of the state, like they have done in the past”.

  • Okorocha denies plan to join APGA

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, Tuesday dismissed as malicious and unfounded, reports that he is decamping from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    The social media has been awash with reports of the governor returning to APGA, a party he dumped in 2012, following the outcome of the APC Congresses.

    But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, read that,  “aside the concocted story of Governor Rochas Okorocha leaving All Progressives Congress (APC), for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) trending on the social media, we have also been inundated with calls from media practitioners trying to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the source less tale.

    “Governor Okorocha is one of the principal founders of APC. And when he took the mainstream of APGA to join the merger that gave birth to APC, he was not under any pressure to do so. He even took that action at the risk of his second tenure”.

    Read Also: You have no reason to criticise me, Okorocha tells Anyanwu

    The statement added that, “he became the propeller of APC in Imo and the whole of South East, mobilizing people for the party in Imo, Ebony, Abia, Enugu and Anambra States. He was the rallying point. And he did that in the overall interest of the South-East and indeed, APC.

    “If Governor Okorocha did not take good percentage of APGA to APC, the party would not have had the kind of national spread it has till today. For that reason, they called him all sorts of derogatory names which Nigerians all know, including Alhaji in Government House, Okoro-Hausa, and Rochas Buhari.

    “When the APC came for campaign in 2015 in Imo and all the states in the South-East he was the point man. Today, APC has become the party to envy. Nobody is again talking about Rochas and Buhari going to use APC to Islamize the Igbo”.

    It continued that, “today too, the same people who called him names have begun to market falsehood against him including the fake story of his leaving APC for APGA. All these could show the level of frustration on the side of the ten-man Coalition. They are been hunted by their inglorious actions.

    “One may also wish to know that while the unfounded story of the governor leaving APC is yet to dry, they have also come up with another funny one that the governor is in coma. These people do not know God and of course they are afraid of both the present and the future.

    “They won’t be allowed to reap where they didn’t sow. Their deceit will expire in no distant time. And no Landlord leaves his house for unfaithful tenants. The name Rochas is the fibre of APC in Imo and the whole of South-East.

    “And anybody who says it is not true should tell Nigerians why it is only in Imo you have APC governor, 24 out of the 27 House of Assembly members, three House of Representative members and one Senator, in the whole of South-East. Time will tell what happens in APC in Imo and the whole of Southeast”.

  • APC congress: I won’t be distracted, says Okorocha

    Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Wednesday said that he will continue to tolerate members of the Coalition group and won’t be provoked by the actions and utterances of some of the members, especially Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, one of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

    According to the Imo governor, the “disturbing and insulting activities” amidst the confusion surrounding the ward and Local Government congresses of the party, is meant to provoke him.

    But the governor has promised to continue to exercise high level of tolerance just as he said he has been tolerating since 2011 when he became governor.

    Governor Okorocha who disclosed in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said, “We have read report about the protest in Abuja by the personal rag-tag aides of the make-ups of the so-called Coalition, and they called them Imo Youths. We have also read another publication equally by a motley group answering Imo Stakeholders, talking about Vote of no Confidence. Those in the sick Coalition are also those who constitute the stakeholders”.

    He continued “Nigerians should ask these elements why all their activities take place in Abuja. They took the stolen materials for the Congresses to Hotels in Abuja and were filling them there, until the Police came and arrested four of their aides.

    “The reported protest by their aides in Abuja and all they have been doing are in Abuja. The truth is that they cannot come into Imo State and do such things. Imo people do not know what they are doing.

    “We should not also forget that in 2011, Chief Ifeanyi Araraume was the governorship Candidate of ACN, while Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the incumbent then, was the Candidate of PDP, but Rochas Okorocha took APGA’s ticket and defeated them. Araraume came fourth and lost in his Isiala Mbano local government”.

    Read Also:Appeals panel upholds Imo APC congress

    The statement continued that, ” we are talking about Rochas Okorocha who abandoned APGA said to be Igbo Party in 2014 and joined the merger that gave birth to APC at the risk of his second tenure, with all the Federal Ministers like Prof Viola Onwuliri, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives and all the Federal Apparatuses working for the PDP Candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha in 2015, yet Rochas Okorocha defeated them through the ballot box.

    “And the achievements of Owelle Okorocha in the State as governor have exceeded the achievements of all those who had governed the state since its creation in 1976, put together. So, in 2019 achievements will count a lot and noise making won’t count” Governor Okorocha stated.

    “The governor has also maintained that he would not be perturbed by the crisis in the party, just as he insist that he would “finish strong” and produce a successor.

    “For the sake of emphasis, I am going to finish very strong and by the grace of God and with the votes of Imo people, I will see to the election of a worthy successor of my choice. I have more than one thousand verifiable Projects to my credit. All these noise makers with some of them having multi-billion naira stores, courtesy of the money meant for their constituency projects when they were at the National Assembly, won’t fly in 2019.

    “Imo is calm. These folks make a lot of noise in Abuja and sneak into Imo to avoid the wrath of the people. By 2019, the picture will become clearer for Nigerians to appreciate the magnitude of the love of Imo people for Rochas, who has reduced the poverty level in the state from 57% in 2011 to 19% in 2017”

     

  • NWC to fix new date for Imo APC Congresses: Okorocha assures party faithful

    Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha,  has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will soon announce new dates for the Ward and Local Government Congress.

    The Imo governor asked the party supporters not to panic, adding that “with the unfolding scenarios and incontrovertible evidences, Nigerians have seen that the sensitive materials meant for the Ward Congresses of the party in the state were stolen in actual fact and thereby scuttling  the exercise”.

    Meanwhile a faction of the party reportedly held Local Government Congresses across the state.

    But Governor Okorocha in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary,  Mr.  Sam Onwuemeodo,  noted that,  “the National chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun had also told Nigerians that the Local Government Congresses of the party will be on hold pending the outcome of the report of the Appeal Panel on Imo ward congresses”.

    He stressed further that, “and since that public statement by the National Chairman, he has not made any additional statement to that effect or any other statement in the contrary. So, all the rumours being posted on the social media on the conduct of Local Government congress in the state are neither here nor there.

    “The ward and local Government congresses of the party must hold and in open fields and not in hotels, so that people can test their popularity. Action speaks louder than words. Those who think they are popular could not have stolen result sheets and would not have gone into hotels to write non-existent results”.

    The statement continued that,  “all these deceits will soon come to an and. Governor Okorocha brought APC in the Southeast and nurtured it to this level and he has decided to take the party to the next level. In Imo State  he dwarfed all the other Political Parties and won his elections in 2011 and 2015 and he is still Rochas Okorocha.. All these noise will soon evaporate and men will be separated from noise makers.

    “APC members in the State are responsible people. Imo people are responsible. And they know these unusual characters. After all the noise, we shall place them where they should be. The governor has refused to be provoked as a leader and as a father, and he will continue to be all that”.

  • NWC to fix new date for Imo APC Congresses – Okorocha

    …as faction holds LG Congress 

     

    Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will soon announce new dates for the Ward and Local Government Congress. 

    The Imo governor asked the party supporters not to panic, adding that “with the unfolding scenarios and incontrovertible evidences, Nigerians have seen that the sensitive materials meant for the Ward Congresses of the party in the state were stolen in actual fact and thereby scuttling the exercise”.

    Meanwhile a faction of the party reportedly held Local Government Congresses across the state.

    But Governor Okorocha in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr.  Sam Onwuemeodo, noted that, “the National chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun had also told Nigerians that the Local Government Congresses of the party will be on hold pending the outcome of the report of the Appeal Panel on Imo ward congresses”.

    Read Also: Okorocha gives automatic promotion to Imo workers

    He stressed further that, “and since that public statement by the National Chairman, he has not made any additional statement to that effect or any other statement in the contrary. So, all the rumours being posted on the social media on the conduct of Local Government congress in the state are neither here nor there.

    “The ward and local Government congresses of the party must hold and in open fields and not in hotels, so that people can test their popularity. Action speaks louder than words. Those who think they are popular could not have stolen result sheets and would not have gone into hotels to write non-existent results”.

    The statement continued that “all these deceits will soon come to an and. Governor Okorocha brought APC in the Southeast and nurtured it to this level and he has decided to take the party to the next level. In Imo State he dwarfed all the other Political Parties and won his elections in 2011 and 2015 and he is still Rochas Okorocha. All these noise will soon evaporate and men will be separated from noise makers.

    “APC members in the State are responsible people. Imo people are responsible. And they know these unusual characters. After all the noise, we shall place them where they should be. The governor has refused to be provoked as a leader and as a father, and he will continue to be all that”.

  • Imo workers relish automatic promotion

    There are two major things that excite workers the most, promotion and salary raise.

    So it was indeed a happy moment for Imo State civil servants when they all got automatic promotion without reaching for their employers’ jugulars.

    The state governor, Rochas Okorocha, announced the automatic promotion for all categories of workers as a surprise package during the May Day celebration.

    It was after the rigorous march past which has become a ritual for Workers’ Day celebrations that the governor, while making his solidarity speech, shocked the workers with the cheery news.

    The effect was electric as a wave of excitement swept through the crowd. Tired legs that were merely enduring the long speeches sprang to life. After the announcement, nothing else mattered anymore.

    To the workers, it was the best gift ever, considering the fact that there has been embargo in promotion in the last six years. They broke into dancing, forcing the governor who was overwhelmed by the effect of his pronouncement to abruptly end his speech.

    The state governor also assured that there will be another round of promotion before the end of his tenure in 2019.

    He also assured the cheering workers, saying, “Whatever new salary structure the Federal Government would settle for workers, the state government would not be found wanting”.

    He said, “This is your day and we’re gathered here to celebrate you. We’re gathered here for the admiration of exalted character of patriotic emotion. We’re here gathered for the demonstration of the love for your sstate and your country. Let me join therefore millions of Nigerians to congratulate you and the workers of Imo State”.

    Continuing, he said, “You are the pivot upon which all the activities of government rotate. I want to inform you that without you, all activities of government would be shut-down so, you play a very key role unknown to you that you’re the live wire of every administration.

    “We, coming as politicians will spend four years or eight years, but you the workers stay put. That shows that you’re the very foundation upon which the activities of government are built”.

    The governor stated further; “Here in Imo State, we thank God Almighty. I’ve been with you for the past seven years. We have seen the difficult times of this country. I was with you when the economy of this nation went on recession. We were together when we had challenges before us, challenges of kidnap and insecurity in our land. We were together in all the troubles that came during this period.

    “But one thing I want to leave with you and I hope you have to know is that there’s need to have a government that will focus more on those ideals for which rescue mission administration is known for. I want to request the workers of Imo State, to make sure that you shine your eyes to choose the candidate that will replace me and make sure you do not go back to Egypt”.

    The governor also urged the workers to make sure they have their Permanent Voter’s Cards.

    Chairman of the State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Austin Chilakpu, commended the governor for the gesture, noting that the issue of salary and promotion has always been the reason for faceoff between workers and the government.

    He assured that the automatic promotion will ginger the workers to put in their best, which he noted will rob off positively on the state.

    He further urged Imo workers and Imo people in general to obtain their PVC “as the only instrument that would give them a voice in the choice of who leads the State in 2019”.

    He said, ”We wish to also commend the state government for the sustenance of the free education policy. This policy has been a land mark policy as it has given Imo children the opportunity to build their future through education. It is our expectation that future administrations in the state would be able to sustain the programme for the overall benefit of Imo Children and the future of our State”.

    According to him, “the Organised Labour Imo State wishes to express the readiness of labour to partner with the government to build a virile and peaceful Imo State that would compare favourably with other developing states in the country. In this regard, we call on the government to always engage in meaningful dialogue with labour, especially on issues and policies that has the tendency to affect workers negatively”.

  • BBNaija: Okorocha hosts Miracle, Nina

    • Miracle gets land, cash

    Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday announced a donation of N2 million and a plot of land for Mr. Miracle Igbokwe, winner of the 2018 edition of the BBNaija reality show.

    Another participant from the state, Miss Nina Chinonso, also got N2 million.

    The BBNaija participants were said to have promoted tge free education programme of the state government during the reality show.

    The governor made the donations when Mr. Igbokwe and Nina visited him at the Government House Owerri.

    The governor saluted Miracle for making the  state proud by emerging the winner of the show.

    He said, “we are gathered here to welcome our son who has made us proud. Miracle is our son who went to South Africa for the Big Brother Naija Show. He spoke well of his State and was a good ambassador of his State. For this, we thought, it is proper that we receive him”.

    The governor explained that “Usually, our State does not engage in receiving people for outings they have made, unless we consider such an outing that has positive bearing to the image of the State. One thing outstanding is that these two great participants, Miracle and Nina spoke highly of Imo State. They stood tall and proud of their State, in South Africa. This is the reason for the honour and to say welcome back home”.

    He advised Mr. Igbokwe to use the Fame to Propagate the ideas he believes in and never allow it to enter his head, promising to collaborate with him in seeing to the establishment of a pilot School in Imo State”.

    Mr. Miracle Igbokwe in his speech, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to be honoured, adding that it is uncommon among the  leaders.

    His words “I am excited about our governor because of his educational strides, especially his free education in Imo State. This is a great gift to humanity”.

    He said he would see to the collaboration of the State government towards the establishment of the Pilot College in the State, to further open the state to the world, adding that his vision is to expand the aircraft simulation centre to a world class Aviation College.

  • BBNaija: Okorocha hosts Miracle, Nina

    …Miracle gets land, cash

     

    Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Thursday announced a donation of N2 million and a plot of land for Mr. Miracle Igbokwe, winner of the 2018 edition of the BBNaija reality show.

    Another participant from the state, Miss Nina Chinonso, also got N2 million.

    The BBNaija participants were said to have promoted the free education programme of the state government during the reality show.

    The governor made the donations when Mr. Igbokwe and Nina visited him at the Government House Owerri.

    The governor saluted Miracle for making the state proud by emerging the winner of the show.

    He said, “We are gathered here to welcome our son who has made us proud. Miracle is our son who went to South Africa for the Big Brother Naija Show. He spoke well of his State and was a good ambassador of his State. For this, we thought, it is proper that we receive him”.

    The governor explained that “Usually, our State does not engage in receiving people for outings they have made, unless we consider such an outing that has positive bearing to the image of the State. One thing outstanding is that these two great participants, Miracle and Nina spoke highly of Imo State. They stood tall and proud of their State, in South Africa. This is the reason for the honour and to say welcome back home”.

    He advised Mr. Igbokwe to use the Fame to propagate the ideas he believes in and never allow it to enter his head, promising to collaborate with him in seeing to the establishment of a pilot School in Imo State”.

    Miracle Igbokwe in his speech thanked the governor for finding them worthy to be honoured, adding that it is uncommon among the leaders.

    His words “I am excited about our governor because of his educational strides, especially his free education in Imo State. This is a great gift to humanity”.

    He said he would see to the collaboration of the State government towards the establishment of the Pilot College in the State, to further open the state to the world, adding that his vision is to expand the aircraft simulation centre to a world class Aviation College.

  • APC stakeholders in Imo want NWC to save party from Okorocha

    Imo, All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Stakeholders Forum has pleaded with the party´s National Working Committee ( NWC ) to intervene in the crisis currently rocking its ranks.

    Mr Oke Ikoro, the Chairman of the forum, made the plea on Wednesday in Abuja when a delegation of the forum visited the NWC.

    According to him, APC in Imo has been appropriated by Gov. Rochas Okorocha who ´´ has completely privatised the party´´ through his activities. Ikoro said there was so much anger, acrimony and bitterness among party members.

    ´´This is why we have come here to lend our grievances to the NWC, we came to express our disappointment on the leadership of Gov. Rochas Okorocha, his activities and the APC under him.

    ´´ We didn´t want to say this with word of mouth but we have put it in writing so that you can have a critical look at it after we had gone,´´ he said.

    Ikoro  said that the stakeholders had to bring the matter to NWC after trying without success to address it at the state level.

    He alleged that some of the governor´s actions in the state were not friendly and were forcing members out of the party rather than bringing membership to the fold.

    Ikoro  said the actions included the demolition of markets and indiscriminate revocation of land titles without due process. He also criticised the governor´s plan to install his son-in-law as the next governor of Imo.

    Ikoro said ´´all we are saying is that due process should be followed and that the state funds should not be wasted.´´

    According to him, people are exiting from the party because of the highhandedness of the governor.

    ´´ We are calling on the party leadership to call the governor to order and to separate the party from him, ´´ he said.

    Ikoro expressed optimism that as the highest organ of the party empowered to bring peace and unity, the matter would be addressed by the NWC.

    Read Also: APC clears Fayemi, Oni, Ojudu, 30 others for Ekiti primaries

    ´´Furthermore, on Saturday, the ward congresses of the party will start and we know that what the governor is planning is to hijack the process,´´ he said.

    He alleged that the governor`s plan was to influence the congress by ensuring that his cronies were put in elective offices.

    He said that the party leadership should intervene to prevent the governor from hijacking the process.

    In his response, the APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, said there was nothing to celebrate in the report.

    He said that the saving grace was that the stakeholders were all dedicated and did not storm out of the party.

    He said Imo must lead in the South- East to ensure the party´s electoral victory in 2019 and as such the unity of the party was critical to achieve the goal.

    ´´ Some controversies are necessary to bring about unity that will bring victory, together Imo state will be almost a certainty but we will be in deep trouble if we are divided.

    ´´Without any prejudice, I want to assure you that we, on our side, will do everything possible to take up your complaints and reservations.

    ´´We will talk to the other side so that an acceptable compromise and understanding is reached to make it possible for us to work as one party and one political fighting force.

    ´´I am certainly not unaware of the issues; as the party’s national chairman, all these things end up directly or indirectly on my desk, “he said.

    The party chairman added that whatever the rights and the wrongs of both sides were, victory could only come through unity.

    He said that to get unity, there must be justice, adding: “while am insisting on a united fighting force, I also insist that there is justice.’’

    Odigie-Oyegun said that as far as the coming party congresses were concerned, the leadership was determined to ensure free, fair and level playing field for all aspirants in spite of what anyone thought.

    He charged the stakeholders to prove their worth by ensuring that the right things were done and that true reconciliation was achieved in the party in Imo.

    NAN

  • Imo 2019: Options open to Madumere

    After months of diplomatic handling of their political face-off, Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, have finally parted ways. As the race for the governorship seat in 2019 gathers momentum, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the options left for Madumere

    AlThough he is not the only aspirant in the forthcoming 2019 governorship election in Imo State, informed observers are particularly interested in the fortunes of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere. A top chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and close associate of Governor Rochas Okorocha, outsiders and most members of the Okorocha’s political family had, for a long time, taken it for granted that Madumere would be Okorocha’s obvious choice to succeed him in 2019. This was because of the robust relationship between the two and Madumere’s acknowledged total loyalty to the governor, who he served for over 25 years.

    But the intrigues that have trailed Imo State politics since the entrance into the race of Uche Nwosu, the governor’s son-in-law, have since changed the permutations. For long, both the governor and his deputy treaded the path of departure with utmost care, leaving observers confused. Even when the governor was quoted as endorsing Nwosu, some of his associates said it did not mean dumping of Madumere, as, according to them, it probably meant the governor may allow all his political sons to vie in free and fair primaries for the ticket of the party.

    But when, earlier this month, Okorocha told newsmen that the Deputy Governor, Madumere, “has betrayed him”, it became clear that at last the battle line has been drawn. Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has decried the attitude of his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, saying he never imagined that he would betray him.

    Speaking in Owerri, Okorocha, who described his deputy as his “most trusted lieutenant for the past 25 years,” said he had initially penciled down some people, including his deputy as his successor, but embarked on the process of selection and elimination based on some parameters and finally chose his Chief of Staff, Mazi Uche Nwosu, his son-in-law, as his successor.

    The declaration came to many as a rude shock. The awkward situation was further confirmed when words had it that concrete moves were actually made at the Imo State House of Assembly to impeach the embattled deputy governor in order to weaken him and pave way for the governor’s choice. Observers who doubted the depth of the face-off because of the close relationship between Madumere and Okorocha were finally forced to swallow their words when the Deputy Governor had to park out of his official quarters recently.

    Following the development, concerned observers are today eager to know the options left to Madumere. Will he leave the APC platform for Okorocha’s choice or will he remain in the party and fight for the ticket though the governor has made public his resolve to prop-up his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu? If he decides to fight on for the ticket of the party, what are his chances of defeating the incumbent governor? If he is forced out of the political party under the circumstances to fight against his boss and the APC platform, what are his likely destinations and who are likely going to be his willing alliances against Okorocha and Uche Nwosu? If he chose any of the other political parties, like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the United Progressive Party (UPP) or even the Social Democratic Party (SDP), what kind of impact is he likely to make?

    Divided APC and Rescue Mission team

    One of the options left for Madumere is to remain in APC and slug it out with the loyalist of Governor Okorocha. Insiders who pleaded not to be named confided that this seems to be the option so far chosen by the deputy governor. “From his utterances and actions so far, it seems Prince Madumere has decided to stay put and contest for the APC ticket. I do not have to tell you that this is a tough option because Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as we know, is in firm control of the political party in Imo State here. But of course, APC is beyond Imo. A lot of the electorates in Imo are angry over the alleged determination of the governor to dump his trusted loyalist and impose his son-in-law. Such electorates may not influence who would fly APC’s flag in the governorship election, but they may easily be persuaded to cast protest votes.”

    The decision to remain in APC in spite of the governor’s decision to back Nwosu, may be as a result of the fact that the state APC is clearly factionalised today. Madumere obviously have supporters in APC and so he may be banking on the permutation that in the primaries, the people, not the governor would make the final choice.  The Nation investigation shows that even before the final drawing of the battle lines, Imo APC, perhaps because of the long-drawn intrigues, had been fragmented into what is today described as “the Destiny and Rescue Mission camps. Within these fragments of what used to be a united political family, are the Eze Madumere camp, the Jude Ejiogu’s camp, the Tony Ololo’s camp and the Uche Nwosu’s camp, amongst others. Insiders confided that all efforts to mend the frictions have failed woefully and today, it will require a miracle for the original Okorocha’s political family to contest the 2019 elections as a united political front. Considering the towering image of Owelle in Imo APC, however, it still needs to be seen, if these splinter groups will actually vote against the governor on the D-day. But a source in Owerri explained on Friday that, “even within the governor’s in-laws, the division has become obvious and openly discussed.” According to the source, “recently, when Governor Okorocha observed the absence of Mrs. Ololo in a meeting on March 31st, he allegedly accused the lady of joining the husband, Chuks Ololo, to kick the governor.”

    In an earlier report before the governor publicly named Nwosu as his choice, we have reported that family pressure was the primary factor responsible for the long succession intrigues in Imo. A source had confided then that within the immediate family of the governor, members have different candidates and may have been piling up pressure on the governor to consider their choices. “Many of you think the governor is only considering his son-in-law, Hon. Uche Nwosu, but I can assure you that there are many other family members on the line. As we speak, not all the members of the first family here are pushing for the governor to endorse Nwosu. I can reveal to you that Nwosu is not the only son-in-law to the governor that is currently being positioned for the job. In fact, about two other family members are also vying for the governorship seat and they have support within the family, not to talk of the interest of Aunty Jeraldine, who, you must know, is a strong influence on Owelle. So, the matter is more complicated than you can imagine,” the source said.

    Given such complications, some supporters of Madumere said, during the week that he can stay in APC, make the right alliances and win the APC ticket against all odds.

    PDP, APGA, UPP or SDP options

    Another option open for Madumere is to dump APC at this stage and contest the election on the ticket of any of the popular political parties in the state. According to Dr. Okechukwu Nwachukwu, a political analyst in Owerri, “Prince Madumere is today seen as one of the few aspirants that can match the Okorocha-backed Uche Nwosu in the next election. This is because he is a member of the political family, who many Imolites still see as the right person to be given APC ticket after Owelle. So, now that they are trying to push him out, other political parties can use him against APC. Popular political parties here like PDP, APGA or UPP will make great impact if they field Madumere. Of course, there are other political heavyweights interested in Imo State’s governorship seat. Knowing Owelle’s capacity, some of them may be wise and align with Madumere, if he is denied APC ticket,” he said.

    But The Nation investigation shows that most of the leading political parties already have strong aspirants who may not easily trade their aspiration except they are convinced it is the only practical way to go. In PDP, for example, we have at least four major governorship aspirants. They include the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Athan Achonu and Hon.Tony Nwulu.

    In APGA, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Mr. Steve Nwoga, the Chief Executive Officer, of A. B. C. Transport Company, Mr. Frank Nneji, Mr. Okey Ezeh, a former Commissioner of Information to Okorocha; Mr. Uche Onyeagucha, Mr. Ike Ibeh, David Mbamara and Mr. Obi Njoku, amongst others have been named as possible governorship aspirants.

    UPP, which is yet to float many names as governorship aspirants, has Prince Eleazar Onyewuchi Ogbonna, a United Kingdom based business tycoon as one of the possible aspirants. Assessing the possibility of Madumere contesting on the platform of any of the opposition political parties, Chief Sunday Ogbonna from Mbano said: “One thing that is certain today is that Madumere will contest the election even if APC denies him ticket. The talk of a possible alliance is rife both in PDP and APGA although some of the top aspirants in those parties may not hear of it now. I do not know if Madumere himself is making such moves as he seems convinced he can fight his way through in APC. But you can quote me that if APC denies him ticket, Owerri zone and all the other lovers of fairness are poised to negotiate alliances that will make him a strong candidate in the election.”

    The political atmosphere is electric today as observers contemplate what will be the political fortunes of the Deputy Governor in 2019.

    Unlike before, when secrecy governed the campaigns and the moves, even Madumere is bold today to say no one can stop his ambition. On why he was determined to contest he told newsmen recently: “What drives my ambition to occupy the position of the governor of Imo State, come 2019, is my vision to raise the living standards of our people with well researched people oriented economic blueprint with a view to creating wealth adopting an approach that will make it trickle down to even the lowest cadre of our populace. I know that youths occupy about 66% of the Nigerian population, which deductively trickles down to our state. I believe in human capital development and I believe in empowerment that is sustainable through small, medium scale enterprise.

    “The difference this time is that we must anchor it on areas of comparative advantage. Make no mistake to believe that I am in the race for personal vendetta. God forbid. I bear no grudges. At least you all know that I have served meritoriously and that by my training I am a seasoned administrator with exposure like no other. I have operated at the higher echelon in the private sector starting from Corporate America to Nigerian private sector and then to the public sector. And by the special grace of God, I have excelled in every responsibility I have ever been assigned to handle together with the ones I took up myself”; he said.

    The race has started. Given the tone of the language and the actions of the principal actors, the maneuverings of the 2019 governorship election in Imo seem certain to thrill.