… Plants Nlemigbo As State Caretaker

… Appointed S/E Party Leader

… Okorocha Romances With PDP

The body language of immediate former governor of Imo State and senator representing Imo West in the Red Chambers, Senator Rochas Okorocha over his 2023 ambition indicates that the Orlu Zone based politician may dump the All Progressives Congress for another political party.

This plan by Okorocha as gathered by Lead Newspapers followed the control of the APC by Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma who by virtue of his position is a major leader and stakeholder in the Imo State Chapter of the APC.

Okorocha and Uzodinma’s political battle over the soul of APC started in 2018 when Uzodinma who joined the APC from the PDP miraculously picked the governorship ticket of the party against Okorocha’s son-in-law, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu who expectedly was believed to pick the ticket following the supports given to him by the then incumbent governor and his father-in-law, Rochas Okorocha.

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Despite Uzodinma’s victory as the APC governorship candidate, Okorocha’s loyalists in the APC never supported his candidature rather were said to join Uche Nwosu who at the said time, had picked the governorship ticket of the Action Alliance. However, Okorocha started losing grips of the APC when the National leadership of the party led by its National  Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole dissolved the elected state working committee of the party led by Daniel Nwafor as the state chairman and appointed Marcilinus Nlemigbo as the state caretaker chairman of the Imo APC who was nominated by Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Although, Uzodinma’s loyalist in the person of Nlemigbo was appointed the chairman of the caretaker in the state but Nwafor led state working committee who was a loyalist to Okorocha never gave uzodinma and Nlemigbo a breathing space as he dragged them to court where both the court of the first instance and second declared Nwafor as the authentic state chairman of the APC and as such, was still recognized as the  chairman though by Okorocha’s loyalists and camp only.

During the Okigwe zone bye election held last December, some of the APC Aspirants identified and worked with Nwafor as the recognized state chairman an of the APC, an act which nearly divided the Aspirants.

However, this was brought to an end when the National Executive council of the APC at the tail end of 2020, dissolved all the APC structures from the  wards to the states and appointed caretakers to see to the affairs of the  party pending the next congress which expectedly would take place this year. While the Uzodinma’s loyalists were still celebrating the appointment of Nlemigbo as the state caretaker chairman of the APC, Governor Hope Uzodinma was appointed by the National leadership of the APC to head the reconciliation of the APC members in the South East.

In a letter signed by the National chairman caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee Mai Mala Buni and made available to Lead, Governor Uzodinma was mandated to oversee the process of reconciliation and registration of the APC South East caucus.

This appointment however, has put Uzodinma ahead of other APC members not just in Imo but in the entire South East, according to political Analysts.

Speaking to Lead Newspaper, one of the loyalists of Uzodinma who would not want his name in print revealed that plans were on the way for the former Governor and Ideato South born politician to move to another party if paraventure, Uzodinma’s men take over the APC in the next congress.

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Although, he did not specify the particular political party which the former governor may likely join but unconfimrd sources revealed to Lead that the said Okorocha is planning to join the PDP if he does not find his feet in the APC at last.

Few days ago, the former Governor was said to have stormed Rivers State where he commissioned some of the projects of Governor Nyeson Wike, a PDP Governor.

Information to Lead revealed that Okorocha and WIke had a long exclusive discussions before the official commissioning of the said projects.

Apart from the above, some of the Okorocha’s loyalists has also joined the Action Alliance, a political party allegedly solely funded by Okorocha.

This paper has it on good authority that the loyalists have Okorocha have filled the vacant positions in AA ahead of the party’s congress in January 2021 this is also another alternative party allegedly set out by the former governor ahead of 2021.

In a bid to restore unity amongst the leaders of the APC in South East ahead of 2023 elections, chairman caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee Mal Mala Buna has called on the Imo State Governor Sen. Hope Uzodinma to oversee the process and ensure that reconciliation is made and achieved.

This is even as he described the governor as an old politician with enough experience and capacity to deliver on the assigned duty.

In a letter titled “southeast Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) addressed to the Imo State Governor and signed by Mai Mala Buna and made available to Lead Newspaper, Governor Uzodinma was further instructed to brief the National Chairman periodically on the progress of the reconciliation in the southeast.

Governor Hope Uzodinma who joined the APC from the PDP in 2018 found it very difficult to have access to the party following the efforts of the immediate former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha who was then the leader of the party in the entire South East.

Okorocha who saw Uzodinma as a rival who came to contest the APC Governorship primaries with his son-in-law Ugwumba uche Nwosu employed all his incumbent powers to stop Uzodinma access to the APC activities in both Imo and South East.

Uzodinma only had a breath of life in the APC as a member when the National leadership of the party led by Oshmohole dissolved the Daniel Nwafor led state working committee and appointed the caretaker committee led by Nlemigbo.

Despite this dissolution, Nwafor dragged Oshmohole led executive to court, seeking dissolution of the said caretaker both the court of the first instance and second recognized Nwafor as the authentic State Chairman of the APC, though Uzodinma’s Government was dealing with Nlemigbo as the caretaker.

In what could best be described as God’s intervention, the National Caretaker of the APC led by Buni had towards the end of 2020, dissolved all the APC structures starting from the ward levels to  the state and appointed caretaker at the state and mandated the state caretakers to appoint same at wards and LGA’s.

Fortunately for Uzodinma Nlemigbo who has been his choice of state chairman was appointed as the state APC caretaker chairman in Imo, an act which political analysts have described as total victory for Uzodinma, hence he now controls the APC in Imo.

However, with the recent mandate to Uzodinma to oversee the reconciliation of the APC members in the South East, it implies that the national leadership of the party still holds the governor at a high esteem.

Prof Damian Uzoukwu has chided Okigwe zone for demanding the position of Eze Imo, describing it as not only an attempt to blackmail Governor Hope Uzodinma but an exercise in futility.

He said this while reacting to a newspaper publications by Okigwe Leaders Assembly.

According to him, the zone lacks the moral ground to make what he tagged frivolous claim when the positions of Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Minister of Education and Secretary to the State Government respectively were ceded to them.

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Uzoukwu, an Ihube Okigwe born Professor of Political Science recalled that under Senator Evan Enwerem as Governor, the seat of Eze Imo was first occupied by HRH Eze Osondu Osu, an Okigwe zone indigene.

He regretted that some uniformed desperate elements were doing everything possible to present Okigwe zone as ingrate to the Governor’s benevolence, and warned any person making statement that can’t be substantiated to desist or face the wrath of the law.

According to him, it is absurd and unfair for anyone to lay claim to the position of Eze Imo after Okigwe zone, through HRM Eze Osondu Osu, Orlu zone, HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, and Owerri Zone, HRM Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri respectively had served out their tenures on behalf of the three zones.

Prof Uzoukwu further maintained that having occupied the number one Traditional stool in the state by the zones, it remains the constitutional discretion of Governor Uzodinma to appoint anyone deemed qualified as Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers irrespective of zone.

The Okigwe zone born Varsity don therefore warned traditional rulers hiding under the media to cast aspersions against Governor Uzodinma’s decision to stop or be exposed, saying that since the Ezes were not expected to play partisan politics, there was need for them to rally round the Governor’s choice.

While charging Traditional rulers in the state to support the 3Rs mantra of the present administration in the state, also admonished them to abstain from making uncomplimentary statement capable of inciting the public for the good of the state.

Meanwhile, an interview with some notable Traditional Rulers across the three zones of the state by our reporter to ascertain the minds of the people on the development showed that a good number of them were in support of the appointment of HRH Eze Emmanuel Okeke of Amaifeke as Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.

In Owerri zone, some renowned monarchs led by the Owerri zonal Chairman of Traditional Rulers threw their weight behind the Governor’s choice of Eze Okeke, adding that any attempt to discredit Governor Uzodinma by mischief makers would be highly resisted.