By Baron Ike
It has emerged that the wife of the Governor of Imo State, Nkechi and his son in-law, Uche Nwosu have allegedly met with some cabinet members of the government and others in the Imo State House of Assembly to plot the removal of the deputy governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere.
The move, amadanews.com learnt, is part of behind the scene script being acted within the Government House Owerri to ensure that the governorship ambition of Nwosu, who is the Chief of Staff to the Governor is not met with any key opposition.
Governor Rochas Okorocha on Monday endorsed Nwosu as his likely successor against the wishes of the majority of All Progressive Congress (APC) members in Imo, including the state executive members who want a primaries where the aspirants to the office of the governor would be tested based on their capacity, competence and popularity.
Okorocha and his wife have been itching to have their son in-law take over the Government House in 2019, a move many Imo APC members see as third term bid by the governor which they have resolved to resist.
Madumere has been a trusted ally of the Okorochas for more than 25 years, but recently when the Imo first family started nursing the ambition of foisting their son in-law on the state, the wife of the governor suddenly moved against Madumere to the surprise of many who know what his relationship with the family is over the years.
The governor is said to have become helpless and unable to rein in the wife on her current feeling about the deputy governor.
Sources close the Okorochas said the governor’s wife sees the rising profile of Madumere as inimical to their desire of having their son in-law step into Okorocha’s office in 2019, and that any move to resist him would be game.
Those who are conversant with the architectural design of the New Imo State Governor’s Lodge would tell you that the Okorochas may not be in hurry to relinquish the place to anyone not part of them by blood relationship.
The report by a local newspaper, the Trumpeta on Wednesday that there are plots to impeach Madumere have got tongues wagging in the state, with many Imolites curious to know why and those behind the script.
On Thursday, it emerged that those the governor’s wife and Nwosu are allegedly enlisting for the impeachment process of Madumere include a House of Assembly member from Owerri Municipal and a Commissioner.
The lawmaker who incidentally comes from the same local government with Madumere was identified as Lugard Osuji while the Commissioner was said to be in charge of Finance, Obinna Mbata.
They were alleged to have repeatedly met at the Government House, mapping out strategies on how to move into the State Assembly to lobby two thirds majority of members to key into their dream.
Part of the largesse they want to dangle before the willing lawmakers include juicy positions, huge cash rewards and landed property in any choice area of the Owerri municipal city with Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).
When contacted, media aide to the deputy governor, Uche Onwuchekwa, said they have heard about the impeachment plot and that his boss is noted for his cleanliness and forthrightness in the way he conducts government businesses entrusted in his care.
He however said the Deputy Governor’s office has been inundated with calls from across the state and beyond concerning purported impeachment.
Onwuchekwa dismissed the development as a ruse intended to heat up the polity for mischievous reasons.
He explained: “Even though the issue is still regarded as mere rumour, but let it be known that any such scheme will be counterproductive and an ill wind that will blow no one any good.
“It is the handiwork of detractors and those who are daily intimidated by the growing popularity and acceptability of the Deputy Governor across the state.”
Onwuchekwa added that nothing could have stirred the sudden hatred for his boss other than Madumere’s governorship ambition which he said has received a boost following endorsements from critical segments of the APC in Imo State.
Last week, no less than 3000 APC members from the three senatorial zones of Imo staged a pro-Madumere rally in Owerri where they urged Okorocha to unveil him as his successor.
The protesters were worried that the governor was planning to foist his son in-law who is also from his zone on the people and sounded a note of warning that the party stands to lose the election if equity is stood on the head.
Okorocha on Monday said he would support Nwosu against the wishes of the majority of the APC members, a move the wife and her surrogates are taking advantage to plot Madumere’s removal.