…Claim Mischievous, Says Eze Madumere
By Celephina Onovo
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is desperately seeking for ways of facilitating the impeachment of his deputy, Eze Madumere, alleging that the latter has been absent from office for 90 days.
The allegation was being raised against his Deputy to enable the Imo State House of Assembly commence impeachment process against Madumere.
The alleged plot made a headline on Owerri based newspaper (name withheld).
A source close to Okorocha claimed that he has been losing sleep since Madumere disagreed with him on the choice of his son-in-law as likely successor in 2019.
The source claimed that Okorocha and the son-in-law had believed they would leverage on Madumere’s wealth of strategic experience.
He further revealed that Governor Okorocha is rueing over his loss of grip to the party structures, which had rendered him toothless and ordinary.
He attributed the relentless effort to impeach the Deputy Governor to his experience in politics for fear of more harm in the nearest future.
He said such efforts have failed at various moments following Madumere’s clean bill of health as there are no known impeachable offences committed by him since he is deemed incorruptible and cares less about primitive accumulation of wealth.
Last Wednesday, report had it that Uche Nwosu, the Governor’s son-in-law while addressing a section of his supporters allegedly vowed to do everything humanly possible to ensure that Madumere’s rising profile is cut short.
The most recent of such frame up is the accusation against the Deputy Governor of absconding from office for 90 days as reported by an Owerri based newspaper.
Our reporter who visited the Office of Deputy Governor, according to one of the civil servants who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Deputy Governor does not stay away from work except on occasions when he was out of the State or at the field working.
Our source maintained that the Deputy Governor received all his guests last week including leadership of the Christian umbrella body in his office. He therefore wondered where the story came from, describing it as mere mischief.
Meanwhile, Monday fortnight ago, it was also revealed that the Deputy Governor was in Abuja for a retreat on boundary matters with his Principle Secretary where resolutions were signed.
Our source also revealed that the Deputy Governor has also leveraged on his statutory function as the Chairman of Boundary Commission by ensuring that he proactively attend to boundary issues to maintain peace and order with the cooperation of his colleague Deputy Governors.
Our reporter also uncovered that the office of the Deputy Governor is in a dilapidated condition leaking profusely with all the air conditioners begging for servicing.
Other aides to the deputy atop the building have also abandoned their offices due the collapse of the pop ceilings owing to the leakages, thereby, eliciting close aides staying away to avoid sustaining injuries or even death.
His description; “Deputy Governor’s office is not befitting of the person of the Deputy Governor. If nothing is done fast, the office will soon look like a poultry house with all the ceilings collapsing on the people.”
Effort to speak to the Principle Secretary to the Deputy Governor proved abortive as he was said to have gone out for a meeting.
Our reporter’s inquiry revealed that no memos from Office of the Governor have been coming from the Governor’s office, which is intentional so as to render Deputy Governor’s office non-operational.
Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Uche Onwuchekwa, said that such insinuations could only emanate from mischievous elements.
He revealed that the Deputy Governor is known as a very responsible Public Officer who has been coming to the office when necessary since his main job is in the field to handle boundary issues.
He however argued that the Deputy Governor is only constitutionally empowered to function as the Chairman of the boundary commission or any other at the discretion of the Governor.
He further revealed that the Deputy Governor has proven himself beyond reasonable doubt that he is a result-oriented Public Officer, who has never abdicated his official responsibilities.