More revelations have emerged on how six members of the Imo State House of Assembly, in pursuit of their selfish interests, talked the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha into impeaching his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere.
According to a grapevine source, the plot was initiated by the Majority Leader Hon. Lugard Osuji and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ugonna Ozuigbo (OZB) who had vested interest that could be scuttled should Uche decide to drop ambition.
It is reported that by their calculations, Lugard Osuji would emerge as the Speaker when the Speaker, Acho Ihim, who on the expected exit of the Madumere is appointed Deputy Governor. OZB, in the same vein, prayed that Uche Nwosu becomes more pushful and determined in his governorship ambition and plot to succeed his father-in-law because, in his thinking, anything short of that may result in the Chief of Staff, showing interest in the Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Njaba federal constituency seat, which he, OZB is presently eyeing and poised to occupy in 2019.
“To actualize their dreams, they co-opted Hon Ikechukwu Amuka, representing Ideato South state constituency, Lawman Duruji representing Ehime Mbano and two others, namely Hon. Emeka Lloyd of Owerri North and Ibe of Obowo state constituency”.
It was gathered that Ikechukwu Amuka’s interest, was gingered by his desire to regain the governor’s trust and confidence which he was said to have lost, when he allegedly joined other legislators to frustrate the governor’s budget presentation to the legislature some months ago.
Lawman Duruji, on the other hand, was co-opted because of his reported chummy relationship with the governor who is said to respect him for the role he played in stabilizing the legislature during the budget presentation saga.
“This group of six, after agreeing among themselves, went to the governor and assured him that they had the capacity to impeach his Deputy and any of them who refuses to play along will be sanctioned”.
The source further posited that, contrary to speculations that the Speaker, Acho Ihim was the arrow head of the purported impeachment, “he was only approached by the 6 legislators, after deliberations and meeting with the governor. He was however convinced and swept of his feet, when the prospect of becoming the Deputy Governor, on the exit of Madumere was dangled before him like a carrot. As it is now, they are all disappointed at the unfolding developments because they have been used and dumped without actualizing their dreams and aspirations”.
However, there have been wide spread condemnation and outcry over the issue as several groups, individuals, professional bodies etc, have continued to berate the Governor, state legislature and other agents of government for aiding, abetting and encouraging lawlessness, which the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere inspite of restraining orders of court connote.
-WATCHDOG-
