Former Deputy Governor of Imo state, Prince Eze Madumere is said to be at loggerheads with some leaders of Mbaitoli LGA over apex leadership of the area.
It was learnt that the apex leadership tussle has divided the All Progressives Congress in the area into two factions.
According to reports, the erstwhile Deputy Governor was accused of playing anti-party roles during the last elections. He was alleged to have worked for PDP candidates, who eventually won the elections.
It would be recalled that Mbaitoli political leaders, in a stakeholders meeting held recently in the area passed a vote of no confidence on the former deputy Governor, insisting that whoever will be the apex leader of the area must be one who has contributed immensely to the victory of APC in the last elections.
Speaking in an interview, the factional LGA chairman of APC, Hon. John Eke, said his executive has not yet recognized any son or daughter of Mbaitoli as the apex leader of the area.
According to him, those who betrayed Hope Uzodinma and the APC in the last elections should cease to parade themselves as apex leader or leaders of the area.
“The former deputy Governor supported the PDP candidates in the last elections. He worked against us and everybody knows that”
“He worked for Chief Emeka Ihedioha and congratulated him when he was declared winner by the INEC. He supported his government.”
“Now that APC has taken power, he has now made a U-turn to answer the apex leader of Mbaitoli. This is not possible.”
Barr. Kingsley Ononuju, another political leader in the area opined that Mbaitoli is very much aware of Prince Madumere’s insubordination in the last elections which he said, has robbed him of his position as the highest ranking APC member in the area.
However, he claimed that the APC leadership of Mbaitoli has anointed him (Ononuju) as the apex leader, having worked tirelessly for the party in the last elections.
Barr. Ononuju said the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma rewards hard work and will not be deceived by people crawling around him when it is time to make merry.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the former Deputy Governor, Uche Onwuchekwa, in a phone chat said that Prince Madumere is too big to join issues with people whom he considers as his children.
He said, “Madumere is not shy of embracing any Imo leader by virtue of his position in the state. He has no regrets. When the history of those who contributed to the foundation of the new Imo, he must be counted.”
“It is a historical fact that without Madumere and his choice, most of them talking today would not be here to sing these verses of discordance,” he submitted.
Barr. Charles Amadi who is Madumere’s factional chairman of APC in Mbaitoli, in an interview maintained that the former deputy Governor is and remains the apex leader of the area given his position as the highest ranking member of the party.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that some political leaders of the area led by Barr. Charles Amadi on Sunday 9 2020, at the residence of the Ex-Deputy Governor in Achi Mbieri, endorsed him as the apex leader of the area.
DAILY POST
