In a bid to install a successor come 2019,this newspaper can reveal that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State is set to dissolve his present cabinet to pave way for a “2019 cabinet” that would ensure the realization of his political plans.
A major shake up is therefore expected in the coming weeks.
A source said some loyalists of Senator Araraume in Okorocha’s cabinet such as the Commissioner for Pension Matters and IGR, Ifeanyi Araraume Jnr.and another top aide on Political Matters, Prof Nnamdi Obiareri may be affected.
The duo are core loyalists of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, a serial governorship aspirant who is widely speculated to run against Okorocha’s successor for the APC Imo State governorship ticket.
Also to be affected include those categorized as non “rescue mission compliant commissioners and aides”
This newspaper was informed that most of the governor’ s aides have become more cautious and careful with their utterances lately and are now mindful of political functions they attend in order not be seen or misinterpreted by their principal.
The move according to a top source, is aimed at bringing a cabinet that would further drive the rescue mission government and more importantly, penerate the political landscape of the state to prepare grounds for the titanic electoral battle in 2019.
A source said “The move is real.We are conscious of the desperate moves of some politicians to make 2019 election one of the biggest political battles in the state”
” I can tell you that much as 2019 is far ahead, the time is now to ship out those whom are perceived not be with us and bring in those who can politically steer the rescue mission to produce a sucessor” the source said
Governor Okorocha has been speculated to install a successor in 2019. And since the rumour went into public domain, it has generated frenzy not only in the APC in Imo state but beyond the borders of the party.
An APC stalwart, Hon Uche Onyeagocha had kicked against the goveror’s plan to install a sucessor.
Onyeagocha had alleged that Okorocha intends to nominate his son in law and Chief of Staff,Chief Uche Nwosu to be his successor.
Nwosu was nominated as APC governorship candidate in 2015 by Okorocha who proceeded to Lagos to contest the Party’s Presidential Primary.
The Imo State governor lost to the eventual winner of the Presidential Primary, Muhammadu Buhari and returned to Owerri to collect the APC governorship ticket from Nwosu.