There is a grand plot to install Uche Nwosu, Chief of Staff to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State as the latter’s successor in 2019, the newspaper can reveal.
The opposition had strongly raised an alarm alleging that Nwosu who is Okorocha’s son in law is the anointed one for the Imo top job in 2019. The Chief of Staff has not confirmed or dispelled these allegations though his body language reveals he could be interested.
Recently, a member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Henry Ezediaro who represents Oguta State constituency said all members of the State House of Assembly have endorsed Nwosu’s governorship aspiration.
This embarrassed the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon.Acho Ihim who later issued a statement denying knowledge of such endorsement.
However, it was gathered that before the House members went on christmas break no fewer than 15 members of the House have endorsed Nwosu’s 2019 guber bid. Aside the expansion of the “Ugwumba Movement” which is heavily funded from various sources, the group now has a worldwide appellation as it is addressed as Ugwumba Worldwide and headed by Hon.Ezediaro.
To further to demonstrate the seriousness to have Nwosu as Okorocha’s successor in 2019, Ezediaro told a national daily that “We will resist attempts by any person or group of persons that do not believe in this Owelle(Okorocha) philosophy to bring a successor. We will also not allow any person or group of persons to hijack power through the backdoor”
Ezediaro’s comments further add strength to plans to get the Chief of Staff on the Imo APC governorship ticket in 2019 which is the first hurdle to scale through before the governorship polls. This newspaper had reported this week that Governor Okorocha has moved in swiftly to regain full control of the party which was fading off his grip to another governorship contender, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume.
Distraught Imo APC members from the ward to the Local government levels who have been lamenting over cash squeeze, lack of political patronage and appointments from the Rescue Mission government had cause to smile few days to Christmas as cash and other items were doled out to them to celebrate the yuletide.
It was unconfirmed if the latest measure is part of the plans to calm the frayed nerves of the aggrieved party members and curry their support for Nwosu whose speculated governorship ambition is unsettling the political landscape in Imo State.