There has been reported love lost between Governor Hope Uzodinma and former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Their political differences dates back to the period Okorocha was Governor of Imo State, when a fierce battle for the governorship ticket of the APC, pitched them against each other.
Okorocha wanted Uche Nwosu, his son in law, for the APC guber ticket and as his eventual successor. Uzodinma nailed the plot and eventually emerged governorship candidate of the party. The rest is history.
Going forward, in politics, they say what is paramount is interest and not friendship. This became the propelling factor that led to the ‘reconciliation’ between Okorocha and Uzodinma.
The duo set aside their grievances and choose to unite against Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP, who was sacked as Governor of Imo State by the Supreme Court.
The nation’s apex court replaced Ihedioha of the PDP with Hope Uzodinma of the APC.
The return of the APC to the saddle of governance of the State, was the key factor which ‘re united’ Okorocha and Uzodinma.
But things are beginning to fall apart again between the duo barely six months after the reconciliation.
Reports had it that Uzodinma refused to accommodate anybody from Okorocha’s camp into his administration either as Commissioner, Special Adviser or Senior Special Assistant, SSA.
Local Government Chairmen elected during Okorocha’s reign,but sacked by Ihedioha’s administration had asked Uzodinma foe theie reinstatement. They were were ignored by the Governor.
Uzodinma has allowed several panels of Inquiry instituted by Ihedioha to continue to probe Okorocha administration
There were even reports that Okorocha’s men are contemplating leaving the APC for the PDP on the grounds that Uzodinma wants to deny Okorocha a second term return ticket to the senate on the APC platform in 2023.
A source had told this newspaper that “if Uzodinma does not change his attitude towards them within a year, it will lead to a different ball game”
Lately, Okorocha’s aides had taken to the social media to attack the policies and actions of Uzodinma’s government.
The Ambrose Nwaogwugwu saga has attracted the interest of one of Okorocha’s media handlers, FCC Jones Onwusoanya.
Onwusoanya condemned the arrest, detention and arraignment of Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, the DG,Imo PDP New Media Centre.
They also fumed at the suspension of Vivian Ottih, a staff of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, by the State government for demanding her unpaid salaries.
Onwusoanya had been entangled in a war of words with the Uzodinma backed Nlemigbo led Caretaker Commitee of the APC in the State.
Okorocha is known to be behind the Daniel Nwafor led faction of the APC in the State, which has continued to unleash salvos on the Nlemigbo led Caretaker Commitee.
Based on these developments, it is becoming clear that Okorocha and Uzodinma may be heading for a collision, a repeat of the fierce war that engulfed the duo during the scramble for the APC governorship ticket in 2019. Only time will tell
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