- There is love lost between Uzodinma and his predecessor, Okorocha
War drums may be beating again between Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The former governor has told his successor, Hope Uzodinma, not take him for granted or see his peaceful disposition as a sign of weakness.
Okorocha’s latest outburst is part of an ongoing intense face off with Governor Uzodinma, bordering on the scramble for the soul of the All Progressive Congress, APC, the Okigwe senate election and the state of Imo.
Uzodinma had said in September that if Okorocha stops seeing himself as the Governor of the State after he has left office, there will be less bickering.
Trouble started between the duo after Uzodinma’s inauguration as governor on January 16. He kept Okorocha and Senator Araraume afar in running his government and preferred to align with Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.
This set the stage for intense fireworks which has followed thereafter. Â
Uzodinma fired the first salvo when a panel of Inquiry on award of contracts set up by the Emeka Ihedioha administration, indicted Okorocha for allegedly misappropriating N160 billion naria state funds for eight years.
The former governor fired back, telling Uzodinma to give account of over N150 billion naira which accrued into the coffers of the state in the past eight months the latter has stayed in office.
The face off extended to the political turf when the Court of Appeal, Abuja declared the Okorocha backed Dan Nwafor faction as the authentic executives of Imo APC.
Uzodinma is backing the caretaker Committee led by Marcellinus Nlemigbo which is recognized by the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker and Extra ordinary National Convention Planning Committee.
The recent threat by local government chairmen and councilors who served in Okorocha’s administration, to take over Council headquarters on November 30, is said to be part of the onslaught advanced by the Okorocha/Arararume camp against the governor.
The impeachment of the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Chiji Collins, is also said to have the finger prints of the ongoing feud, as media reports speculated that the former Speaker was impeached for acts linked to political romance with another Uzodinma’s political foe, Senator Araraume.
The Okigwe senate election has also reinforced the rivalry when Federal High Court, Owerri ordered INEC to recognize Senator Araraume as candidate of the party and remove the name of Frank Ibezim, on the basis that he was disqualified by the APC Screening panel ahead of the Primary election.
Okorocha has announced that he will throw the weight of his Rescue Mission political family to back Araraume’s Senatorial bid.
Analysts contend that in days ahead, the political warfare between the duo may take a fierce and frightening dimension.
READ ALSO
