In a strategic move aimed at consolidating power, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, is retaining his inner circle of dependable loyalists and trusted allies by reappointing them to key positions as Commissioners and Special Advisers in his new cabinet.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the new cabinet will be unveiled on Friday.
Officials of the administration told INNONEWS that that the reappointment of Uzodimma’s core loyalists into cabinet positions underscores his commitment to fortifying his support base in the State
According to a reliable source privy to the inner activities of the government, the names of Commissioner nominees have already been dispatched to the State House of Assembly for screening.
A clear indication of the governor’s allegiance to his longstanding confidants emerged yesterday with the reappointment of Enyinnaya Onuegbu, a lawyer, as Special Adviser, Political, and Head of the Political Bureau.
Onuegbu had served as State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Imo State, one time Commissioner for Lands, and later Power, before Uzodimma elevated him as Head, Political Bureau.
This newspaper further learnt that the new list of appointees comprising Commissioners and Special Advisers, are predominantly made up of die-hard loyalists who have remained steadfast and unshaken in their support and commitment throughout the Governor’s first tenure.
Uzodimma had sacked all his Commissioners, Special Advisers, and Senior Special Assistants, totaling close to 500, on January 16, 2024, a day after his inauguration for a second term.