Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has moved to instill order among his officials, his first major move towards his multitude of aides and officials barely a week he won re election as Governor.
In a late-night missive from the State government, the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmos Iwu, had announced the suspension of two key figures – Mr. Noble Abiaso Atulegwu, Commissioner for Lands, Survey, and Physical Planning, and Barr Chinedu Mbakwe Obi, MD/Special Adviser on Imo Housing Corporation.
As the two ousted officials are directed to hand over their responsibilities to the most senior officers in their respective offices, whispers from the grapevine hint at a connection between the removal of the Lands commissioner and mounting protests over alleged land grabbing.
From Owerri North to Uratta, Owerri West, and beyond, citizens, including churches and individuals, had besieged the Government House, Owerri, seeking the Governor’s attention to curb the encroachment into their lands.
Job overlapping and suspicions of stifled staff promotions add another layer to the unfolding drama.
With these dismissals sending ripples to his aides, other officials are scrambling to avoid the Governor’s ire, acutely aware of the consequences in this post-election era.
The quest for harmony within the government apparatus takes center stage as Governor Uzodinma paves the way for a revamped administration in his second term.
