With the recent release of the list of the latest Imo Commissioner nominees, it appears that Imo PDP stalwarts, some of who are yet to resign their membership now dominate the State Executive Council (SEC). Most of the nominees were well known card carrying members of PDP and even serving legislators prior to the conclusion of the 2015 general elections. They had done everything to frustrate the re-election of Okorocha in 2015.
Infact, majority of the nominees never contributed to the re-election bid of Governor Okorocha, but were dragged into a contraption of a political pact with Governor Rochas Okorocha by Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume on the eve of the bye-election that returned Rochas Okorocha, as Governor. Some even worried Araraume of the inherent risk and danger in supporting Okorocha.
Of significant importance is the nomination of Mrs. Joy Mbawuike, a former member of Imo State House of Assembly representing Isiala Mbano LGA, on the PDP platform as commissioner. Though she re-contested in 2015, under the same PDP platform, it was rumoured that the Governor in a bid to rubbish Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, did everything humanly possible to ensure victory for Joy Mbawuike and PDP in Isiala Mbano.
However, Ifeanyi Araraume according to our source, thwarted all that sinister moves of the Governor and assisted his core-loyalist, Chiji Collins of APC to win. Since then the Governor has not hidden his love and preference for Joy Mbawuike and wishes to unleash her against Araraume in future political engagements as he used Tony Black Nduka to attack Araraume recently. It is left for the APC legislators, to determine the fate of their former colleague and her suitability or otherwise as commissioner since she is still a card carrying member of Imo PDP.
Another commissioner nominee is Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri was brought to political, limelight and prominence when he was appointed as adviser to the then Deputy Governor of Imo state, and his kinsman at Ihube, Engr. Ebere Udeagu. As a cat with nine lives, Obiaraeri dumped Udeagu and was embraced by Udenwa who also appointed him as an Adviser. With the election of Sir Ikedi Ohakim, in 2007, as Executive Governor of Imo state, Nnamdi Obiaraeri was again appointed into the State Executive Council as Commissioner for Youth and Sports.
Ever since he joined Araraume to APC, Nnamdi Obiaraeri has been given one appointment or the other. He is therefore the longest serving political activist who since 1999, has remained in the corridors of power in Imo state. As a gladiator, it is expected that once Okorocha becomes president, he will be the next Chief of Staff of Aso Rock villa with Uche Nwosu then as Governor.
Onwuneyiagba from Obowo came from PDP with Ben Uwajumogu but stole the soul of Okorocha when he battled his kinsmen for the ezeship stool. It is still curious to observe that despite the lack of capacity to manage the affairs of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, by Dr. Mrs. Angela Uwakwe and the attendant allegations of fraud and controversies, she was nominated as Commissioner from her post as Adviser to Rochas Okorocha.
One Engr. Jude Mbachu, SDC coordinator for Umuozu who is based in Port Harcourt Rivers State who was visibly shocked, could not understand why Angela Uwakwe who supported PDP and fought and APC followers to a standstill during the governorship election in 2015, could be offered the post of commissioner on a platter of gold by Rochas Okorocha. He felt disappointed that Okorocha could neglect his core supporters for Angela Uwakwem
Apart from Chidi Nwaturuocha, the rest of the nominees, whether Jony Umezurike or Emma Buka Iwuanyanwu, Jones Uzoka, Cympok Okafor who recently lost the wife or Dominic Mgbenwelu cut their political teeth in PDP.
