– Over Uche Nwosu’s governorship ambition
The Secretary to the Government of Imo State (SGI) and former Accountant General (AG), Sir George Eche in his capacity as the leader of APC in Ngor Okpala LGA, has wielded the big stick against his townsman, and prominent politician, Okenze Obinna.
The former strong man of Ngor Okpala politics and one time close confident and acolyte of Distinguished Senator, Ifeanyi Araraume, was reported to have stepped on the sore toes and incurred the wrath of the SGI, for supporting Uche Nwosu as governorship candidate of APC instead of throwing his weight behind Eche, who it was said have severally confided in Okenze Obinna of the promises by Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha to make him the next governor of Imo state come 2019.
Eche was appointed as SGI to enable him build a formidable structure but was rejected later by those who facilitated his appointment such as Madam Geraldine Obinali.
Okenze Obinna’s support for Uche Nwosu came to the fore recently when the Governor directed him to short list ten names from Ngor Okpala LGA, for consideration as Board members. Rather than consult with other leaders in Ngor Okpala of the demand, a visibly excited Okenze Obinna, single-handedly compiled the list with only his cronies, some of who were not registered members of APC in the area as alleged.
Now basking on the euphoria of his tacit and firm support, for Nwosu governorship ambition, Okenze Obinna got his nominees immediately considered for board appointments to the discomfiture of George Eche and other APC leaders in the council area. To cut the excesses and rising influence of Okenze Obinna, whose younger brother Chinwe, is instead working for the governorship ambition of Engr Chuks Ololo and Director of Rochas Mandate, Sir George Eche along with his loyalists in APC Ngor Okpala chapter allegedly conspired with the Umuowa ward executives, to suspend him from the party.
In a letter of “indefinite suspension and addressed to Okenze Obinna, dated January 26, 2018, and signed by the ward Chairman, they wrote, “we the ward leaders of APC Umuowa ward 6, in a meeting convened at the instance of the Chairman, hereby suspend you indefinitely as a member of the great party after considering and adopting a vote of no confidence in you overwhelming and unanimously moved and seconded at the meeting”. The letter which was copied to the LGA Chairman of APC, the SGI, Sir George Eche, state legal Adviser, and Commissioner for Labour, accused Okenze Obinna of nominating his cronies for Board appointments when most of them have not formally joined or registered with the party.
Sources at Ngor Okpala said, Okenze Obinna has been very vociferous in his public support for Uche Nwosu rather than filing behind his kinsman Eche, who looks more prospective to become governor going by his wealth of experience, managerial prowess, knowledge and zone of extraction or origin. It was also reasoned that the zero support from Okenze Obinna may have buoyed Governor Okorocha who it was gathered from government house sources, recently asked George Eche to jettison his governorship ambition. Apart from alleging and purporting that Obinna appointed his cronies as Board members several other allegations were leveled against the reputable business tycoon who recently forayed into merchandizing long span roofing sheets sourced from Obinna and other Asian tigers.
It was not clear what the reaction of the Governor would be following Eche’s clandestine moves and machinations to undermine his son-inlaw who has since been adopted as a native of Amawom Owerri Nchi Ise in furtherance of his desperate efforts to become governor after his father-inlaw. Uche Nwosu has equally taken a title from the Northern community in the far north signaling his readiness to become a Muslim and practice Islam as religion just to become governor.
