Indications emerged
yesterday that crisis was brewing among the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas
Okorocha, the deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso and the Speaker of State House
of Assembly, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu.The war, it was learnt had been
raging between the governor and his deputy, six months after assuming office.According to sources, the
deputy governor, who was appointed Commissioner for Works, was allegedly
striped of his position about two months ago by the governor due to some
administrative misunderstanding that could not be resolved amicably.It was further gathered that
the governor has discreetly approved the Speaker to oversee certain activities
in the state Ministry of Works, thereby rendering the deputy governor’s
functions as Commissioner for Works redundant, even though the governor and the
deputy had appeared at some public gatherings as if nothing was wrong between
them.However, it was also gathered
that all was not well between the governor and the Speaker of the state
assembly, “because the governor had accused the Speaker of being inactive in
certain legislative matters.The governor’s alleged accusation
also corroborated with some people’s views about the Speaker, who they accused
had been busy following the governor abroad and abandoning his legislative
responsibilities to the people of Imo State.
According to Mr. Anthony Iweho,
a human rights activist, the Speaker “is not competent to handle the position.”
He accused the Speaker of being busy accompanying Governor Okorocha to missions
abroad, when his duty is to make laws and check the excesses of the executive.
Speaking to National Mirror
yesterday on phone, the Personal Assistant to the Speaker, Hon. Ikenna
Samuelson Iwuoha, denied any row or cold war between the governor and the
Speaker, adding that the Speaker only performs oversight functions which he
said does not include the responsibilities of the commissioner for works.Also speaking, the Senior
Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Ebere Uzokwa, said there was no rift
between the governor and his deputy, adding that the deputy governor “is still
the commissioner for works and cannot abandon his legislative duties to perform
executive functions.”