Gov Okorocha’s plot to handover to son-in-law takes shape as Imo Assembly endorses Nwosu

The fears many Imo State indigenes have only expressed in hushed tones seem to be materializing, as the State House of Assembly on Saturday announced its endorsement of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as their choice to replace the governor in the 2019 election.

The announcement of Nwosu, who is currently the Chief of Staff to Okorocha, was made by the House Committee chairman on Petroleum, Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission and Niger Delta Development Commission, Henry Ezediaro.

Ezediaro made the disclosure when he addressed a press conference in Owerri, the state capital.

According to him, the decision was arrived at after the majority of the state’s lawmakers declared him the best to run for the position.

“After meeting with the members of the House of Assembly, we, irrespective of party affiliations, have endorsed Ugwumba Uche Nwosu. We urge him to contest the poll. If he does, we will support him to be the governor in 2019.

“On behalf of the lawmakers, we want to use this medium to appeal to the governor and thank him for his free education policy in the state, but without Uche Nwosu, the policy may die and that is why we want him to continue from where he will stop,” Ezediaro.

On the reported crisis in the State Assembly, the lawmaker said, “The house is not in a crisis, we just disagreed on some issues.”

The endorsement comes on the heels of fears many Imo people have continued to express on plots by Okorocha to succeed himself with his son-in-law who is from the same zone, Orlu, as the governor.

READ ALSO: Secondus emerges PDP national chairman amid allegations of rigging

A former Special Adviser on Policy and Strategy to Okorocha and the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Owerri zone in 2015, Uche Onyeagocha, told Ripples Nigeria that “Imo will be ruined should Okorocha succeed in having his son-in-law replace him.”

Onyeagocha, who ostensibly dumped APC for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), alleged that the whole plot to have Nwosu as the next governor of the state was to allow Okorocha cover his shady deals and avoid ending up in prison for all the atrocities he allegedly committed against Imo people.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now