Information reaching 247ureports indicate that Gov. Rochas Okorocha no longer ‘see eye to eye’ with the immediate past Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Chief Ben Uwajumogu over debts and unfulfilled promises he made to the 2011 to 2015 set of legislators.
According to Imo Government House sources, Okorocha is worried that Uwajumogu has been pestering him to fulfill the many promises he made to his colleagues.
The governor is said to have directed security and his aides not to allow the former speaker access to Douglas House, which is the seat of power in the state.
The sources told 247ureports.com that the embattled former speaker is under intense pressure by his colleagues over the huge debts owed them including severance allowance and balance of the money for the impeachment of the former deputy governor, Chief Jude Agbaso, said to be amounting to N70 million, among others.
The lawmakers are also annoyed with Okorocha for failing to fulfill his promise to reward them for protecting him from the PDP in view of many impeachable offences he committed in office. During his tenure as Speaker, Uwajumogu was severally lobbied by the PDP to impeach Okorocha but he refused to play ball.
Majority of Uwajumogu’s colleagues are worried over Okorocha’s reputation of not keeping to promises and agreements he makes with people as some of them now feel used and dumped; regretting their support for the governor
247ureports.com gathered that Okorocha is reportedly annoyed with the former speaker for failing to help install his former deputy chief of staff, Mr. Chinedu Offor as the Speaker of the House of Assembly. Offor who was the governor’s choice for the speakership position was beaten to it by Chief Acho Ihim, a grassroots politician who enjoyed the support of both old and new members as Offor’s candidacy refused to fly. Okorocha is said not to have forgiven Uwajumogu for failing to sell Offor to the returning and fresh members of the House.
Sources at the Assembly at the Imo Assembly told our correspondent that Okorocha is not comfortable with Ihim as speaker despite the numerous assurances the latter has made to him during ‘peace meetings’ convened for the purpose. “Even Acho Ihim is aware that the governor does not trust him. Those who know Owelle well will tell you that it is only a matter of time before he installs Chinedu Offor as speaker.”
The governor is also angry with the former Speaker for losing the Imo North senatorial election to the PDP despite contesting as a sitting Speaker with a huge financial war chest made available to him. “Owelle is not happy that Ben Uwajumogu came third in the senatorial election despite government machinery being at his beck and call during the election. It pained Owelle that he came third behind Mazi Clement Owunna of APGA and the winner, Senator Athan Achonu of the PDP. You know Owelle is too smart and doesn’t keep promises, he is not happy that Uwajumogu is still reminding to settle the lawmakers,” the sources added.
Asked what will be Uwajumogu’s fate in Okorocha’s second term, the sources said they cannot tell but ruled out a ministerial position for the former speaker insisting that Okorocha is pushing his in-law and former Secretary to the Imo state government, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, for the position in the event of him missing the SGF position.
Efforts to reach Uwajumogu proved unsuccessful as his mobile number could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.
