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Tag: Okorocha

  • Court ‘halts’ impeachment process against Okorocha’s deputy, Madumere

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, to halt the impeachment process against him by the state House of Assembly.

    Recall that the House on Tuesday set up a six-member committee headed by Kennedy Ibe, member representing Obowo Local Government Area, to probe allegations of misconduct against Mr Madumere and report back to it within seven days.

    But surprisingly, the committee submitted its report about 48 hours later on Thursday, wherein it concluded that Madumere has a case to answer.

    The House subsequently on Thursday served a notice of impeachment on the deputy governor asking him to defend himself against the allegations against him.

    But Madumere said he was not properly served the notice, after one of his aides had on Wednesday refuted the allegations as baseless.

    The deputy governor thereafter dragged the lawmakers and the state chief judge before the court in Abuja.

    According to court papers made available to newsmen, Johnmary Jideobi, the trial judge gave an order that could be interpreted to mean halting the removal process pending determination of the suit by Madumere.

    The Judge, O .A Musa, further granted the applicant leave to serve the processes in the suit on the defendants.

    “Parties are to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice,” the court directed.

    Maintaining status quo is often interpreted by lawyers to mean keeping the situation as it was before the case was filed. In this case, according to Mr Jideobi, ensuring the deputy governor remains in office until the court case is determined.

    “Any party affected by this order may apply to set it aside for good cause,” the judge directed.

    “Parties are to file a written argument addressing this court on its jurisdiction to entertain the instant suit.

    “Motion on notice is adjourned to November 27,” he said.

    The impeachment plot has been brewing for some time and is widely interpreted as a continuation of the battle for 2019 between the governor and his deputy.

    This arose from opposition by Madumere to an alleged plan by Governor Rochas Okorocha to have his in-law succeed him in office.

    Madumere, who is also interested in the governorship seat, later joined camp with opponents of the governor in their All Progressives Congress in the state.

    They held parallel congresses to wrest control of the APC from Okorocha in the state and produced party leaders that were recognised by the former national leadership of the party. But a court has since voided the congresses and the governor appears poised to regain control of the party in the state.

    Loyalists of Okorocha are also believed to have a majority in the state Assembly.

    Apparently to expand that majority, the House last month suspended four lawmakers viewed as loyal to the deputy governor and standing against his impeachment plot.

    Another lawmaker, representing Oru West LGA, Donatus Onuigwe, who opposed the impeachment proceedings during Tuesday’s plenary, was also suspended by the House.

  • BREAKING: Imo lawmakers commence impeachment process against Okorocha’s deputy

    The Imo State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment process against the deputy governor, Eze Madumere.

    The Deputy Speaker, Ugonna Ozuruigbo, who moved the motion that the impeachment process be served on the embattled deputy governor, accused him, among other things, of abandoning his duties and office as the state’s number two citizen for a long time.

    The plenary, which is tension-soaked, is currently on going.

    Armed security men have barricaded the entry and exit points of the complex.

     

    More details shortly…

  • ‘Hold Okorocha responsible for breakdown of law and order in Imo APC’

    ‘Hold Okorocha responsible for breakdown of law and order in Imo APC’

    The Stakeholders’ Forum of Imo All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on security agencies to hold Governor Rochas Okorocha responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state.

    Dr Theodore Ekechi, the convener of the Forum, via a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, however, advised Okorocha to respect his office and stop engaging in activities that could demean The Office of the Governor.

    He condemned the spate of protests allegedly sponsored by the governor, describing such action as “senseless.’’

    “We wish to draw the attention of security agencies ‎and the general public to the spate of senseless protests which we believe are being sponsored by the governor of Imo.

    “We particularly draw attention to the sponsored protests of 17th and 23rd of May, at the APC headquarters and by hired miscreants against our coalition and Sen. Osita Izunaso in particular.

    “From the conduct of the so called protesters, it was self-evident that they did not even know why their services were procured,’’ he said.

    Ekechi warned that the sustenance of such senseless protests with Imo tax payers’ money “portends very grave danger.’’

    He said that this was being done in a bid to blackmail the state stakeholders’ and some members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been a running battle between the governor and APC stakeholders’ in the state.

    The stakeholders had at different fora accused him of high handedness and mismanagement of the state’s resources, as well as illegally demolishing structures and allocating lands to himself and his cronies.

    The governor is currently contesting the outcome of the APC ward, local government and state congresses held in the state.

  • Okorocha obtains court injunction to halt Imo APC congress

    Okorocha obtains court injunction to halt Imo APC congress

    An Owerri, Imo state Federal High Court has mandated the All Progressives Congress (APC) to halt Saturday’s state congress or any other congress in Imo, pending the determination of a suit filed by Barrister Mbagwu Augustine and four others against the APC and 10 others.

    Concise News gathered that the order was served by the Court on Friday.

    According to the Motion Exparte filed on Thursday, the plaintiffs sought “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st to 10th Defendants, their privies, servants, agents or any one acting on their behalf or any organ of the AlI Progressives Congress from holding a local government area congress of the All Progressives Congress or any other congress in Imo State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

    The court, presided over by Justice A. Lewis Allagoa ordered that, “the respondents are hereby ordered to appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the order should not be granted.

    “That time is hereby abridged to order that the returned date shall be 22nd May, 2018, provided that the respondents are served 48 hours before then; that all parties in the matter should maintain status quo ante bellum; that the matter stands adjourned to the 22nd day of May, 2018.”

    Recall that Governor Okorocha has been having a running battle with some stakeholders of the APC in the state regarding the ward and local government congresses.

  • 2019: APC has derailed, now playing PDP politics — Okorocha

    2019: APC has derailed, now playing PDP politics — Okorocha

    Imo State governor and chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governor’s Forum, Rochas Okorocha on Thursday revealed how the ruling APC is derailing and now playing the kind of politics the oppositon, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that saw them out of power in 2015.

    Okorocha, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the declaration of Adams Oshiomole, former governor of Edo State, to run for office of national chairman of the party.

    Okoracha, who was at the event to show his support for the governor and endorse his bid, said he believes in Oshiomhole’s capacity to address some issues in the party.

    “Another thing I think Oshiomole will address is that our party has begun to play the same kind of politics like PDP. All of a sudden we have started derailing and playing the PDP kind of politics. This started by some of those people who found themselves in political office especially appointment, who did not win their booths and wards.

    He said Oshiomhole should also address the weakness of the party in the South-South and South-East. He said he believed Oshiomhole can help strengthen it in those parts of the country.

    He called on the aspirant to ensure he roots out “urban masquerades” from the APC and also bring to an end the principle of “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop”.

    “Today, our party is going through some challenges and I must commend those who helped fight for this party even before this time, they have done well but the fight ahead, the challenges ahead are greater and we need great men like Adams Oshiomohle to do this job. For me particularly, Adams will strengthen APC in South-south and South-east.

    Emphasising why the party needed to be strengthened in those regions, Mr Okorocha noted he is the only governor in the South-east and the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, the only governor in the South-South under the APC.

    “Suffice to say that as I speak to you today, I am the only governor from the entire South-east who is APC just like my brother, Obaseki is the only governor from the South-South from the APC. What this goes to say is that APC has challenges in the South-South and South-East for reasons not too far-fetched. For some myopic considerations and assessment, this party is not strong in those parts of Nigeria.

    “For those our governors in the north, they won the election so easy, for as long as the name Buhari stands in the north. But its not the same thing talking about President Muhammadu Buhari’s name in the South-South or South-West. So if you see any governor emerge in the South-South or South-East, it is not with an ordinary strength, and I believe that Oshiomole coming in will strengthen this party in that part.

    “Adams, your first assignment when you become the national chairman of the party is to ensure and channel that principle of ‘monkey de work, bamboon de chop. Because some of these people who are seated here before you, won their booths, delivered their wards but those who didn’t win their booths or deliver their wards are holding big jobs in the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “In this new dispensation, no more monkey dey work, bamboo dey chop. If you work, you chop, you don’t work, you don’t chop.

    “We have a lot of urban masqueraders in APC now and you, must force them out. And I know Adams Oshiomole is a no nonsense man, he will stand forthright, he will face them both in debate, action, physical, mental, moral, spiritual; he can face the opposition. But I don’t know about the spiritual aspect.”

  • APC ward congress: Buhari meets Okorocha, Yari over irregularities, violence

    Sequel to the violence and irregularities recorded during the recently concluded ward congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday hosted the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha; and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdulaziz Yari, in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.

    Recall that Buhari had on Friday travelled to Daura to enable him to take part in the ward congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress that took place nationwide on Saturday.

    The exercise, which was meant to elect new executives of the party at ward levels, was said to have been held amidst protests and violence across the country.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had posted photographs of the President and the Imo State governor on his Facebook page.

    Adesina however did not disclose the agenda of the meeting.

    “President Buhari receives in audience Governor Rochas Okorochas of Imo State in Daura, Katsina State on 6th May, 2018,” the presidential spokesman simply wrote.

    But Okorocha confirmed to reporters that he intimated Buhari on the outcome of the ward congress which was said to have been marred with crisis and confusion in his state as some unidentified thugs attacked the state party secretariat located at the Imo State University junction in Owerri.

    Okorocha said, “We expect internal democracy and internal democracy is the way to go. Those kinds of funny politics that were played must stop. A situation where people went to carry ballot boxes, steal results looks so primitive. I intimated Mr. President and we will make sure that such things stop.”

    On what Buhari’s response was, the Imo governor said, “He spoke like the President and he will take the necessary steps to correct this in our party, the APC, not just in Imo State but across the whole nation, to make sure that there is respect for internal democracy in Imo State.”

    Yari on his part said the exercise went well in the North-East geopolitical zone.

    “You know in a democracy, you cannot expect everything to work 100 per cent. But in our zone from the information available to us, everything went well in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kano, where people expected that there may be a problem, the exercise was successful.

    “But anybody that has complaint, there is a committee set up by the national executive of the party. They should take their complaints there so that they will be attended to,” he said.

    Apart from the fracas that marred the exercise in Imo State, there were also allegations of hijacking of electoral materials and other irregularities in most of the APC controlled states where the congress was held.

  • Missing materials: Okorocha orders arrest of members of APC congress committee

    Missing materials: Okorocha orders arrest of members of APC congress committee

    Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha has directed the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, to arrest and prosecute all members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Committee that conducted the Saturday ward congress in the state for their alleged role in the stealing of materials intended for the election.

    He also charged the Commissioner to set every machinery in motion for the arrest and prosecution of one Mr Ini Okori, alleged to be at the centre of the missing materials.

    Okori, according to the Governor, escaped with the materials at the residence of the National Organizing Secretary of APC, Chief Osita Izunaso, before the commencement of the election.

    Governor Okorocha said he equally regretted what he described as the dishonourable role of Senator Izunaso in the matter.

    According to him, “Izunaso was not able to divorce his local and personal political interests or pursuits from his official responsibilities as the National Organizing Secretary of a National Party like APC.”

    Okorocha who disclosed this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, noted that, were it not for the role he serves as governor and as a father in managing the situation, “the unfortunate role of these people would have thrown the State into a very big crisis which nobody would have been in a position to imagine its outcome.”

    He observed that, for the Organizing Secretary of the Party, Izunaso, to be arguing with Okorie, originally sent for the conduct of the congresses, over who among them was in custody of the sensitive materials in question was despicable, adding that it showed they never wanted the congress to be successful from the start.

    According to Okorocha, “It is also important to point out here that those who never believed that APC had prospect at the initial stage and who called Governor Rochas Okorocha all sorts of names, including Alhaji in Government House, and Okoro-Hausa, must not be allowed to disturb the peace of APC in the State.”

    The Governor however reiterated his appeal to members of the party in the State to remain calm and maintain peace, making assurances that the anomalies would be corrected and that the ward congress in the State will hold accordingly.

     

  • BBNaija2018: Gov. Okorocha gives N2m, land to Miracle Igbokwe

    BBNaija2018: Gov. Okorocha gives N2m, land to Miracle Igbokwe

    Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday announced a cash gift of N2 million and a plot of land for Miracle Igbokwe, winner of the 2018 edition of the BBNaija reality show.

    Another contestant from the State, Nina Chinonso also got an additional N2million.

    They were said to have promoted the Imo State government’s free education programme during the reality show.

    Okorocha made this known when Miracle and Nina accompanied by Bambam and Teddy A visited him at the Government House Owerri.

    According to him: “We are gathered here to welcome our son who has made us proud. Miracle is our son who went to South Africa for the Big Brother Naija Show. He spoke well of his State and was a good ambassador of his State. For this, we thought, it is proper that we receive him.

    “Usually, our State does not engage in receiving people for outings they have made, unless we consider such an outing that has positive bearing to the image of the State. One thing outstanding is that these two great participants, Miracle and Nina spoke highly of Imo State. They stood tall and proud of their State, in South Africa. This is the reason for the honour and to say welcome back home”.

    In his acceptance speech, Miracle said:” I am excited about our governor because of his educational strides, especially his free education in Imo State. This is a great gift to humanity”.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BiVE_6MBp0-/?taken-by=miracleikechukwu

     

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  • Okorocha can’t stop my ambition – Deputy Gov

    Okorocha can’t stop my ambition – Deputy Gov

    Deputy Governor of Imo, Mr Eze Madumere, said he would pursue his governorship ambition to a logical conclusion in spite of opposition from the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

    In a statement by Mr Uche Onwuchekwa, his Media aide, Madumere said that no amount of opposition from the governor would make him to lose sight of the ambition.

    He said “God is the giver of power and decider of destiny and no man born of a woman can stop my ambition.

    “I think that from the wealth of my experience as a seasoned administrator both in public and private sectors, I am the most qualified to take Imo state to the next level.’’

    Madumere, however, revealed that the “greatest opposition’’ to his ambition was from people he nurtured politically.

    He said he was betrayed by people he brought into politics, but stressed that no level of betrayal or sabotage could stop him from the governorship race.

    Okorocha had some weeks ago announced in the state that his son in-law and current Chief of Staff to him, Mr Uche Nwosu, would succeed him as governor in 2019.

  • Imo 2019: Okorocha’s deputy reacts over endorsement of son-in-law, says ‘Nobody can stop me from becoming governor’

    The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Eze Madumere, has said nobody including his boss, Governor Rochas Okorocha can stop his 2019 governorship ambition.

    Okorocha, who is seriously backing his son-in-law and chief of staff, Uche Nwosu, had told his deputy to forget about his governorship ambition and run for the Senate instead.

    Madumere has, however, disagreed with his boss.

    Nwosu who hails from Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area, which is in the same Imo West Senatorial district where Okorocha hails from — married the governor’s first daughter, Uloma.

    According to a statement by Uche Onwuchekwa, the deputy governor’s media aide, Madumere told some political leaders from the state who paid him a visit that he would pursue his ambition to a logical conclusion.

    The deputy governor explained that as an administrator with many years of experience in both the private and public sectors, he was more qualified to succeed Okorocha.

    The statement said, “The deputy governor once more likened his betrayal from those he managed and nurtured to limelight politically to that of the betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was also betrayed by those he loved and called his friends.

    “He, however, vowed that no man born of a woman could stop his ambition, saying that God remained the ultimate decider of anyone’s future.”

    However, amidst the controversy surrounding Okorocha’s endorsement of his son-in-law for governor, 20 out of the 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly had thrown their weight behind the governor.

    The member for Oguta State constituency, who is also the Director-General of the Uche Nwosu Campaign Organisation, also known as Ugwumba Movement Worldwide, Mr. Henry Ezediaro, told journalists in Owerri that the lawmakers resolved to endorse Nwosu because of their belief in his capacity to sustain the legacies of the All Progressives Congress administration in the state.

    Ezediaro listed the lawmakers who endorsed Nwosu to include the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Ugonna Ozuruigbo (Nwangele State constituency); and a former Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Luguard Osuji (Owerri Municipal).

    “We have resolved to endorse Ugwumba Uche Nwosu because we believe that he is the only person who has the capacity to sustain the legacies of the Rochas Okorocha administration and since we have the constitutional right to impeach the governor, we also have the right to back him,” he said.

    Ezediaro said the resolution to endorse Nwosu was arrived at after the meeting of the House on Thursday, which was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Acho Ihim.

    On the position of the remaining seven members of the House who were not part of the endorsement, Ezediaro said, “We cannot conclude that they are not with us, so let them speak for themselves.”