From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Former Imo state Governor and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, may have suffered a big blow in his supremacy battle and control of Imo APC structure with Governor Hope Uzodimma, as his political aides and associates on Monday dumped him to pledge loyalty to the Governor and his own APC faction in the state
This is even as the APC National Caretaker Committee had last week inaugurated the Governor Abubakar Badaru led committee to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party in Imo state
The move by Okorocha’s former aides, which included the former Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, former Secretary to State Government, George Ezenna Echelon, former chairman if Imo APC, Hillary Ekeh, some of his Commissioners, as well as leading APC stakeholders during his administration has given indication that the State Congress of the All Progressive Congress (APC) will soon take place in an environment where all party members will be carried along.
Governor Uzodimma and his kitchen cabinet members expressed their joy as he received in audience the team, with a promise to carry every body along in his government of shared prosperity
The former commissioners and appointees said that they have resolved to give Governor Uzodimma all the necessary support he needs to succeed, including the effort he is making to ensure that the APC is made a strong and united party in Imo State and by extension, the entire South East States.
Governor Uzodimma said the APC State Congress will take place in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and bickering, even as he reiterated his resolve to build the Party as a strong and united one.
The governor emphasized that APC members in the State should put the past behind them and focus on politics that takes care of today, yesterday and tomorrow.
According to him “with effective, united, strong and viral APC in Imo State there is the tendency for APC to spread and capture power in the South East by being in power not only in Imo State but in the other four States of the Zone,” he assured
Earlier, leader of the team, and former Commissioner for Petroleum, Chief Jones Uzoka, said they came to pledge their unalloyed support to Governor Uzodimma’s administration and to support the Governor in his efforts to rebuild the party and avoid factionalisation.
In a speech to welcome the guests, the Chairman of APC in Imo State, Chief Marcellus Nlemigbo told them that they are APC members and that they have renewed their membership by coming to the Government House and so entitled to all rights and privileges of members of the APC.
