Political observers variously interpret Governor Rochas Okorocha’s recent sack of three principal members of his cabinet. Chidiebere Iwuoha reports
Recently, Imo people woke up to learn that the Commissioner of Information and Tourism, Dr Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, Principal Officer to the Governor on Imo Orientation and SA on Documentation, Dr Kelechi Okpaleke and the Transition Committee Chairman of Ikeduru LGA, Dr Obinna Nshirim have been sacked by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. No official reasons were given for their sack, but several reasons have been suggested by some political observers who were taken aback by the Governor’s action.
Initial insinuation:
When the news of the sack of the“ three muskeeters” filtered in, many political observers believed that it was because of their physical presence at the commissioning ceremony of a radio station “My FM” owned by former SA to the Governor on Entertainment, Uche Ogbuagu who is now an arch-enemy of Governor Okorocha, which took place at his home town, Akabo, Ikeduru LGA. There, it was alleged that every effort was made by the chairman himself, Uche Ogbuagu to dress down the Governor in his own way, being a master in the art of talking or comedy to which other politicians were engrossed in laughter and also joined in the abuse. This insinuation was more believable because Ajumbe himself is from the Local Government Council just like Nshirim who happens to be a long time TC Chairman of the area. While Okpaleke, an indigene of Onuimo LGA is a close pal of Ajumbe and worked together in their PDP days. Okpaleke was also Commissioner for Information under immediate past Governor,Ohakim. Immediately after Uche Ogbuagu fell out with Okorocha, he joined PDP and even played a key role in Ifeanyi Ubah’s Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) which campaigned vigourously for ex-president Jonathan. Three of them were staunch members of the PDP stock. So, their sympathy with Uche Ogbuagu should not have been a surprise if it was the reason for their sack.
Alleged posting of their criticisms of Okorocha in the social media:
It was also alleged that prior to their appointments by Okorocha, these gentlemen criticized the governor and his leadership style, especially some months after the 2011 governorship election which brought in the Governor. But towards the end of the Governor’s first tenure as the 2015 election was fast approaching, they switched over to the governor’s camp and gave him full support, having envisaged the fall of PDP at the state level. So, when some people in PDP discovered of recent that the gentlemen were becoming powerful in Okorocha’s government , they decided to pull them down by posting their former criticisms on Okorocha on social media. A source said that when the Governor saw them, he was shocked to his bone marrow.
He was then advised to relieve them of their positions, especially, Ajumbe who had consistently criticized the governor for going for projects that would not impact positively on the masses and would leave the state with so many uncompleted projects at the end of his tenure which would put his successor in a state of jeopardy. One of the media aides of PDP in the state boasted in the presence of this writer that he was instrumental to the posting and asked anybody who cared to know to come and be briefed on the issue as he was the one that sacked them, especially Ajumbe who was Sir Ikedi Ohakim’s Director of campaign during the 2015 PDP Governorship primary. It would be recalled that immediately Ohakim and Ajumbe failed to get the mandate of Imo PDP which was eventually given to Chief Emeka Ihedioha, they allegedly fought and parted `ways. It was that situation that Okorocha cashed in on and lured Ajumbe to his side and promised him juicy positions if he won his second term bid.
Alleged release on governor’s resolve to conduct LGA polls in January:
It was also alleged that Ajumbe issued a release that the Governor would conduct the long awaited local government polls in January, 2017, an issue the Governor did not take lightly since it did not come from him, a source said. The governor had been in control of the local government funds since he came on board in 2011 and had not made any serious move to conduct it. He had often cited court injunctions restraining him from conducting it, arising from his legal battle with former Executive Chairmen whom he sacked on assumption of office. It should also be noted that Ajumbe had during the period of Okorocha’s death rumour issued a release that Okorocha travelled out on economic mission, whereas the governor himself said he went to see his daughter who gave birth to another grandson of his, a statement that showed political observers that they were not working in synergy.
Ajumbe’s soft spot for Imo NUJ Leadership during crisis with state correspondents:
Another insinuation in some quarters is that the ex-Commissioner for Information had soft spot for the leadership of Imo NUJ led by Sir Innocent Igwe as Chairman and Chris Akaronye as Vice Chairman because they are all from the same Local Government Area, Ikeduru. It was alleged that some correspondents secretly met the Governor and told him to redeploy him because he was using nepotism to fuel the crisis. It is interesting to know that the sack news came a day after the Governor personally resolved the crisis at his Spibat residence. The ex-commissioner never got a signal that he was going to be sacked the next day as he was busy exchanging pleasantries with journalists and other political appointees on the eve of the fateful day.
Reaction from a Political detractor:
One of Ajumbe’s political enemies who may not have been favoured in one way or the other by him, sounded differently when he got the news of his sack. He said when he heard that Ajumbe had been sent to the Information Ministry from the Ministry of Internal Resources, he knew that his days in the State Exco were numbered. According to him, the governor had discovered how he was plundering the internal resources and decided to send him to Information where he would not see much. “ From there, he would eventually meet his waterloo. I did say it and it has happened. Am I not a prophet now?”
Ajumbe’s response:
Several efforts to meet Ajumbe for his own side of the story, were futile. However, he spoke to this reporter on phone. He said he had no ill-feelings against Governor Okorocha and that there was no reason given for his sack. He further said that the governor assured him that he would work out something bigger for him in future. He thanked the governor for the opportunity given to him to serve and has never seized appearing in the governor’s functions since that time.
