BY DAMOLA EMMANUEL
Imo State citizens woke up Wednesday to witness an unexpected tsunami, as Governor Rochas Okorocha sacked the topmost echelon of his administration, including his son-in-law and incumbent Chief of Staff, Mr. Uche Nwosu.
Okorocha had, earlier in the year, stirred the hornet’s nest by announcing his preference for Nwosu to succeed him when his tenure expires next May. Since then, Okorocha has come under heavy attacks from within and outside his party for exhibiting flagrant nepotism on the race to 2019.
Also affected in Wednesday’s purge are George Eche, secretary to the state government, Kingsley Uju, deputy chief of staff, and Paschal Obi, the governor’s principal secretary.
Others casualties claimed by the tsunami included: Emma Ojinero, Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Commerce, Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri, Commissioner for Information, Ngozi Njoku, Commissioner for Gender and Social Development.
Other victims are Joy Mbawuike, Commissioner for Market Development, Obinna Mbata, Commissioner for Finance, Dan Nworie, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Simeon Iwunze, Special Adviser, Urban Renewal, Obinna Amagwula, Special Assistant, General Duties, as well as Betty Uzoma, Special Assistant Finance .
Governor Okorocha explained, through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, that those affected by the purge were contesting elective positions on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC; and that the sack was to help them prepare well for their party’s primaries.
All the sacked appointees are solidly backed by Governor Okorocha, with one exception- George Eche, secretary to the state government,
who defied the governor’s instruction to contest the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala House of Representatives seat and decided to vie for the APC governorship ticket.