By Chidiebere Iwuoha
The deputy governor of Imo state, Prince Eze Madumere, has been showered with praises for “exhibiting exemplary qualities which have made the Owelle Rochas Okorocha administration have a human face.”
Our correspondent who went round the city of Owerri, the state capital, to know what Imo people feel about the government, especially as the 2015 governorship election approaches, found out that Imo people spoke in unison that Madumere’s leadership qualities, mainly his cool headedness and readiness to serve his boss, Governor Okorocha have culminated in a perfect pairing which if harnessed, would be a threat to be opposition in 2015.
A public opinion analyst, Adindu Ugochukwu, stressed that Madumere “has been a member of the kitchen cabinet of Okorocha and knows him inside out. No other pairing will be as good as that. Others just joined in.”
He warned Okorocha not to do away with his deputy governor if he really wanted to sail through the 2015 turbulent waters as a new entrant on the ticket might spell doom for him by making the water a murky one.
“Of course what happened to him when it was alleged that the impeached Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso wanted to impeach him and take over should remain evergreen in his memory. This, Madumere will never do.”
Also speaking, an old brigade politician, Chief John Iheanacho, who said he had seen it all, from the creation of Imo state in 1976 till date, claimed that at one time or the other those who governed Imo state from 1979 when Chief Sam Mbakwe mounted the leadership rostrum had one issue or the other with their deputies due to the kind of people they chose that represented different interests.
He recalled that Chief Mbakwe at a time had a cold war with his deputy, Prince Uzoigwe, while it was rumoured that Chief Evan Enwerem’s deputy, Dr. Douglas Acholonu, wanted to use his “action activities as action man” to outsmart his boss.
Chief Iheanacho who has a good grasp of history, reminded this reported that towards the end of Chief Achike Udenwa’s tenure between 2005 and 2007, he had a cold war with his deputy, Engr. Ebere Udeagu which eventually led to the latter teaming up with former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, as presidential running mate in another party.
“Sir Ikedi Ohakim also had issues with his deputy, Dr. Ada Okwuonu during their first tenure from 2007 to 2011 and decided to change her for Prof Viola Onwuliri, current Minister for State (1) for Foreign Affairs, but that the pairing could not produce a winning streak as they lost to Okorocha in 2011.
He advised Okorocha to make use of Madumere whom “he knows his track records like he knows the lines of his palm to ensure a successful come back in 2015 if he really wanted re-election as any last minute change might prove disastrous for him, as the opposition are on the prowl.”
