Controversy and confusion have taken the front burner over the sudden exit of Chief Charles Orie from one of the Imo State Government high profile jobs. The questions are: Did he resign on his own? Or, did he exit at the expiration of his tenure?
Orie, until his exit from office, was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Imo State Oil Producing Communities Development Commission, ISOPADEC. He was also a friend and strong political ally of the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma. So close are the two that when the Governor dissolved his Cabinet at the beginning of his second term in office, he directed everybody, including the Secretary to the State Government and his (Governor’s) Chief of Staff to hand over their official vehicles to Chief Orie. That was when those who didn’t quite appreciate how strong the relationship between Uzodinma and Orie paused to appreciate it.
It was, therefore, a huge surprise to Imo political watchers when a letter dated August 17, 2024, addressed to the Governor by Orie, said he was resigning from ISOPADEC with immediate effect. Indeed, it was the same surprise that greeted Orie’s appointment to that office by the Governor.
Titled Letter of Resignation, Orie began: “I am writing to formally resign as the Managing Director/CEO of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), effective immediately.”
He followed that opening paragraph by showering gratitude and appreciation to the Governor for finding him worthy of the appointment. He then praised the Governor for his leadership, the unprecedented developments in the State since his tenure as Governor and reassured of his preparedness to work with the Governor, at all times for the progress of the State.
What followed next was his reason for resigning. He said he resigned to pursue his political future against 2027. That is the year of Nigeria’s next General Election – February for Presidency and National Assembly. March for Governoship and State Assemblies. And the inauguration for May 29. However, for Imo State, the Governorship Election will be in November 2027 and the inauguration of the new Governor, January 15, 2028. It is an off season/circle election.
So, which of the offices is Orie eyeing, and why would he resign from his high profile office for an election that is three years away? And with immediate effect?
Why did he not give notice if he, indeed, decided to quit on his own?
Orie: “After thorough contemplation and heartfelt prayer, I have decided to resign from my position to focus on preparing for my political aspirations in the 2027 elections.”
A number of people, since Orie’s resignation, are of the opinion that, perhaps, Orie is eyeing the Governorship seat. However, he is a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling Party in the State whose leader Governor Uzodinma is. The Governor had since said openly, assured and reassured that based on the Imo Charter of Equity which he revived just before the election for his second term in office, his successor would come from Owerri Zone. Chief Orie is from Orlu Zone, same Zone as the Governor which has held that office for 20 years and counting. So?
However, the State Government has faulted Orie’s claim of resignation from office. In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, put a lie to Orie’s claims. He said Orie didn’t resign, but that having served out his tenure, the Governor did not grant him a second tenure in office.
Emelumba: “That information (resignation) is false and misleading. Chief Charles Orie’s tenure as chairman of the Commission had long expired, and His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State did not renew it.”
Following the Government’s full statement:
Charles Orie didn’t resign as ISOPADEC M.D. – Imo Govt
“The attention of the Imo State Government has been drawn to news circulating in the media space that the erstwhile Chairman of Imo State Oil Producing Communities Development Commission (ISOPADEC) resigned from his position.
“That information is false and misleading. Chief Charles Orie’s tenure as Chairman of the Commission had long expired, and His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, did not renew it.
“In that regard, he could not have resigned from a non-existent position since his tenure was not renewed.
“While the State Government has no issue with Chief Charles Orie, it is necessary to put the records straight so as not to mislead members of the public.
“The truth of the matter, therefore, is that Chief Charles Orie’s tenure as chairman of ISOPADEC was not renewed. He, therefore, could not have resigned.
“Signed
“Hon Declan Emelumba
Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy”
Chief Orie, a businessman from the Oil Producing Zone of Imo State’s Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area, entered national consciousness during the scandalous “Otokoto” incident in Imo State. Anger rose to high heavens over the beheading of a teenage boy groundnut/banana hawker at the once popular Otokoto Hotel. His body was recovered in a shallow grave within the the now defunct hotel. A number of houses belonging to some businessmen in the State was torched. Orie’s mansion was victim of that mob anger and action, an action he lamented, and strongly proclaimed his innocence of any such criminal act, and attributed his fate to jealousy.
Orie was once engaged to former Beauty Queen, Regina Askia. The relationship, afterall, for whatever reasons, did not materialise to marriage.
Both have since married other partners.
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