Imo: Uzodinma Reshuffles Cabinet |The Source

By Chidi Onyewuchi

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, on Tuesday, reshuffled his cabinet.

For weeks, speculations and expectations had been rife that the Governor was all set to effect a major cabinet reshuffle.

Many party members had, for long, been of the view that the Governor did not assemble a first-eleven, but a political-eleven. They appreciated that, saying he needed to compensate those who were with him while he battled to be Governor, as well as those whose rich relations contributed to his campaign, financially.

But seven months later, the impression has been that he needed technocrats and professionals in some Ministries, not politicians.

When he asked his appointees, a couple of weeks ago, to prepare to render accounts, not a few people took it for granted that it was a pointer to a looming cabinet reshuffle.

When he ended up giving them official vehicles, instead, those who were expectant of a looming reshuffle said it was parting gifts.

But many political watchers disagreed. If he wanted to do away with them, they reasoned, he wouldn’t give them official cars, they reasoned.

They were right.

On Tuesday when he, finally, effected the expected reshuffle, it was an anti-climax. It was very minor. To the relief of his cabinet members, nobody was dropped.

Two members switched positions.

Affected was Kingsley Ononuju, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry who switched position with his Special Projects counterpart, Simon Ebegbulam.

For now, all cabinet members have heaved a heavy sigh of relief.