Uzodinma To Buhari: “Okorocha Should Know That I Am The Governor” |The Source

By Gideon Njoku

From the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, emanates a simple, but strong message to the former Governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha. “Okorocha should Know I am the Governor.”

Meaning: No ship has two captains.

Governor Uzodinma subtly dropped the message while on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa.

The Governor and Okorocha have had a long running political battle since the Governorship Primary of the Party – APC

Okorocha, the then incumbent Governor, had backed his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him in office. He gave it his all.

Nwosu was Okorocha’s Chief of Staff.

But Uzodinma, backed by almost every who-is-who in the state APC, and at the National level,  snatched victory from Okorocha/Nwosu, after a bitter campaign.

His victory forced Nwosu to defect to the Action Alliance, AA, a party, allegedly, founded and funded by his father-in-law, for Plan B.

During the 2019 Governorship election, INEC declared the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha winner, but the victory was annulled, seven-months later, by the Supreme Court. Uzodinma was declared the duly elected Governor.

Having also fought Ihedioha bitterly, both Okorocha and Nwosu quickly embraced Uzodinma, cleanly forgetting all the dirty mud thrown at him during the campaigns.

They pledged support.

And were seen tagging along with him, to the apprehension of many wary Imolites.

But the support, unknown to many, as was recently confirmed by Governor Uzodinma at a stakeholders’ meeting, came with a caveat. “Protect us from investigation”, Uzodinma was told.

When Ihedioha was in office, he had set up a couple of probe panels, based on popular requests, to look into a number of affairs in the state, spanning the eight years of Okorocha’s tenure in office.

When Uzodinma took over from Ihedioha, he surprised not a few people, by retaining the panels. He refused to dissolve them, insisting they were for the good of the state, and that he would run foul of the people if he does that.

According to the Governor, Okorocha  personally asked him. He wouldn’t give in.

He also asked Uzodinma to allow his choice of the Party’s state Chaiman Mr Daniel Nwafor, to be in charge, instead of Marcel Nlemigbo.  But Uzodinma wouldn’t give in.

These have brought tension between both of them.

A couple of weeks ago, the Governor told Imo stakeholders that the problems he is having with Okorocha stem from the non-dissolution of the probe panels, and not abandoning Nlemigbo. I refused to oblige him, the Governor said.

At the Villa, Uzodinma made light of the situation, but stood his ground.

He said he had no problems with the former Governor, but insisted Okorocha needs to know who is in charge.

”I have  no problems with Okorocha, but he needs to know I am the Governor”, he said.