Okorocha Sacks Six Commissioners With Political Ambition

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Ignatius Okpara, Owerri

Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has sacked six of his Commissioners that have shown interest to vie for various elective positions in the state ahead of the 2015 general elections.

AFRICAN EXAMINER gathered that the affected government officials include, the Commissioner for Industry and Non-Formal Sector, Mrs. Ugochi Nnannah-Okoro, Commissioner For Internal Resources and Pension Matters, Mr. Nick Oparandudu. The trio are aspiring for the Imo East Senatorial District (Owerri Zone).

Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha

Others are, Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and Commissioner for information, Dr. Theodore Ekechi, who are eying the lower legislative house. The Commissioner for Public Utility, Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, and his counterpart in Primary, Secondary and non-Formal Education Ministry, Dr. Uche Ejiogu, are aspiring for seats in the state’s House of Assembly.

In a press statement signed by the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Pascal Obi, and which was made available to newsmen in Owerri, the state capital later Tuesday, Governor Okorocha directed the affected Commissioners to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their respective Ministries on or before the close of work on Friday, September 19, 2014.

The Governor thanked them for their services and commitment to the rescue mission of his administration and wished them well in their future political pursuit.

Meanwhile, our Correspondent gathered that before the Commissioners were asked to go, the governor, had informed them last week that he took the decision so as to avoid the sledge hammer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) slammed on them and abide by statutory days allowed for office holders, seeking for elective positions to quit.

Further reasons as advanced by the governor for the relief was to ensure his Rescue Mission adherents have enough chances to strategize well and ensure that the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP) did not wrestle power from the state ruling party – the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015.

Investigations indicated the present development may not be unconnected to the unconfirmed report that the Governor wanted to over haul his executive to usher in new blood to properly face 2015 elections as he is expected to re-contest.

However, a close source to the Imo Government House had it that the in-fighting and mutual suspicion that had characterized the state executive council over the coming 2015 election may have also compelled Okorocha into weeding some unwanted elements from his cabinet.

The source said the distraction caused by political officers who abandon their offices for private politicking is said to be affecting activities in their offices, especially the state’s Ministries.