Category: Frontpage

The election of Executive of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers has come and gone but not without elements of intrigues that shaped the outcome.

Trumpeta stumbled into how the election was contested, lost and won by the interested parties. Top sources involved in shaping the flow of event at the election venue indicated that some superior forces waded in to coerce and induce the delegates to sway votes in favour of certain candidates especially the eventual winner, Eze Sam Ohiri who emerged Chairman.

Despite pre-election ratings which saw Eze Chidume Okoro and Ohanweh gaining popularity as sure bets, Ohiri later turned the tables and predictions, and won.

It was however gathered that some top officials of government with vested interest in the affairs of the present administration waded in to save Ohiri from losing out.

This newspaper gathered on good authority that instead of working under a new Eze Imo who may be a hard nut to crack or learn how to work with the Rescue Mission government, especially in an election year, Government House, Owerri preferred to continue with Ohiri who has been a great ally of the Okorocha administration.

Information has it that despite the travails of Traditional Rulers in the State, Eze Ohiri never lamented or complained against the State government, thereby granting him favours to be given a second tenure ticket.

Trumpeta was also informed that a top government official with enormous influence in Orlu zone gathered all the monarchs in the zone to ensure their votes are for Ohiri. Though, money was said to have exchanged hands, the delegates were under intense pressure to vote for Ohiri.

The political structure of the Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Chief Uche Nwosu is ailing with some of his trusted dumping him for another frontline contender for the governorship of the state come 2019.

Though, Nwosu who is son in law to the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is yet to make his desire open about governorship race, feelers in the state have it that he is the anointed candidate to get the backing of the incumbent as successor.

In this regard, a structure known as Ugwumba Movement has emerged said to be a political structure to propagate the interest of the Nkwerre LGA born government official.

Latest reports have it that his soul-mates in the field of politics are gradually pulling out from his side thereby sending bad signals of doomsday ahead 2019.

Latest information from the camp of the Rescue Mission where Nwosu bestrides as an authority has it that barely 24 hours after the reported departure of a former appointee of Governor Okorocha on ICT and Social Media, IK Ogbonna, another ally of Nwosu, names withheld has reportedly called it quits with the camp of the COS.

Ogbonna, though from Abia State has been a notable associate of Nwosu from their days at the Imo State University where they graduated, only the Chief of Staff was said to have facilitated his appointment as an aide in 2012.

It was learnt that based on old acquaintance Nwosu has with some alumnus of IMSU, he facilitated the appointment of the likes of Ogbonna who became an arch supporter and sympathizer of the Rescue Mission until recently when he was dropped.

With preparations for next year election taking shape, Ogbonna, a household name believed to have been in charge of the social media arm of Nwosu and Okorocha’s  stay in office have jettisoned them for a new group. Trumpeta learnt that he has pitched tenth with another APC chieftain, Senator Araraume, rumoured to be interested in becoming the next governor of the state.

In a similar action, a political activists and one of the strong men of APC politics in the state, whose name is shrouded in secrecy to avoid victimization has joined the Araraume/Izunaso line up. The said before turning his back on Nwosu was said to be a close confidant and supporter of the governor’s in law for over two decades.

Our newspaper further gathered that other appointees and associates milking Nwosu and Okorocha dry at the moment, but set to dump them for other aspirants are many. The development is also rumoured to be worrying Nwosu as the attitude of his once trusted allies is a bad omen to the plans of Ugwumba Movement transforming into a political structure for 2019 governorship.

Further disclosure has it that most of the LGA party Chairmen are thinking about Araraume by engaging in private meetings with Destiny Organization officials.

Irked by this, Trumpeta was informed that officials of Rescue Mission are targeting some of the Araraume new converts for either suspension or complete removal as an office holder of the party.

After the controversial attempt to remove the APC LGA chairman of Ohaji/ Egbema, Rev Emma Ebomuche, there are fresh attempts to pass vote of no confidence on the party chairman of Oguta, Casmir Ohamara. Their offence is dumping the Rescue Mission for Araraume.

Part of the highlights of the tours embarked by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State round the twenty-seven council areas of the state sensitizing the people on the importance of identifying with APGA, is the early warning signal fired at the ruling party, APC and governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
While contending that APGA is the only political party that can guarantee their welfare and engender rapid economic development in the state, the National Chairman of the party, Ozonkpu (Dr.) Victor Ike Oye, has assured the party faithful that there will be landslide victories for the party in the state come 2019 as Okorocha will quit and has no chance to install a successor.

Speaking in Nkwerre during the rally, Dr. Oye said the other major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria have organized themselves in different political parties which are endogenous to them and lamented that political disunity subsists still among the Igbo, a situation he said will certainly end in 2019 with APGA winning the entire states of the South East, including Nassarawa. He revealed that the menace of the Fulani herdsmen, marginalization and other injustices wrought on the Igbo in Nigeria will become history under the watch of APGA, even as he averred that the electoral miracles of APGA in Anambra State will be replicated in Imo State.

In his words, “When we were preparing for the Anambra governorship election, clouds of apprehension were gathering. People were jittery, crying out for direction. They feared that Governor Willie Obiano would be unseated. But I assured them that it would never be possible.

“Twenty-four hours to that election, all the powers from the pit of hell collapsed. I told the Governor one year to the election that his victory would be landslide, and all those opponents would be seen no more by November 18. On that day they all collapsed. It was only God that could have done that, giving us victory in the twenty-one LGAs. Then again, we went to the polls for the Anambra Central senatorial election and won in all the seven LGAs, even winning in all the 1,615 polling units. It has never happened in the history of this country. Only God could have done it. Go and write this down: Douglas House Owerri is already taken by APGA,” the APGA Chairman asserted.

He promised all those aspiring to various offices on the platform of the party in Imo State that there will be credible and transparent primaries to choose the candidates.

Speaking earlier, the Imo State Chairman of APGA, Barr. Peter Ezeobi, explained that the objective of the sensitization tours is to raise awareness about what APGA stands for and boost the membership of the party in the grassroots. Many chieftains of the party in the state were present.

The Leader of All Progressive Congress APC Imo State, and the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has inadvertently ignited a burning fire in Okigwe Senatorial zone, by openly adopting his Commissioner for Information, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri, as the fellow to pick the ticket of the APC to return for the Okigwe Senatorial Seat come 2019.

The latest adoption by the Imo APC Leader, which has gone viral, has set the party in the zone on fire, as members believe that by picking out one individual among his legion of Aides, the leader of the party has created bad blood among other loyal members who may be eyeing the same position with Prof Obiaraeri.

One of those highly disappointed with the open adoption of Obiaraeri by Okorocha, is Rt Hon Acho Ihim, the present Speaker of Imo House of Assembly.

Although Okorocha was alleged to have promised Acho Ihim that he may hand over to him in 2019 as he departs Imo Government House but that promise looks a mirage, with the trend of events unfolding in Imo State now as regards Okorocha’s successor.

Sources close to the Speaker told this Newspaper that Acho Ihim had seen the Senatorial seat as the next option if he fails to clinch Okorocha’s promise, but now, even without sounding him out, Okorocha has gone ahead to announce that Obiaraeri should warm up for the Senate race.

Under this circumstance, Acho Ihim is said to be confused on his next step, as he may resolve to slug it out with Obiaraeri in the APC primaries, since he cannot just go home empty handed, after being used by Okorocha to execute some impeachable offences, yet he covered the Governor.

Again, Okigwe APC leaders who spoke to Trumpeta hinted that Okorocha’s open adoption of Obiaraeri could set up a crisis, since many will see the action as favouring some Aides above others.

Unfortunately for Acho Ihim, even if he decides to make do with Okigwe Assembly seat for a third term, it would not be possible since Okorocha had also anointed Hon Emeka Okoronkwo to take over from Acho Ihim in 2019 as Okigwe Assembly man.

However, political observers believe that Okorocha projected Obiaraeri’s name now because he wants to use the man called Agunaechemba and fight the incumbent Okigwe zone Senator, Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu, who after he arrived the Senate through Okorocha jettisoned Okorocha’s camp and teamed up with Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who is bent on contesting the APC Governorship primary as against Okorocha’s advise that Araraume should bury his Governorship ambition.

Pundits say that Obiaraeri is a willing Horse to be used by Okorocha to challenge Uwajumogu, as Obiaraeri had nursed the ambition to either be a Federal House member or Senator.

It was learnt that one of the reasons Obiaraeri dumped Gov Ikedi Ohakim in 2015 election for Araraume’s camp was that Ohakim denied him Senatorial ticket.

However, after joining Okorocha through Araraume’s camp, Obiaraeri has since thrown away Araraume and stock with Okorocha with the belief that his elusive electoral office may happen this time in 2019, under the supervision of his newest leader, Okorocha.

Meanwhile, Acho Ihim’s camp in Okigwe zone APC is not happy that their Boss, who is more well-placed as the Speaker to run for the Senate seat, just like Uwajumogu did in 2015, will lose out completely with Obiaraeri assuming the position of Okorocha’s latest political bride in Okigwe zone politics now.

By Okey Alozie

The long awaited election among Imo Traditional Rulers on who the Number Monarch in Imo has come and gone on Thursday 17^th of January 2018 in Owerri Imo State.

At the end of the exercise 81 delegates voted for the 3 top contenders of the chairmanship position of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers otherwise known as Eze Imo.

The returning officer Rev Father Professor Jerome called out the 3 contenders and warned against any irregularity in the election. Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri scored 59 votes to retain his position as Eze Imo.

Eze Chidume Okoro came second with 19 votes while Eze Oliver Ohanwe who got disappointed by the delegates got only 3 votes.

Father Jerome declared Ohiri the winner and jubilation was everywhere at the Eze’s Imo Palace.

Eze Ohiri thanked the delegates for voting him back to power and promised to do better this time around.

Chidume Okoro initially complained of intimidation and harassment of the delegates. Eze Ohanwe who got disappointed in the whole arrangement cried out on imposition and fraud which he said marred the election.

According to him some Monarchs were locked up at the Eze Imo Palace coupled with money which exchanged hands to loyal Traditional Rulers to vote against their wish.

He further disclosed that there was no vacant in the first place since Eze Ohiri refused to leave the Eze Imo Seat.

He also revealed that the Eze Imo position is not supposed to be a do or die affair, adding that to whom much is given much is also expected.

Other aggrieved Ezes who spoke to our reporter at the election ground complained that the process of the election was designed for Eze Ohiri to come back to power. “Eze Imo election should not be a forum for bribery and corruption” concerned Ezes lamented. Speaking further the aggrieved Eze’s explained that it would have been better for governor Okorocha to reappoint Ohiri back as Eze Imo rather than asking them to go for an election that will not be free and fair.

Trumpeta observed that the security was very tight during the election.

Yesterday, some part of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere’s official resident was gutted by fire.

The fire incident which is suspected to have been triggered off by nearby inferno in the bush, which eventually spread to the visitors waiting hall razing down the entire building, one of the Press Crew buses stationed within the premises and other valuables estimated to worth millions of naira.

The raging inferno would have spread to the main building but for the quick intervention of security attachés that were later joined by the men of fire service who promptly helped to bring the incidence under control.

The Deputy Governor called for further investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident so as to prevent future occurrence.

Prince Eze Madumere who is away on official assignment regrets the ugly incident and however expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost.

 

The race for who becomes the Senator of Okigwe Zone in 2019 especially the quest for who picks the ticket of APC will interesting if unfolding events are anything to go by.

In the last count, a notable son of the zone and serving Commissioner believed to be enjoying the support of governor Rochas Okorocha has received enormous backing to run for Senate.

Meanwhile, the position is held by Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu of the APC, said to be a member of the Senator Ifeanyi Araraume group in the party.

While Obiareri who is the present Commissioner for Information has received endorsements from the governor to run for Senate, Uwajumogu no doubt will be asking for another mandate to return to Senate.

At a recent public function at the home of Obiareri, a law teacher turned politician, there was another round of massive endorsement granted to him by people of Okigwe Zone. The group comprising followers of Okorocha increased the support he has received from the governor to run.

The endorsement which is an offshoot of an earlier one by Okorocha has set the stage for the clash of the Titans in the zone.

Interestingly, the since Obiareri and Uwajumogu are of the APC family, the battle for who picks the party ticket will be fierce considering   that while Okorocha is behind Obiareri, Uwajumogu is receiving support from Araraume. The battle is also going to be intense in the zone considering the heightened rivalry between the two camps in Imo APC and the zone. While the governor who is from Orlu zone is taking the supremacy battle to Okigwe Zone where Araraume is from for a showdown, Araraume is expected to offer a resistance and claim superiority in his area.

Already, Uwajumogu who is smelling the threat has also gone further to strengthen his political fortress by meeting with the president, Muhammadu Buhari who is said to be enjoying warm relationship with him.

The development has further polarized the APC at all levels in the zone indicating that a tough war lies ahead in the zone.

1. There shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers and/or other technological devices, as INEC may introduce for elections from time to time.
2. Presiding Officers must now instantly transmit accreditation data and results from Polling Units to various collation centers. Presiding officer who contravene this shall be imprisoned for at least 5 years (no option of fine).
3. All Presiding Officer must now first record accreditation data and polling results on INEC’s prescribed forms before transmitting them. The data/result recorded must be the same with what they transmitted.
4. INEC now has unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting.
5. Besides manual registers, INEC is now mandated to keep Electronic registers of voters.
6. INEC is now mandated to publish voters’ registers on its official website(s) for public scrutiny at least 30 days before a general election and any INEC staff who is responsible for this but fails to act as prescribed shall be liable on conviction to 6 months’ imprisonment.
7. INEC is now mandated to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by INEC.
8. Collation of election result is now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis.
9. INEC is now mandated to record details of electoral materials – quantities, serial numbers used to conduct elections (for proper tracking).
10. A political party whose candidate dies after commencement of an election and before the declaration of the result of that election now has a 14-day window to conduct a fresh primary election.

 

 

By Okey Alozie.

More trouble seems to be on the way for non Rescue Mission members in All Progressive Congress (APC) Imo State chapter as Governor Rochas Okorocha has created over 300 vacancies for politicians loyal to him to occupy with immediate effect.

The picture of what the Governor intends to do in 2019 became clearer to Imolites Tuesday 16^th of January 2018 at International Conference Centre Owerri when he addressed Stakeholders of the 27 local government areas of the State on the way forward for APC in 2019 General election and beyond.

He started by telling the party faithful that this year is full of great expectations to those that believe in him, adding that there are many challenges that he must solve this year for him to consolidate power starting from security and reorganization of the party from the Ward level, Local Government, to State.

According to him only his tribe and lineage must be in the strategic positions for things to work well for him and Imolites.

In his words, “election is now before us; peace must be made at all cost. We have to strategize for our tribe only to remain in power and continue for a very long time both in the State and the National”. Okorocha hinted.

He submitted that those who kill, steal and destroy are devilish and can never be member of his tribe. He further condemned oath-taking which is being administered by a particular political group in APC and asked those that take part in such act to turn a new leaf before they meet their destruction soon.

The Governor also revealed that the mock primaries in APC will start any moment from now for his tribe to bring out the best candidates that will bear the flag of APC in all the elections in Imo, adding that all the aspirants must go for political endorsement from 16 leaders from each Local Government Area of the State.

He disclosed that Ward Executives, CGC members, LGA party Chairmen and other party leaders must give clearance before any aspirant will be generally accepted in the party.

He also disclosed that his political lineage in Imo has chosen President Mohammadu Buhari as President in 2019. “A vote for Buhari is a vote that will make him President in 2019.

He announced that Mr. President will visit Imo to commission a lot of projects in March and after that visit a lot of things will be unveiled. Okoro boasted, “Nobody can wrestle power out of the rescue mission group” Okorocha said.

 

More troubles seem to be on the way for embattled Eze Samuel Ohiri of Obi-Orodo Autonomous Community as election for the new Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze draws nearer. This is as Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and erstwhile Chairman of Ndi-Eze in Imo State, HRM Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanyana, has restated that he will ensure Eze Ohiri goes to prison for impersonating to be Chairman of Ndi-Eze in Imo State.

Already, Eze Ilomuanya, through his counsel, Obiora Obianwu, SAN, is leaving nothing to chance in his N500 million suit against Ohiri “for arrogating to himself the office of the Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers”. According to Eze Ilomuanya, all the period Ohiri was foisted on traditional rulers in Imo State amounted to gross illegality and usurpation of my office. I have several court judgments to buttress the current Suit How/360/2012 against Ohiri. Illegality cannot beget legality”

In the N500 million suit which is still pending at an Owerri High Court, Eze Ilomuanya is praying the court to “declare that all acts and actions carried out by Ohiri purportedly as Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers are null and void and of no effect”. He is also seeking amongst other reliefs, “an injunction restraining Ohiri from parading himself as Chairman of the Council, an order for Ohiri to vacate and surrender all properties of the Council in his possession as well as N500 million as damages”.

To prove his determination to jail Ohiri, Eze Ilomuanya is reported to have re-activated the contempt of court proceeding against Ohiri. In a “Notice of consequence of Disobedience To Court Order” otherwise known in judicial circles as Form 48, earlier issued to Ohiri and dated September 10, 2013, Ohiri was advised to comply with the appellate court’s judgment of July 5, 2013, which affirmed Eze Ilomuanya as Chairman of Ndi-Eze in Imo State.

The document states “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court will be liable to be committed to prison” Why Eze Ilomuanya chose now to re-commence the contempt of court proceeding against Ohiri, according to reports, could be attributed to his desire to draw his own pound of flesh against the embattled Eze Ohiri of Obi-Orodo Community. Ohiri was alleged to have done everything possible to humiliate Eze Ilomuanya when the Obinugwu Monarch’s imbroglio with Governor Rochas Okorocha started in 2011 following the governor’s dissolution of the Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze under Eze Ilomuanya’s Chairmanship

Trumpeta learnt that the matter came up in Court 3 on Monday where the Presiding Judge, Justice Ikpeama is in charge.

The matter took a dramatic turn shortly after justice Ikpeama of High Court B called up the case for hearing and the legal counsel to the claimant, Barr Obigwu (SAN) served the state counsel a form 18 pre-trial conference form and the state counsel pleaded for time to allow them study the form and respond.

Justice Ikpeama relying on the argument of Ilomuanya’s counsel adjourned the matter for hearing on the suit till 18^th April, 2018.

Trumpeta was informed that Ilomuanya was first dragged to court before the Imo State governor and the Attorney General of the State obtained a motion to join as Defendants which the Ilomuanya team did not hesitate to allow them be part of the case.

Ahead of the January 18. Election to select the chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and other officials, opposition has mounted against the return of the incumbent, Eze Sam Ohiri.

Apart from other top class monarchs showing interest to be the number one royal father in Imo State, thereby displacing Ohiri, Orodo, from second term mandate, the Obi of Orodo has been leveled with several allegations since he came into office in 2011.

It would be recalled that on assumption of office as the governor in 2011, Okorocha sacked Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and enthroned Ohiri as the new chairman of Ndi Eze. Trumpeta learnt that all is not well with the leadership of Ndi Eze council with several accusations dropped at the door steps of the chairman.

Further information has it that reasons behind the upsurge against another term for Ohiri is as a result of ill feelings of other monarchs in the state who are craving for change of baton at the top.

Trumpeta was informed that the manner deduction of money from the monthly salaries of the Ezes in the past three years leaves a question mark that has raised agitation among royal fathers in the state. Some Ezes are worried who is in the custody of over N360, 000 allegedly deducted from the monthly salaries of each living member of the council. The ratio is that with about 570 alive in the various autonomous communities, a whooping N205m may have been realized. With N1m per one Eze, invariably 205 Ezes must have died in the state in the past three years indicating that the excess amount is somewhere. The disturbing trend is where is the monies deducted kept?

While calling for a background check on all the contestants running for the top position as unconfirmed reports have it within the circle of the monarchs that the past of some contestants are not palatable to stand for election considering their past, Trumpeta was informed that there is serious uneasy calm and suspicion in the Eze’s council following reports about the disappearance of a huge sum of money in form of cheques belonging to incapacitated Ezes, kidnapped ones and others unverified for certain reasons. Reports that the cheques said to be about N15m were returned to the Govt House, by Ohiri’s office, is breeding suspicion and allegation that the office of the governor or appropriate office in charge in the state government is yet to receive it.

Further to the reasons behind the anti Ohiri stance among majority of Ezes in the state arises from the manner the chieftaincy installations of South Africa President, Jacob Zuma and that of his Liberia counterpart, Mr Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf were conducted. There were feelers that the “appreciation extended to the royal fathers” in support of the goodwill was not felt by all monarchs in state thereby fuelling another round suspicion and accusations. The monarchs kicking against Ohiri’s return want the incumbent to give account of the total money said to be about N1.4bn made available to the council in the last seven years at an average of N200 per annum, even as there were complaints that his deputies were not in the picture of how the council operated. Accusations were rife that meetings of the principal officers of the council to discuss affairs of Ndi Eze Imo were not witnessed.

The monarchs are worried that while reasons behind removing Ilomuanya was as a result of his second term after five years in office, those opposed to Ohiri said that the incumbent shouldn’t return after spending seven years in office.

In a related event, more interesting developments are trailing the contest scheduled for Thursday this week.

A reliable source revealed that Okorocha through his recent body language is craving for a free and fair contest by giving each of the aspirants a level playing ground to seek for the chairmanship of Ndi Eze.

Trumpeta was informed that despite pressures mounted to the governor to stop Ohiri’s challengers; Eze Chidume Okoro and Ohanweh, Okorocha is unperturbed about the complaints.

It was gathered that a protest had gone to Okorocha to bar the two Ezes for submitting their forms late, a complaint the governor knocked out for lacking in merit.

Efforts to reach Eze Ohiri for reactions on the allegations proved abortive but his media aide, Gift Nwokoro when contacted promised to call back with a which he did not do as at the time of going to press claiming he was in a meeting.