Battle of supremacy is now raging in Imo State among the top political guns in the state over nominee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, which becomes vacant next month.
Already, each of the gladiators have penciled down his own nominee to the Presidency who takes the final decision on the matter.
The battle is raging among the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Hon Gerald Irona and Hon Goodluck Opiah.
Sources told Imo Trumpeta that, Ohakim, Ihedioha, Uzodinma and others of the PDP extraction are using their connections in Abuja to smuggle in their own candidates for the one slot meant for Imo state.
However, Trumpeta learnt that Governor Rochas Okorocha is leaving no stone unturned in making sure that he does not allow any Body submit name for the NDDC Imo slot, except with his approval.
Since Okorocha does not belong to the PDP, it has caused the Governor many things, as he has lost many top appointments meant for the state, which were all hijacked from Abuja before he gets to even hear about it.
Trumpeta learnt that Bar Peter Ezeobi, the man representing Imo in the NDDC Board presently, came through Okorocha, but after stiff opposition from Abuja.
Eze Obi and his colleagues in NDDC will have their positions declared vacant next month, August, having spent about twenty months to complete the tenure of the previous Board which would lapse next month.
It would be recalled that PDP chieftains had before grabbed the National appointments meant for Imo State from Abuja.
The former Governor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim who still wields enormous power in Abuja facilitated the appointment Prof Mrs Viola Onwuliri as Minister, and Chief Eddy Onuoha as Ambassador of Hungary among other sundry appointments to Imo citizens.
The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha has also helped many, including Hon Emma Nwaogu as Commissioner in the National Population Commission, Bar Ugbuja in Public Complaint Commission, Hon Alex Emeziem at FCT Education Commission and too many others.
Hope Uzodinma plotted Hon Uche Diogu’s position at the Revenue Mobilization Commission and McDonald Ebere’s mouthwatering job at the Ministry of Aviation and others.
Therefore, this singular NDDC slot is witnessing strong battle among these heavy weights.
But Hon Gerald Irona, who is representing Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema and Oru East Federal Constituency, is saying it is his right to nominate the candidate, while Okorocha as the Governor maintains it is his responsibility.
So, Imo people are waiting to see how this scenario will play out.
