Imo People to Decide on my Successor in 2019, Says Okorocha

Amby Uneze in Owerri

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha says that he is yet to decide on which of his loyalists would be his successor in the 2019 governorship election in the state, saying that the Imo people will know at the appropriate time.

He however described his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere as one of his diehard loyalists in the last 23 years who has stood by him during his political trials and has proved to be the man that can be trusted no matter the circumstance.

The governor who stated this yesterday during the Public presentation of a book written on the Deputy Governor of Imo state by Peter Clever Obi, titled: “Eze Madumere: A True Manifestation of a Loyal Prince”, disclosed that while he is yet to decide on his successor amongst his loyalists who he described as his true “children”, noted that the Deputy Governor has stood by him in all his political struggles even when others had deserted him.

According to him, “I have known Madumere for 23 years, we first met in the US and when I left US he followed me to Nigeria and ever since then he has been a dedicated loyalist. I don’t see him as the Deputy Governor. My relationship with him is like that of a son and a father”.

He added, “Madumere has always been there with me in all my political struggles since 1999 and even when others deserted me he has always been with me. He never knew that he would be the Deputy Governor. I gave him a letter to take to the State Assembly not knowing that it contained the name of the new Deputy Governor but Madumere never inquired to know who the person was but after he had submitted the letter and left he was called back by the Speaker that he has been appointed the new Deputy Governor that is the kind of person that Madumere is because he believes in me and never doubted me”.

Okorocha expressed delight on the honour done to his Deputy by the Author who had written a Book on his person, saying that “he is my son with whom am well pleased”.

Also speaking at the event, the Kano State Governor, Abduallhi Umar Ganduje said that being a Deputy Governor is very difficult and expressed happiness that the Imo State Governor has confidence in his Deputy.

He said: “I hope that the endorsement of the Imo State Governor of the book written on his Deputy will translate to coronation because for you as the Governor to have implicit confidence on his Deputy is good”.

The 186 page book was jointly reviewed by the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, – Professor Joseph Ahaneku and Professor Ukachukwu Damina Anyanwu of the Imo State University Owerri with renowned legal luminary Akintola Adeniyi (SAN) as chairman of the occasion.
Similarly, Chairman of the event, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) says that the Imo State Governor is a lesson in humility and urged other Deputy Governors to emulate him.