The current face-off between Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu took a fresh twist on Saturday over appointments in the newly created South East Development Commission( SEDC)
President Tinubu’s decision to reshuffle his list of nominees within 24 hours of its release highlight an intense power struggle between Governor Hope Uzodinma and the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
Recall that on Friday, the President, through a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, unveiled the list of nominees, naming Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman.
However, in a surprising twist, a subsequent statement released on Saturday announced a revised list, replacing Atuma with Barr. Emeka Nworgu (PhD) as Chairman.
Sources revealed that Atuma was the preferred candidate of the APC South East leadership headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma
His name and other names from the south East were submitted to the presidency and endorsed by Uzodinma’s led South East APC leadership
Contrary to the Uzodinma’s position, it is confirmed that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, lobbied the President to reshuffle the list and include their preferred candidates.
“There’s a supremacy battle going on about the appointments. The initial list containing Emeka Atuma’s name was submitted by Gov. Hope Uzodinma and the APC South East leadership, However, for unknown reasons, Benjamin Kalu influenced changes to the list to include his own candidates,” a source told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity.
The revised list reportedly reflects that four candidates were single handedly nominated by the Deputy Speaker while other stakeholders from the South East were exempted. His nominees include Barr. Emeka Nworgu, Stanley Ohajuruka, Clifford Ogbede, and Toby Okechukwu, the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker.
As the power tussle continues, insiders suggest more surprises may arise before or during the Senate’s screening and confirmation of nominees.
