Okorocha appoints his son-in-law as his chief of staff, Dismisses IMSU VC

Following his re-election for a second term in office, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has dissolved the state’s executive council and appointed his son-in-law as his chief of staff.

Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, is the immediate past commissioner for land in the state. He is married to the first daughter of the governor. Okorocha also appointed his former chief of staff, Sir Jude Ejiogu, as the secretary to the state government.

The governor also sacked the vice chancellor of the Imo State University, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, for his alleged loyalty to Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Awuzie, the immediate past chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, placed advertorials in two national newspapers congratulating Onu over the recent award of an honorary doctorate degree given to him by the Abia State University.

Awuzie’s action was said to have infuriated Okorocha, who is at loggerheads with Onu over the latter’s bright chances of emerging as the secretary to the government of the federation. The governor is said to be positioning his in-law, Professor Anthony Anwuka, who is also the secretary to the Imo state government, for the position.

Read Also: Buhari's first decision as President

According to New Telegraph, Awuzie got to know of his sacking when his replacement, Prof. Adaobi Obasi, came to start work while Awuzie was still at the office. Okorocha’s camp has also alleged that Awuzie may be ‘sabotaging’ the free education programme of the governor following his allegations that the governor was underfunding the university.

Okorocha recently expressed his readiness to face the election petition tribunal following reports of a petition filed against his victory by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his major challenger in the last gubernatorial contest.