By Arthur Madumere, Owerri.
All may not be well within the 3R camp of the governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, as his Chief of Staff (CoS), Barr. Nnamdi Anayaehie, who hails from Nkwerre LGA and the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu, who represents Nwangele State Constituency, are allegedly embroiled in a dirty fight over who gets the APC ticket to represent Imo West (Orlu Zone) at the red chambers come 2023.
Both Nkwerre and Nwangele LGAs are sister LGAs as they not only share the same senatorial zone but also the same Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The Chief of Staff, Barr. Anyaehie, has been friends with the Governor for many years and the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu, who refers to the governor fondly as ‘DADDY’, is a fledgling politician, having found his political path astutely amplified by his late father who was somewhat of a political giant.
In a phone conversation with IgbereTv, the deputy speaker informed that “i have started making arrangements for my political future. Although I’m just a first timer in the House of Assembly but I’ve already grown to become Deputy Speaker in just two years. I’ve done my political calculation and i feel that I’m bigger than House of Representatives presently because the feelers from my constituents is positive and they advised me to run for the Senate as my popularity spans across the twelve local government areas of Orlu Zone. I’m optimistic that I will win if only i get the party ticket”
When asked about Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, who is currently the Chief of Staff and a very a close ally to the governor, he said;
“The state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma I strongly believe would go for the best hands. Anyaehie is not the only one with interest for Orlu Senate in our party as C.C Osuala, who is presently a commissioner in the state, has an interest; Osita Izunaso has an interest too. They are also close to the governor so I don’t see a possiblity of the Chief of Staff flying the ticket because I think the governor would prefer him staying in the executive arm of government for eight years (sic). I hope you’re aware that daddy (onwa) would easily scale through for a second tenure because he has impressed Imolites alot and they are happy with him? I will do only one term at the State House of Assembly as i won a landslide during the 2019 elections and by His Grace, it would be so too come 2023. Anyaehie, Osuala, Izunaso and the rest are no threats to me and they know it. I have a wide range of supporters and I’m generally accepted. I know some people are already fighting me from the executive because of my ambition but you don’t fight a young man who has God”, he concluded.
When this correspondent contacted Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, he had this to say.
“I don’t have any problem with Chyna. He is the deputy speaker. If he thinks he can become senator, he should try. It’s not a game for boys: it’s all about acceptability, but I’m not fighting with him. I can’t come that low. I even think this phone call is an insult. Imagine Chief of Staff fighting Deputy Speaker, No no no no no, let he who the cap fits emerge. I’ve not even declared officially for Senate”.
It would be recalled that the former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is presently representing Imo West in the Senate but due to his ambition to run for the highest office in the land, that seat may well be vacant come 2023.
