Is Okorocha's Chief Of Staff And In-Law, Uche Nwosu Eying Imo Guber In 2019? (NEWS ANALYSIS)

BY CHIEDU UZODINMA, ONLINE POLITICAL EDITOR

NWOSU

The body language of Chief Uche Nwosu, Chief of Staff to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha suggests many things to many political observers.

His recent moves has elicited diverse reactions from the curious Imo political intelligentsia with many speculating that he may be in pole position to succeed his father in – law in as Imo State governor 2019.  This assumption however remains in the realm of speculation.

Nwosu  has not said  he is interested in Imo guber race in 2109 and has rather maintained sealed lips on the issue thus fueling more speculations on his political future.   

 In the last political dispensation, he was said to be eying the Reps seat of his federal constituency but shelved the plan when he was thrown up as the APC governorship candidate in 2015 in the State.

But ongoing political chess-game in Okorocha’s political camp tends to indicate that he maybe the anointed choice after-all  for the plum job.

His elevation from Commissioner of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, a position he combined as  Deputy Chief of Staff to Chief of Staff to Governor Okorocha justify insinuations that he has his sights on something big in the future and may be tutored for a bigger responsibility. 

A close  source in Government House, Owerri had told this online newspaper that the Governor’s Chief of Staff and son in- law may be drafted into the 2019 governorship race “when the  need arise”

There was no independent confirmation of these claims as at press time as those close to the Chief of Staff said such assumptions are nothing but mere conjectures. But his sudden appearance at Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s Orji residence on Easter Sunday where he went to pay homage to the PDP top politician over his child dedication ceremony has made tongues to wag again.

A political analyst described Uche's visit to Iwuanyanwu as “politics of cross pollination” while another school of thought dismissed  it as nothing since Iwuanyanwu, though a PDP chieftain, is one of the fathers of the State.  

According to them, Uche’s visit to the octogenarian was not out of place since his boss, father in law and State Governor, Rochas Okorocha was also present at the church service of the dedication ceremony which took place at CATOL, Owerri. Other notable politicians such as Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim were among other top dignitaries present at the ceremony.

However, the Chief of Staff has rebuffed several  media speculations that he will join the contest in 2019 but a political think tank within Okorocha’s political camp are said to be rooting for the young former commissioner of Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Planning to take a shot.

Nwosu was the APC governorship candidate in 2015 before he was substituted for Rochas Okorocha after the latter failed to win the APC presidential primary in Abuja.  There have been rumours that the Chief of Staff is contesting the substitution in a court of law.  INNONEWS.COM has not been able  to verify the authencity of these claims.  

 Okorocha stirred the hornets’ nest last month when he named five persons that should be considered by the media and the public as his successors. Uche's name was not among the nominees.

Whatever is the scenario, politicking over 2019 Imo governorship is not yet in sight though the drumbeats are beginning to echo. Only time will tell if one of the most powerful men in Okorocha’s government will join the queue of intending Chief Executives of the Eastern Heartland.