Mrs Ebele Obiano |
Uche Peters, Onitsha.
The embattled former governor Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano is not having easy with his compatriots who reportedly became billionaires during his administration.
The nouveau riche who were referred to as Aguleri cabals in the eight-year- 'Willie-is-working' era are hell-bent on stopping the former governor's wife, Dr. Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano from contesting for the National Assembly seat for the Anambra North Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Presently, an Ogbaru-born occupant of the Upper Chamber seat, Senator Stella Oduah is seeking for her third term ticket on the platform of All Progressives Congress (ÀPC). She first won the seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and, after Obiano's wife reportedly frustrated her return ticket bid on the platform of APGA, Oduah returned to PDP to secure her second term ticket ending 2023.
Most Aguleri cabals, it was gathered, are rooting for the former Chief of Staff to the former governor, Primus Odili who was moved from the position of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Media to the Office of the Chief of Staff. Odili was a prominent member of Anambra State Association - United States of America ( ASA- USA) whose years of diaspora activism was roundly felt in the eight-year tenure of Obiano's predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi (2006 - 2014).
Dailyledger.ng.com. findings reveal that Odili was effective in protecting, promoting, projecting and coordinating the interest of the cabals alongside a notable cleric, amid instances of unbearable interference from the former First Lady.
Sources close to the former administration revealed that Odili was tipped to run as the Deputy Governorship candidate to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo in the build up to the November election in the state, but lost as the former First Lady was behind the zoning of the slot to Anambra Central Senatorial District where the current Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim comes from, to pave way for her Senatorial bid in Anambra North Senatorial District.
It appears that the Senatorial ambition of Obiano's wife popularly called Osodieme has become a rallying point of pay-back time and the Aguleri cabals are ready to play the spoiler's game.
They are in particular, not happy that Osodieme's vaulting ambition was the reason Aguleri has been pushed out of power in the
Dailyledger.com.ng gathered that during a Stakeholders Meeting in Aguleri called at the instance of former Gov. Obiano few days ago. Most of the Aguleri cabals who had overbearing influence in the eight years of Obiano's administration were summoned to attend the meeting where the former governor instructed them to support his wife's ambition to go to Senate in Anambra North Senatorial Zone
Obiano told them their opposition to his wife's ambition has become one embarrassment to him, as according to him, fighting his wife is as bad as fighting him.
Referring to the leader of the cabals, Obiano reminded Odili how he was instrumental to bringing him down from USA and appointed him to juicy position in his government and free hand to operate thus becoming who he is today.
Our source revealed that the meeting was to precede the plan by Obiano's wife to pick her Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms in APGA Office, Abuja, shortly after last Monday Sit-at-home.
An insider, we learnt, opined that such a meeting offered the best opportunity for horse-trading, but the billionaire boys were not ready for any transactions.
Trouble started when Obiano pleaded with Odili to step down for his wife to contest for Senate, but
a key supporter of Odili and a top government functionary boldly opposed the request, saying rather that the former Governor should force his wife to step down for Odili.
Obiano, we gathered, dared the cabals and insisted his wife must take the ticket.
Obiano, according to our source, was infuriated by the adamant posture of his 'yesterday boys' and warned the hot-headed key supporter of Odili to do his bidding or get out of his house. It was at this point that the once-addressed 'Obiano's boy' took his phones from the table and walked out on the former boss, calling Obiano's bluff.
The insurbordination emboldened Odili to oppose Obiano's plea. When Odili stood up to leave, Obiano who is popularly called 'Odogwu Omambala' was quoted as saying: "You guys are bloody fools, I made all of you, my wife will defeat you.
Obiano, it was hinted, felt betrayed and humiliated by the action of the now 'Big Boys' he made as he watched them stand up and walk out on him, just three weeks after he left office as Governor. Obiano's insistence on the wife's ambition, lately stemmed from the fact that his passport has been ceased by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC).
A sycophant who tried to cover the humiliation suffered by the former Governor who is addressed as 'Akpokuedike Global' was quoted massaging his ego: "They are now using the same money they made from your government to fight and humiliate you.
As part of Osodieme's Plan B, it was gathered that she may seek to contest from her maiden Constituency, Oyi so that she does not block the chances of another Aguleri cabal who is eyeing the National Assembly seat. It was, however, gathered that the cabals are leaving no stone unturned in the effort to scuttle Osodieme's bid as they have vowed to even stop her optional bid in her maiden Constituency, as a way to pay her back for stepping on their toes as the First Lady.
Both Aguleri and Ogbunike are not happy with what they referred as parting gift of dirty slap the former First Lady received in the hands of the wife of the wife of former Biafran warlord and one-time Ambassador, Iyom Biancah Ojukwu during the inauguration of Soludo's new government at Government House, Awka, on March 17, 2022.
To achieve their disruptive game plan, it was gathered that the billionaire cabals from Aguleri are bent on sponsoring another candidate from Osodieme's maiden Constituency to stop her from achieving her ambition.
But the former First Lady, believed to have influenced making of major decisions and project executions has vowed to shame her detractors.
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