There are strong indications that there are underground moves to sack the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku,
The plot is said to be spearheaded by Chief Henry Njoku, popularly known as Harritex, a chieftain of the APC in Owerri North LGA.
Harritex had few months ago joined the All Progressive Congress, APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dumping former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, after the Supreme Court sacked and replaced him with Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Barely few months he has stayed in the APC, Harritex began to nurse the ambition to represent Owerri zone at the Senate, but along the line, he suddenly switched his attention on replacing Prof Placid Njoku as Deputy Governor.
Harritex is well known for such antics, a behaviour which he manifested when he vied for Owerri House of Reps seat in 2006. He was denied the PDP ticket by Willie Amadi, then Zonal Chairman of the party, who preferred his kinsman, Ernest Ibejiako.
It could not be ascertained if Harritex’s moves to displace the Deputy Governor has the backing of Governor Hope Uzodimma and other party leaders in the APC in Owerri zone, as he has continued to intensify efforts to actualize his plans to oust the Deputy Governor and take over his position.
A source who is aware of the undercurrents said “Harritex is making serious moves to replace the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku”
“Such moves have already polarized the leadership of the APC in Owerri zone with two camps already emerging” the source said.
“He and a billionaire business tycoon from Owerri North are already neck deep in the plot. They are working together”.
“This is the reason why some APC leaders of the zone such as Prince Lemmy Akakem, Prince Charles Amadi (Chavon) abstained from a recent stakeholders meeting Harritex convened, where in a bid to impress Uzodimma, they passed a resolution calling on the State government to recover all properties stolen by former Governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha”.
“Though the Deputy Governor attended the event, he is completely aloof of what is going on. He does not seem to know he was winning and dinning with wolves in sheep skins”.
Aside the summit, it was gathered that few months ago, Harritex, when he concieved his plot to become Deputy Governor
held a secret meeting with members of Imo State House of Assemby of APC extraction in Owerri.
The meeting had raised eyebrows, since he is not an official of government or leader of the APC in Owerri zone.
Another source said “He is sending signals to the Governor that he has the capacity to secure Owerri zone for him than the Deputy Governor, on the basis that he is not a politician and does command political clout in the zone.
“Harritex is leveraging on the fact that the Deputy Governor is a political novice, to advance his agenda”.
However, it was gathered that key political stakeholders in Mbaike where the Deputy Governor comes from, have vowed to resist the plot of Harritex and his cohorts to remove their ilustrious son, Placid Njoku, as Deputy Governor of Imo State.
“We will not allow an usurper and an interloper such as Harritex to disgrace our brother.
Where was he when Senator Uzodimma and Prof Njoku were battling to take over power? He cannot reap where he did not sow, because we are determined to stop him in his tracks” said Chief Augunus Okere, a chieftain of the APC in Mbaitoli LGA.
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