The new Speaker of Imo the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Iheanacho Ihim, popularly known as Onwa, has been warned to be wary of the character and personae of the aides he would recruit to help him pilot the affairs of the sixth assembly, if he wants to succeed.

Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, a popular social crusader and emerging political icon in Imo, gave this advice in his congratulatory message to the newly-elected speaker, described him as a grassroots politician who has re-integrated himself with the mainstream political leaders across the state.

He specifically advised. Hon. Ihim to do away with former speaker, Benjamin Uwajumogu’s senior aides, “if he does not want the rain to beat him.”

Citizen Iwuoha who played a major role that prevented Dr Ihim from emerging Speaker on June 7, 2011 - which eventually led to the election of Uwajumogu – specifically named former Chief of Staff Kodichi Anamekwe; Messrs Emeka Ahaneku, Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna, etc., as people he should stay away from, “if he intends to make any meaningful impact as Speaker.”

The socio-political crusader alleged: “While Anamekwe defrauded the assembly of funds running into hundreds of millions of naira through fictitious and fraudulent supply of diesel (AGO), computer accessories, ghost workers (his very old mother, Madam Monica Anamekwe was the chief of ghost workers), award of road contracts, financial assistance scam and burying of several charms allegedly prepared with new-born babies and aborted babies at the Imo assembly compound; Ahaneku defrauded the assembly of funds running into tens of millions of naira through the General Duties department of the office of the Speaker.

“Through this department, Ahaneku signed off millions of naira for former Speaker’s sister, Chidinma Uwajumogu’s non-governmental organisations – Development Initiative for African Women (DIFAW) and Development Initiative for African Youths (DIFAY). Also, Ahaneku reduced the number of media correspondents at the Imo State House of Assembly from 36 to only 16, thereby inflicting untold hardships on correspondents. He was stealing the sum of N300,000 from the correspondents stipends on monthly basis and so many other fraudulent activities.

“All these information are with EFCC and Force Headquarters. Ahaneku is a serial blackmailer who operates with pseudo names (fake names) such as Amaefula Amadi, Chinonso Obi, Ikenna Obioha and, most recently, Barrister Chikodi Amadi, etc. He uses these names to blackmail people of integrity and credibility.”

Iwuoha noted that the names he mentioned above, including Uwajumogu’s, should be held responsible for the various deaths that occurred at the ex-speaker’s office between 2011 and 2014.

Hon. Ihim was elected Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly on June 11 together with Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo as the new Deputy Speaker.

The social crusader finally advised Ihim to make use of aides from among the Acho Ihim Campaign Organisation and credible people across the state.

•Photo shows Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha.

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