Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has been accused of blackmailing and lying against his estranged deputy, Prince Eze Madumere.

Project Madumere 2019 – the campaign organsation of the Deputy Governor – made the allegation while reacting Okorocha’s recent claim that Madumere still lives in his (Okorocha’s) house and is a beneficiary of his empowerment.

Calling on the public to disregard “Okorocha’s unfortunate blackmail against Prince Madumere”, the group said in a statement issued on Monday in Owerri, the state capital: “We understand Chief Okorocha’s predicament and soul-burdens, which are self-inflicted, following his callous and inhuman treatment against his Deputy and Imo people. We view his outburst as mere defence mechanism to cover up certain tracks.

“We were miffed to learn that Governor Okorocha, in actuality, called Prince Madumere one of his political sons, among whom he empowered. He went further to, shamelessly, lie that Prince Madumere still lives in his house.”

Continuing, the statement signed by Project Madumere 2019 Admin Secretary, Hon. Chris Nwaike Ph.D, said: “Governor Okorocha may have thought that he scored a political point by deriding Prince Madumere but unknown to him, he goofed. For us, it is wholly unfortunate that Governor Okorocha had no shame to face the camera to tell the whole world that his Deputy does not have a house of his own. May we inform the general public that Prince Madumere does not live in Okorocha’s house. Prince Madumere, despite the effort to impoverish him by denying him his entitlement and other out-of-pocket expenditures, has remained content with whatever he has acquired genuinely.

“We wish to also urge Governor Okorocha to cast his mind back on how he met Prince Madumere. Could Okorocha have been alive today if not for God’s grace through Madumere?

“We are constrained from making some public utterances concerning Governor Okorocha because of the temperament of our Principal, Prince Madumere. He should however count his teeth with his tongue because a man who claims to be a leader should not be flippant and should not have short memory to the extent of forgetting those God used to rescue him.

“Our consolation is that the good people of Imo State can never blame Madumere for his good deeds and sacrifices towards moulding Okorocha into developing his assumed leadership qualities, though we seem to be confused by the turn of events.

“For now, we will not dwell on Okorocha’s trajectory, because while Prince Madumere remained his political principal officer before his quest to contest for the governorship of the state, Madumere was the best negotiator he ever had.”

Update news