Rochas Okorocha vows not to recognize Prince Eze Madumere as his Deputy.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has vowed not to recognize Prince Eze Madumere as his Deputy.

Both men had earlier clashed at a burial ceremony of the mother to Senator Osita Izunaso, Florence, at Ohuba in Oru West Local Government Area in the state over the governor’s failure to recognize his deputy.

At that event, the governor refused to recognize Madumere as the Deputy Governor of the state but rather mentioned Calistus Ekenze, as deputy governor designate.

Okorocha in a statement on Monday justified his action by saying that, “there is an existing appeal at the Appeal Court against the High Court judgement that quashed the impeachment of Madumere by the State House of Assembly.”

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, and available to newsmen in Owerri Okorocha said that “As a matter of fact, the failure or inability of the governor to recognize Madumere as the Deputy-Governor of the State at that event was not an oversight.

“That was the proper thing to do because there is an existing appeal at the Appeal Court against the High Court Judgement that quashed the impeachment of Madumere by the State House of Assembly.

“So until the appeal is decided, Madumere remains impeached. And recognizing him as the Deputy-Governor of the State with the appeal pending would mean jeopardizing the appeal.

“He should have known this fact and if he had asked his lawyer, he would have told him that the governor acted rightly in the circumstance.

“Madumere declared war against his benefactor or mentor because he wanted to be governor, using the issue of zoning as his bet.

“Today, Madumere is not the governorship candidate of any political party nor the deputy governorship candidate. He has no option than to support Hope Uzodinma, the APC candidate who is from Orlu zone.

“Those who had encouraged Madumere to fight the man who made him somebody, on the ground that they would make him governor have gone their ways and the Prince is not only on his own, but now staggering, thinking about which leg to put forward first.

“It is left for the public to ask Madumere why he is still keen in working with Governor Okorocha as his deputy after he had tried in vain to paint the same man black.

“To us, Madumere remains impeached as Deputy Governor until the appeal against the judgement of the High Court that is in his favour is decided.

“He has acquired maggot infested firewood and by so doing has invited agama lizard to breakfast, lunch and dinner. He does not have our sympathy again.”