Date Published: 06/21/11

Ohakim’s running mate rejects cabinet position

The running mate of former governor of Imo State and governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011 governorship poll, Prof (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri has rejected a cabinet position offered to her by Gov Rochas Okorocha for personal reasons.

It was gathered from an impeccable source that her rejection of the commissionership seat informed her unexplained refusal to appear before the State House of Assembly for clearance.

Gov Okorocha had forwarded a list of 15 commissioners-nominee to the Assembly for clearance. The Assembly therefore invited the nominees to appear before its ad hoc committee later at plenary.

Mrs Onwuliri spurned the directives while others complied. As a result, the Assembly refused to clear her in abscentia.

Both the speaker, Chief Ben Uwajumogu and Okorocha’s liaison officer to the Assembly, Hon Amaechi Nwoha later explained that the house could not have cleared Mrs Onwuliri in abscentia.

A reliable source said Mrs Onwuliri could not accept the appointment because it would be seen as a betrayal to ex- governor Chief Ikedi Ohakim.

All effort made to get Mrs Onwuliri comment on the matter proved abortive. She did not only refuse to pick her calls but failed to return them or reply a text message sent to her telephone.

Meanwhile, the cleared commissioners are to be sworn-in Thursday, June 23 at Multi-Purpose Hall Owerri.

They are Mrs Veronica Ejezie, Mrs Ann Dozie, Mrs Chioma Ogoke, Chike John Okafor, Barr Soronnadi Njoku, Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, Barr. Neldon Ezerioha, Ndukwu Emeka, Chief Jerry Okorie, Nze Enwerem Ogueri, Steve Ahamefula, Kenneth Emelu, Chief Uche Ejike and Okorocha’s deputy, Sir Jude Agbaso.