Two Commissioner- designates in Imo state, Mr. Nick Oparandudu and Chief Gerry Okolie, yesterday shunned the screening of the state council of traditional rulers at their secretariat in Owerri.
The commissioner designates who have been cleared and confirmed by the State House of Assembly were billed to appear before the Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri led traditional rulers council refused to show up at the venue.
Addressing a gathering of the Imo traditional parliament, Eze Ohiri said the commissioner designates were invited by the monarchs to give them advice which will assist them carry out their duties effectively.
He lauded the speaker and members of the state legislature for the screening and confirmation of the commissioner nominees, stressing that it will assist Gov. Rochas Okorocha to assign portfolios to the appointees.
All efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the two Commissioner- designates who held the Works and Local Government portfolios, respectively in the dissolved state executive council was unsuccessful as at press time. However, a traditional ruler from Orlu zone who spoke on the anonymity confirmed the development, but added that other nominees have also appeared before the royal fathers and wondered why the duo chose to shun the invitation.
Gov. Okorocha had while addressing members of the Imo stateParliament during their special session to mark his51st birthday anniversary in Owerri said that commissioner designates and other political appointees would be further screened by themonarchs toensure that the appointees meet the traditional requirements for theposition.
He posited that Imo traditional parliament has the powers to stop anynominee from being appointed into position of power in the state, stressingthat the screening will make the royal fathers to know who will assume anyoffice in the state.