A cold war is reportedly raging between Nnewi born billionaire businessman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, and the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
The war was seemingly pronounced following the recent sack of the State Commissioner for Industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, who is the godson of Chief Ibeto.
Ibeto, it could be recalled, went against the aspiration of his Nnewi townsmen and endorsed Professor Soludo for Governor during the campaign days ahead of the 2021 governorship election.
Consequently, he was granted the chance to nominate some key persons in Soludo’s administration, including Obinna Ngonadi.
One year after the swearing-in ceremony of Soludo, multiple sources said things went awry between the governor and Ibeto, leading to the sack of his nominee.
Another nominee of Ibeto for the chairmanship of Nnewi North LGA, the suspended Transition Committee chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Hon. Mbazulike Iloka, known as Mba Mba, was also removed after allegation linking him to the death of his wife.
The Nnewi business mogul was not allowed to replace Hon. Iloka with another of his allies.
To add insult to injury, appointed Mr. Christian Chukwudozie Udechukwu, an ally of Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, who has also fallen out with Ibeto, as a replacement for Dr. Ngonadi.
News Band reported earlier that Governor Soludo appointed Udechukwu, former director of Diaspora and Head of Media and Public Communications of the Transformation Ambassadors Of Nigeria (TAN), a brainchild of Senator Ubah, as the New Commissioner for Industry replacing Ngonadi.
His appointment was announced in a press release issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime.
says he replaces Dr. Obinna Ngonadi who previously held forth in that position.
Following the new appointment, Udechukwu’s name was forwarded to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.
Reacting to the development, News Band correspondent, Mr. Eneh Victor Chigozie, explained:
“A lot has happened between Soludo and Ibeto since after the inauguration on March 17, 2022.
“But we are looking at the plight of Hon Obinna Ngonadi, who is the godson of Dr Cletus Ibeto.
“He was initially made the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry. And that’s a lucrative ministry. Someone in charge of the markets, industries and all the trades in the state.
“But in less than 6 months, the governor unbundled the ministry, removed him from the lucrative portfolio of Trade and Commerce and left him with only the Ministry of Industry.
“Yesterday, the Office of the governor announced a new replacement for the ministry of Industry; the new commissioner is from the same ward and LGA with Ngonadi.
“It is possible that the cold war between Soludo and Ibeto is behind the present predicament of Hon. Ngonadi.”
When contacted, Ngonadi refused to speak to News Band correspondent whether he was sacked or volutarily resigned his position from the government.
