In his avowed decision to cow his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, whose profile seems to have dwarfed his choice candidate and his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him in 2019, Governor Rochas Okorocha on Thursday laid-off some of his cabinet members said to be loyal to the Deputy Governor.

Among those sacked are Dr. Martin Ohiri, the Commissioner for Sports, and Mr. Stephen Odoemena, who was the Transition Committee Chairman, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state where the Deputy Governor hails from.

At a stakeholders meeting recently convened by Okorocha, he had vowed that he would crush Madumere and retire Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. He boasted that if he could retire Senator Arthur Nzeribe, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Ikedi Ohakim among others, how much less others.

An informed source at the Imo State Government House said on Sunday morning: “Okorocha reportedly sacked the said Madumere’s loyalists after attempts to intimidate them had failed while promising to unleash more actions to humiliate his Deputy a‎t home.

“This may not be unconnected with the fact that Mbaitoli, which is the largest and most populous local government in the ‎state, has proved too tough for the governor to penetrate.

Mbaitoli youths recently resisted and rejected Governor Okorocha’s son-in-law when his train of endorsements visited the local government, resulting in a free for all, with scores injured.”

The rift between the two friends of many years was occasioned by Governor’s decision to foist his son-in-law on Imo people against the wishes of the party stakeholders and Imo people.

It was against this backdrop that Governor Okorocha endorsed his Deputy for Senate, which was rejected by the number two citizen, citing charter of equity, experience, capacity and competence.

Those familiar with the rift further purported that it may not be unconnected with Deputy Governor’s pains over other irreconcilable issues bothering on policy somersault, due process and anti-people policies among others.

Madumere could not be reached for comments as he was said to have traveled out of the state.