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George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha has described his successor Emeka Ihedioha as a tyrant bent on entrenching tyrannical rule in the state since he assumed office.
Ihedioha had on Thursday ordered the arrest of Okorocha, after supporters of the former governor allegedly assaulted Mr Jasper Ndubuaku who is the Chairman of the Recovery of Government Properties Committee. The official was seen in a trending video Thursday being rough-handled at Okorocha’s residence on Spibatt Avenue, Owerri. Ihedioha’s government had claimed that Okorocha hired thugs to attack Ndubuaku.
Responding to the development yesterday, Okorocha through his special adviser on media, Sam Onwuemeodo said that Ihedioha’s arrest order was an open invitation to anarchy or fracas in the State.
According to Okorocha’s statement, “the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Mr. Uche Onyeaguocha was quoted in the media to have ordered at a press conference for the arrest of the former governor of the State and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, whenever he comes into the State.
“And the only reason he gave was that Imo people sympathetic to the former governor had prevented the Chairman of the government’s Property Recovery Committee, Mr. Jasper Ndubuaku with thugs from invading and looting the private residence of the former governor. And this is our response to the reckless arrest order: The arrest order was an open invitation to anarchy or fracas in the State because Imo people will always come out to defend Okorocha.
“It also shows insensitivity on the side of the government in the State because such arrest order was uncalled for and Onyeaguocha has no right to issue an order of that nature. The order only adds to their continued disrespect for the former governor, which is a very bad precedent. After May 29, 2019, Owelle Okorocha relocated to Abuja. He was in Abuja when the recovery committee members slapped the daughter, Mrs. Uloma Rochas Nwosu, invaded and looted the shops of the wife, Nneoma and that of the daughter too. And just the previous week, Onyeaguocha invaded the private Guest House of the former governor.
“The government had written petitions to EFCC and ICPC. And these agencies have begun investigations, yet they do not want these bodies to do their work which also arose from their petitions. Onyeaguocha has repeatedly said that Chief Ihedioha does not have the capacity to govern the State and he has taken over the day to day running of the government. That is why he could give such an irresponsible order against a former governor of the State.
“The same Thursday, Onyeaguocha led thugs to Sam Mbakwe airport and said they were waiting for the former governor. This is the first government in the history of the State that is fanning the ember of anarchy. They were rattled the day Okorocha came into the State for the first time after May 29, 2019 and he was received by a mammoth crowd. It then occurred to them that their blackmail and lies have not affected the love of Imo people for their beloved former governor. That is the reason for all these insensitive actions.
“Again, the PDP never won the 2019 governorship election. They have that issue to contend with. The governor had half of his bloated votes from the three LGAs in Mbaise where he comes from and in a State with twenty-seven Local Governments. So, they have that fear of the unknown. And due largely to this fear of the unknown they decided to resort to self-help. Before his inauguration as Governor, Chief Ihedioha said he would step on Okorocha’s toes and he has been doing that, throwing caution to the wind. And forgetting too that when you step on one’s toes unjustly your own could peel.
“Okorocha was governor for eight years, and for the eight years, he never harassed any Imo man or woman. He built guest houses for all his predecessors. He never quarreled with any of them. But the government in Imo now is tyrannical. Okorocha ran pro-people government but Ihedioha is running pro-elite and pro-godfather government. That is why he has been spending billions sponsoring pocket of protests and publications by PDP elders who always claim to be Imo elders. His government is floating because of its elite posture.
“Nigerians should watch the PDP government in Imo closely. It is wicked and tyrannical. Imo people have begun to have the kind of experiences they have never had since the creation of the State in 1976. It is just a government of intimidation and harassment.
“Okorocha will be in Imo whenever he deems it necessary to come, especially when he had transformed the State as governor and left it better than he met it. And had invested heavily in the State long before his governorship with his wife and children also having their businesses relocated to Owerri because they believe strongly in the State. Nigerians of good tidings should disregard the arrest order. It became void on arrival.”
Hundreds of youths on Thursday stormed the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Owerri, apparently to prevent Okorocha from entering the state when they got wind that the ex- governor was on his way for the weekend. Earlier, the youths had protested to the Imo State Police Command and the Department of State Services to register their displeasure against the former governor who they accused of trying to cause crisis in the state by inciting his supporters to attack officials of the current administration.
Secretary to the State Government Hon. Uche Onyeaguocha had ordered the youths to arrest the ex- governor if he comes to the state saying that the people are tired of what he described as the “Rochas nuisance.” According to him, “Imo youths had a peaceful protest to the Airport over the Rochas nuisance and I am sure that he has gotten the message because he has run away by diverting his flight from coming to Imo as initially planned. If he returns to the state to cause trouble, we will execute what is called a civilian arrest and with or without the police and put him where he belongs. We have also informed the security agencies that all the properties that are still in his possession whether in Spibat, Ogboko, Jos or in Abuja will be recovered.”
