BY NGOZI OKORIE
FORMER Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has warned Governor Hope Uzodinma not to take his peaceful disposition during his arrest and the arraignment of his aides in court as a sign of cowardice.
He said he had called the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services before going to Akachi Estate, adding that they had told him that they were not aware of any police or security personnel at the Royal Spring Palm Estate.
Okorocha, who is the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said he was shocked that a governor or a state could deploy thugs in such a situation.
The former governor said the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwanari; and his assistant on youths, Eric Uwakwe, mobilised thugs, including policemen, to attack him (Okorocha).
He spoke while ddressing his supporters in his Spibat residence in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
According to him, Governor Uzodimma is going the wrong way with his actions and may not end well as a governor.
Okorocha said, “I never expected that a governor of a state could deploy thugs. Hope Uzodinma is going the wrong way. He may not end well as governor.
“I restrained myself from telling my orderly and security aides from releasing live bullets because there could have been deaths yesterday; I hate to see blood. I did this because of my peaceful disposition. But Uzodimma should not take my peaceful disposition for cowardice.”
Okorocha said if not for the timely intervention of the Presidency, there could have been blood bath in the state by now.
He however called for the arrest of Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe, saying, “I want to add that the Inspector General of Police should order the immediate arrest of Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe. They led thugs, matcheting my orderly and my staff. They also shot Uzor, my in-law, shattering his feet with bullets. The police were there watching all this because they came from government house.
“I also want the IGP to investigate to find out whether these people were real policemen or thugs brought from outside and given police uniforms. I don’t think that any policeman would act in the manner that they acted yesterday. One of them, who was bearded and claimed to be a soldier, stabbed Samuel (Okorocha’s orderly) before me. I don’t think he is a soldier.
“There was a complete breakdown of law and order yesterday. I don’t think that any sane governor would want to govern a state that is in chaos. The governor first reported matters to EFCC and ICPC, claiming that I used Imo State money to build some properties.
“When he could not make any headway about that, Uzodimma resorted to self-help, using the police.”
Concerning the sealed hotel, he said, “Hope Uzodimma’s commissioner for lands went to that hotel and sealed it. I requested my wife to come down home and invest for the purpose of creating jobs. I was never a poor man before I became governor and I brought my children to invest here because I believe in this state. Most of the people fighting me have no house in Imo State.
“The commissioner for lands arrested all the people there, including the lodgers and staff before even putting the padlock. And those people are still in police (custody).”
