The National Chairman of the United Progressives Party, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has cautioned Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his Anambra State counterpart, Willie Obiano, to be wary of their offensive statements against each other.
Okorie described the raging war of words between both Okorocha and Obiano as a sin against the gods of the South-East region.
The two governors have been at loggerheads since Okorocha said that the future of South-East politicians could only be guaranteed in the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The UPP national chairman, who took swipe at the two feuding governors in a chat with The Point, said that by engaging in throwing tantrums at each other publicly, Okorocha and Obiano had betrayed the trust reposed in them by the people of their various states.
He added that at such a critical moment like this, the Igbo nation did not need what he described as a show of shame, being exhibited by the two governors in the media. Okorie said, “Leaders are not expected to engage in war of words publicly, because the fight will have a way of drawing their followers into the train.
It also has a way of drawing a battle line between two states of Imo and Anambra, that are sisters.”
Expressing fear that the spat between the governors could pitch the people of the two states against one another, he added, “It is unfortunate that the issue will lead to misunderstanding between major number of people in the states, and Igbo people are in dire need of unity. The problem of Igboland today does not need what is going on.
The problem of Igboland today does not need what is going on
I t is a s h a m e and, indeed, a very big shame, disheartening to people and to God that our leaders will be the ones engaging in what late Fela Kuti called roforofo fight.”
The UPP national chairman, however, blamed the Imo State governor for drawing the first blood, which led to the current media war with Obiano. He added, “But I will like to say that it was Governor Okorocha who drew the first blood.
If he didn’t make comments that Obiano and others were on their way to the APC, there wouldn’t have been any misunderstanding between them and such reaction from the Anambra State governor, Obiano, wouldn’t have occurred. And I thought that Okorocha was also going to allow the sleeping dog lie after he had already drawn the first blood, but only for him to go further to make another comment which has now led to the war of words between them.
“It is highly condemnable, but I must not fail to point out that Okorocha drew the first blood and he is used to those kind of innuendoes that tend to splash mud on prominent Igbo people. I urge them to sheath their sword, because it will not benefit anyone.”
