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Former Governor of Imo State and Senator Representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, Wednesday, took his ordeal with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.
The Senator met the Vice President, behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Okorocha has been involved in altercations with Governor Uzodimma, after he unsealed Royal Palm Estate, a property linked to his wife which was sealed by the Imo State government.
The Imo State Government intends to seize and recover all properties Okorocha converted for private use, based on the report of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Lands and other Related Matters.
Okorocha after meeting Osibanjo, said he does want his feud with Uzodimma to escalate.
He said it is a joke to him that he is being attacked.
He said “The whole thing to me sounds like a joke to me, a dream that does not reflect any practical reality, but I m a father, I m a leader of that State and I am trying to make sure things don’t escalate beyond control.
He continued “I m still waiting to understand the reason why all the attack because before, the allegations was that the money used in the building was government money.
“Now it has changed, it is no longer the issue of government money, but that it is built on the green verge and allocation where government house was supposed to be built. I m still waiting and only time will tell.
Okorocha did not give details of his discussion with the Vice President, but it is believed that the Senator is reaching out to the Presidency and top leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC, to wade into his matter with Governor Uzodimma.
This newspaper gathered that a negotiation may be in the offing to settle Okorocha’s rift with Uzodimma, a move which has been countered by some prominent Imolites.
TOE Ekechi, a former Commissioner in Okorocha’s government, advised Governor Uzodimma not to enter into any negotiation with Okorocha.
He recalled that prior to the 2019 governorship election, all the governorship candidates signed an agreement that all properties stolen by Okorocha will be recovered.
Mr. Fidelis Echendu, spokesman of a watchdog group, Imo Awareness Coalition, IAC, said Governor Uzodimma should follow the contents and recommendation of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Lands and other Related Matters.
“There is nothing to negotiate. There is no political solution to this matter. It is very clear and the panel’s report has the force of the law, which compels the State government to go and recover these properties from the former Governor, his friends, and associates.
“If Uzodimma goes into negotiation with Okorocha on this matter, then it means he lacks the will power to recover our commonwealth from him.
“This is two weeks after Governor Uzodimma convened a stakeholders meeting, where he was asked to go and recover those properties from Okorocha.
“We had expected that by now some recoveries would have been made, but we hear is verbal exchange of words on the social media