BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
Former Governor of Imo State and senator representing Imo West senatorial district in the senate, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has advised Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop using him (Okorocha) to divert public attention
The former Governor was accused by the Imo State government of master minding attacks on the Imo State Police headquarters, and Correctional Centre, Owerri by unknown gunmen on Easter Monday.
About 1, 800 inmates were freed by the gunmen at the Correction Centre
Okorocha through a statement by his Media Adviser, Sam Onwuemedo, on Sunday said “the truth is that each time the governor wants to take a fresh loan, he would raise an issue against Okorocha to divert the attention of Imo people and the general public. The domestic debt of Imo now is N150 billion. And Poverty level has gone up to 65% as against 19 percent in January, 2019.
Part of the statement read “We also want to use this opportunity to inform the general public that, we decided to leave the Imo Governor and his government in the Court of Public Opinions, over their allegations against Okorocha Concerning the unfortunate and worrisome Owerri attacks.
“Nigerians of good spirits have been able to “download” or dissect the allegations and have decided on their own, to hold the briefs of Okorocha. And we are satisfied with that.
“An incident that happened on the wee hours of Monday, April 5, 2021. By 3pm, the same Monday, the governor had issued a statement and said, it was IPOB that was behind the attacks. Forty eight (48) hours after, the same governor said that, aggrieved Politicians from the State were behind the attacks and no more IPOB.
“The same day, the governor’s Commissioner for Information, Hon. Mbadiwe Emelumba said, it was former Governor Okorocha who was behind the attacks.
“First, he claimed that Okorocha brought those he granted Amnesty to carry out the attacks. He later said that Okorocha brought Northern Youths to carry out the attacks. On a serious security issue of that magnitude?
“While trying to justify the porous claims, Mbadiwe said that Okorocha wanted to stop the government from implementing the Whitepaper. These are not the kinds of things we should be reacting to. And the same government had also talked about investigations going on.
Why investigations again, when you said you have known the culprit? And those who have read the much orchestrated Whitepaper would know that, those who gave the reports leading to the production of the Whitepaper, had set a trap for the government. And it has fallen into the trap.
“The Whitepaper is 99% against the public especially Imo people and honest investors, and not Okorocha.
“The truth is that each time the governor wants to take a fresh loan, he would raise an issue against Okorocha to divert the attention of Imo people and the general public. The domestic debt of Imo now is N150 billion. And Poverty level has gone up to 65% as against 19 percent in January, 2019.
“The Imo government should lower the antenna of war and raise that of peace, in the overall interest of the State and its people” part of the statement read.
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