The verbal missiles being exchanged between the Imo state government and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over Sunday’s aborted bomb blasts at the Living Faith Christian Church (aka), Winners Chapel seem unending with the opposition party firing fresh salvo against the governor for lack luster approach to state security.
In reaction to a statement from the Government House, Owerri, asking police to probe the state PDP over comments as carried in national and daily newspapers yesterday, the state PDP has reiterated its earlier statement insisting that Okorocha should he held responsible for the attempted action to blow up Winners Church premises in the state with crowd attendance during the said Church Service.
Speaking to Trumpeta on the matter, the party’s spokesman, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu said that the Imo state governor may have been in the know of the masterminds of the acts if his latter statements at the recent public security meeting are anything to reckon with.
The PDP acting publicity secretary said that moments after the discovery of the bombs at Winners’ Church, Okorocha publicly supplied information on the activities of the suspected Boko Haram members and how the operate in the country.
According to the PDP “Okorocha should be held responsible for anything because he has already started providing information on the activities of the suspected insurgents. To show he is aware of their operations, how come he knows that the people use undeveloped plots, uncompleted buildings and unused and parked cars to launch mayhem and he kept quiet all this while only waiting when they strike before he acts and inform Imolites? So what has the governor and his security apparatus been doing when he is aware of their modus operandi? Why didn’t he adopt proactive measures since he is aware of measures to check the insurgents?
While still thanking God that no one was injured in the attempt planned action, the PDP said that Okorocha’s response through his media aide shows that he has lost bearing and his government is on the way out in 2015.
Onuegbu noted that the Okorocha’s government is merely playing the ostrich and supercilious in tolerating constructive advices from opposition in matters related to governance and security of people in Imo state.
Recalling what transpired when the state PDP raised alarm over training of some Northerners in the state owned ICAPS, Egbu Road, Oweri, Onuegbu claimed that the governor who is about to surrender power in 2015, instead of commending the alarm raised on the training of Northerners in ICAPS which the state government later sent packing, hounded the party secretary, Sir George Eguh and the party members by instigating security operatives.
The party which wondered why Imo should be the only state in the South East to witness such experience, immediately after the National Congress of APC to elect party officials enjoined the governor to transfer his strength of battling opposition to sending home foreigners and strange elements constituting nuisance to security of lives and property in the state.
Reacting on the accusation by a pan Igbo group that police is allegedly shielding suspects arrested over the bomb blast at Winners; Church premises where three explosives were detonated and removed by security operatives the Police Command noted that it is at the discretion of the police to parade suspects and not on public demand as claimed by the group .
Explaining further on the issue, the PRRO, Andrew Enwere, a DSP, noted that certain factors are considered before parading of suspects to the public and media adding that the charged political climate and some considerations necessitated police action.
According to Enwere, police have told the public about the arrest of those connected to the Winners Church incident and it was proper to say that Imo has been a peaceful until the incident. “Those we arrested were not Nigerians. They are foreigners and it was a random arrest with a view of getting the suspected masterminds of the incident because it is an unusual development in Imo and we have to look at people who have not been in the state in the pas. that is why they were interrogated. It is the discretion of police to interrogate and withhold from informing the public because of security and political considerations”.
The PDP in the state had on Monday issued a statement that indicted the governor of negligence on security lapses, since taking over mantle leadership in the state as well as allegedly habouring and training suspected insurgents in government facility in Owerri.
In response, Okorocha’s spokesman, Sam Onwuemedo said that PDP with its claims has justified fears of the government that desperate politicians, especially members of the PDP, may hid under the Boko Haram insurgency to wreak havoc, while asking police to look beyond Boko Haram angle in investigating the Winner’s Chapel bombs since PDP are desperate to regain power in Imo.
