by okey alozie
Ominous signs of a black electoral exercise in Imo state again showed yesterday at the Assumpta Cathedral Church, Owerri when a planned debate organized by the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese for governorship candidates ended in fiasco.
The Owerri Catholic Archdiocese headed by the Archbishop, Anthony Obinna had scheduled Wednesday the 12th day of March 2015 as date for the guber debate to preceed the general election after the maiden exercise took place four years ago.
Our reporter who was at the venue of the event noted that trouble loomed when preparations for the event began in the early hours of Wednesday. Trouble started when hundreds of women spotting Christian mothers uniform of Orlu Catholic Diocese thronged the venue chanting solidarity songs in favour of the incumbent governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. The women who also carried placards to support the Imo state governor however encountered face-off with another group of women said to be wearing black and known as Imo widows.
It was learnt that the widows who may have been infuriated by the shear of the uniformed women while dragging seats and positions however brought out whistles and “Red Card” to blow and shout “Ka O Puo”. These actions further incensed the already charged scene thereby leading to skirmishes.
Both groups launched physical attacks and in the process, some highly placed state government officials and members of the APC were alleged to have led suspected hired thugs to invade the venue to destroy and vandalize the Altar, chairs and public address system kept in place for the conduct of the debate.
It was more of a desecration of the church Altar and sacrilege when hoodlums engineered by politicians made a mincemeat of the programme of the Catholic event as one priest was said to have been assaulted and brushed aside by the rampaging crowd.
Most of the persons who converged at the Assumpta Cathedral to witness the event especially the clergy and laity scampered for safety when it became a free for all.
Though, governor Okorocha was not at the scene of the event, but his Chief of Staff, Chief Jude Ejiogu, Commissioners and Special Assistants and APC stalwarts were at the venue while APGA and Accord parties candidates Capt Emma Ihenacho, and Ken Ojiri respectively appeared. Also the PDP governorship flagbearer, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and five other candidates arrived when the situation had worsened.
The widows were again turned fresh casualties, as some of them were pummeled in the photo journalist of the Leader newspapers was also attacked.
It was also observed that government may have shut down schools in the municipality to enable them be part of the show.
Apparently afraid of being attacked as there were threats to life, Archbishop Obinna was not spotted within the arena.
Reacting on the matter, a priest of the JPDC, the Catholic unit responsible for the event Rev Fr Casmir Nzeh opined that the candidates were asked for the debate to showcase what they have in stock for the masses and Imolites were invited to hear and assess the flagbearers
Continuing, Fr Casmir Nzeh said “we never anticipated any problem because that of four years was peaceful. We didn’t care much about security before the 2011 edition was successful. Surprisingly what we expected was not what we saw. A particular party (names withheld) decided to cause trouble. They insulted the Archbishop and because of the confusion, the debate could not continue. When next the debate will hold security will be beefed up” he said.
Meanwhile, the Emeka Ihedioha for Governorship Campaign Oganization stated that it “condemns in strong terms the deliberate disruption of the debate for Governorship candidates in Imo State organized by the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese by a band of hired thugs of The APC Govt. it confirms the popular belief that the Government of H.E Ethelbert Okorocha has no respect for God Almighty and his Church.
The serving commissioner, like Mr Chidi Ibe and Uche Mbanaso who pushed down a Rev Father and destroyed public address system to disrupt further progress in the program are a disgrace to our state. The Government bought uniforms of Catholic Women Organizaion which it distributed to the female supports to pass of as genuine. This fake women group commenced the attack on Imo widows Association members. The gun bearing members of Okorocha Security Network gave protection to these women and thugs as they disrupted the event. We humbly request Imo people to remain calm despite this provocation while urging the church to keep praying for peace in our dear state”.
