By kelechi ugo
What appeared to be moral misconduct in the sight of every living being may have been recorded on Wednesday at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, Imo State during the governorship poll debate organised by the Catholic Church as the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the image maker of the Imo State ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Chidi Ibe of allegedly attacking the poll debate moderating priest.
Briefing newsmen yesterday, the state chairman of the PDP, Barr Richard Nnamdi Anyaehie explained that he was in company of the state PDP guber flag bearer, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha and other PDP members at the venue of the debate at the early hours of Wednesday. Anyaehie accused Governor Rochas Okorocha’s allies, SSG Prof Anthony Anwuka, Commissioner for Works, Ichie Mbanaso, and Mr Chidi Ibe of allegedly issuing orders to the machete-wielding and suspected gun-totting hoodlums to attack those who came to witness the event. He further accused the information and strategy commissioner, Chidi Ibe, of destroying the Altar and molesting the moderating priest (name withheld). “The commissioner slapped the priest in public glare,” he added.
Barr Anyaehie further accused Governor Okorocha of using Imo Security Network, Imo Vigilante Group, Imo Civil Guards and Imo Security Watch which he described as illegal security agents to unleash violence, intimidate and harass Imolites.
The PDP Chairman recalled that the party has sometime last year raised alarm on the importation and training of hoodlums in Imo State by the rescue mission government.
He noted that PDP is compelled to imagine what would happen at the forthcoming general elections in the state if a mere governorship debate organised by a church could spark off such level of mayhem.
“What happened on Wednesday was a wake up call to the Federal Government and security agencies to be up and doing if the elections are to be held. The state PDP has crisis-crossed all the 27 LGAs and 305 Wards in Imo State selling programmes of the party to the admiration and acceptance of Imolites,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Imo governor Chief Rochas Okorocha has been advised against the continuous use of Imo Youths to perpetuate violence in the state.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, the contender for the Imo APGA governorship ticket Mr. Okey Ezeh decried what he described as senseless attack on the church end the clergy by agents of the state government maintained that the government of Imo State has no justification for the show of home in die House of God.
He maintained that Imo Governor has no moral ground to disrupt the political debate because he was the biggest beneficiary when his predecessor Chief Ikedi Ohakim was disgraced at the same debate by Imo people in 2011.
According to him “does it mean the only option le t for a sitting government whenever it feels it is provoked is violence? If the PDP women said ka o puo, the government agents could have also said ka obanye. Resorting violence is never is solution under any circumstance”.
Mr. Ezeh also condemned the government for using Imo Youths whom he said the government has failed engage meaningfully in carrying violent activities against Imo people.He commiserated with all those who sustained injury in the fracas and charged Imo people to punish Rochas by voting him out on April 11 since according to him, even Rochas himself swore before God at the same Assumpta Cathedral in 2011 that he would only govern Imo for four years
