The growing brickbats between the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA elements and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP forces, in Imo state over the inability of the Imo State House of Assembly to swear in the member – elect for Oguta State Constituency, Eugene Dibiagwu got messier late Wednesday when angry youths from Oguta LGA booed at the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
There has been war of words between the kingpins of the two parties following the refusal of the Ben Uwajumogu led Imo Assembly in allowing the PDP Candidate be part of the honourable members of the House Imo state. Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha who is of the APGA was at the receiving end of the skirmishes at Izombe, the home town ofDibiagwu, when aggrieved youths of the area booed his convoy. The Governor was on his way back from the Oguta Lake Resort, christened Oguta Blue Lake of Treasure, when the red – eyed youths believed to be among the thousands of Oguta indigenes who stormed the State Assembly and Government House, Owerri earlier to stage a protest against the humiliation of their member – elect booed at him.
According to eye – witnesses account, moments after the siren – blaring convoy stepped into Izombe town from the Mgbele end of the road, the youths rushed close to the road and jeered at the Governor’s convoy with scathing remarks and unprintable curses. Others pelted the vehicles in the convoy with stones prompting the security agencies to move into action and cleared the road for the convoy of the number one citizen of the state to move ahead.
Imo Trumpeta could not immediately gather reasons for the actions of the youths but unconfirmed reports had it that the suspected Dibiagwu supporters and sympathisers accused top APGA functionaries and leaders in the state for their involvement in the non – swearing in of their member – elect. They suspect that the APGA hierarchy is behind the calculated attempt to deny people of the area representation in the State Legislature.
Our newspaper further gathered that youths of the area have threatened to shut down oil wells located within the LGA to express their displeasure to the continued plan of some forces to deny Oguta people effective representation in the Imo state House of Assembly. The youths who barred their minds during the brief encounter with the Governor’s convoy alleged that the plot to stop Dibiagwu is a calculated attempt by the state governor to ensure that no lawmaker represents Oguta to allow the executive arm make a mince – meat of the resources from the LGA. The youths who chanted solidarity songs against the state governor warned the governor and all his functionaries not to near the area until a member from Oguta is sworn – in to join others at the state legislature.
It would be recalled that truck loads of Oguta LGA youths who stormed the Assembly complex on Wednesday not only demanded for Dibiagwu’s swearing – in but also lamented non – representation of the area 18 months after the present Imo House was inaugurated.
