Battle of supremacy resumed again in the twenty seven (27) Local Government Areas of Imo state, over who is in control of paraphernalia of power between the elected Council Chairmen, and the Sole Administrators, appointed by the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
The story filtering out from the LGAs indicated that there were physical battles to control the Council Headquarters by new SOLADs, as the elected Chairmen resisted them.
However, at the end of work yesterday, it was rife that the SOLADs had an upper hand over the elected Council Chairmen, as most of the SOLADs had secured the Chairman’s offices.
In Orlu LGA, the Commissioner for Commerce, Ichie Uche Mbanso, was said to have led the Police, Imo Security Network Outfit, and Traditional Dance Groups to “capture” the Council Headquarters. Imo Trumpeta learnt that on sighting the intimidating crowd escorting the SOLAD, Bar Mbachu, about 11 (eleven) Councilors in the council premises took to their heels. The invasion did not end without a bloodbath as the LGA PDP chapter chairman was brutally assaulted as well as the only woman councilor in the LGA who received attacks in the process
When Imo Trumpeta contacted one of the Councilors, he said the Council Chairman was in a meeting with the DPO and SSS Chief in the LGA.
The Councilor however, said they had no alternative than to run for dear life since the crowd over numbered them.
He also said that the people of Umuna Community, from where Bar Mbachu hails from said they have been so marginalized in the politics of Orlu, and vowed to crush any opposition, this time that God has remembered Umuna through the appointment of Mbachu.
In Ngor Okpala LGA, the Sole Administrator, Hon Ugochukwu Okere was said to have gained entrance into the Chairman’s office, where he called some Revered Fathers for a prayer session to cleanse and sanctify the office.
It was learnt that, Hon Okere who was escorted by some APGA youths met no resistance, as the elected Council Chairman, Barr Enyinna Onuegbu was said to be on an official function concerning ALGON in the state, the day Hon Ugochukwu Okere stormed Umuneke, Headquarter of Ngor Okpala LGA.
The story was the same in Ideato North and South LGAs, where the SOLADs have taken over. It was same in Isu, Oru East and West, Owerri North, Aboh, Ahiazu, and Ezinihitte Mbaise LGAs.
In Owerri Municipal Council, when our reporter reached the Council Headquarter, the elected Chairman, Chief Emma Odor and Chief Ujah, the SOLAD was said to be in a crucial meeting with the SSS and Police to solve the log jam.
However, over ten Hilux Jeeps loaded with security personnel were sighted at the premises of the Council Headquarter.
In Ikeduru LGA, there was no resistance as the SOLAD, Rev JC Ayozie took over office. When contacted on phone, the elected Chairman of the Council, Chief Sam Aka said he was tired of the endless fight which has financially and physically sapped the elected Chairmen, pointing out that he had suggested a political solution to the whole saga, but his colleagues termed him a saboteur.
He said that since the legions of litigations have not stopped Okorocha from sacking them from office and even paying them their due allowances and gratuities, the only thing left was for “Abuja” to delve into the matter.
Chief Aka said that since Abuja has continued to play deaf to their plights the only option left was for the Council Chairmen to sue the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission to stop allocations coming to Imo LGAs.
At the police headquarters, Owerri, the Commissioner of Police Katsina was reported to have lashed at the SOLAD of Owerri Municipal for storming the council secretariat with suspected miscreants and what that his command would not tolerate a breakdown of law and order in the councils adding that all concerned groups and factions should sheath their swords for now until he meets with the state government on the issue, he stated that having received the petitions of the elected chairmen who contended that the matter is still in court and it was illegal for the state government to appoint SOLADs.
It would be recalled that the battle between the elected Council Chairmen and the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has lingered now for over fifteen months.
The first set of SOLADs had been in office for months and left, without Okorocha obeying court ruling in favour of the Council Chairmen.
The current ones are billed to be in office for three months, or more depending on the magnanimity of Gov Okorocha.
Sources told Imo Trumpeta that the Council Chairmen are getting tired and weary of the long battle which has drained their pockets, as it is only about two PDP top shots in the state that have been coming to their aids.
From all indication, it seems Gov Okorocha is succeeding in taking over the LGAs from the PDP elected Chairmen, after having used long term frustration acts to sap the Chairmen and their sponsors.
Another source said that the main problem is not the PDP and the Council Chairmen, but Gov Okorocha who only released salary of workers to the former SOLADs which crippled development at the grassroots.
