A new development is brewing in Imo State over the royal rumble concerning the position of the Chairmanship of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.
In the last count, the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is reported to have met behind closed doors over the issue with the embattled Chairman of the monarchs’ body, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, at the Government House, Owerri.
Though details of the private parley was not made public but Government House sources revealed that the meeting between Okorocha and Ilomuanya may be unconnected to the leadership tussle rocking the traditional rulers organization in the state.
It would be recalled that deliberate efforts made by Eze Ilomuanya to reclaim his position after an Appeal Court reinstated him proved futile when a police team stationed at the State Secretariat of Ndi Eze Imo and alleged to be acting on instruction from Eze Ohiri and the state government stopped Ilomuanya from regaining the seat.
Apparently worried by the sad development and backlash that has trailed Ilomuanya’s rejection and the consequences of court contempt, Governor Okorocha invited Ilomuanya for discussion at the Government House. Details of the discussion were not made public, but it has to do with the lingering crisis over the chairmanship and the way forward for Imo monarchs.
Okorocha’s meeting with Ilomuanya was a surprise package to several Imolites especially aides of the Governor when he was reported to have threatened dissenting monarchs from sympathizing and fraternalising with the embattled Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers or risk removal.
Trumpeta reliably gathered that what may have prompted Okorocha to request for a truce was pressure from above, especially the Nigerian Police Force that have withdrawn security operatives attached to the sacked Eze Samuel Ohiri and the three Zonal Chairmen of Ndi Eze. It was further gathered that policemen have been withdrawn from the monarchs’ secretariat and a particular sergeant (names withheld) reported to have turned Ilomuanya back at the gate arrested and detained. Subsequent clampdown on the security personnel who stopped Ilomuanya from taking over by their respective authorities led to the invitation by Okorocha.
Eze Ohiri and the other zonal Chairmen during the week had their police attaches and orderly withdrawn by the State Police Command. The reason for the withdrawal might not be unconnected to the barricade of the council of traditional rulers’ secretariat by armed policemen when Ilomuanya wanted to gain access and called a meeting where the monarchs were requested to attend.
Competent sources however revealed that Okorocha and Ilomuanya are striking a deal that may favour both parties as means of reconciliation.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer said that public officers not entitled to police security will have their policemen withdrawn.
