By peter uzoma
There was pandemonium at Douglas House Owerri, the Seat of Power of Imo state, yesterday as alleged estranged Political Body Guards of the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha stormed the State Executive Council meeting, and disrupted the proceedings.
Trumpeta learnt that the angry mob gained entrance through the main gate without much hassles, having been known faces within the Government House circle. But the security men at the gate did not know they were on a different mission this time.
Trumpeta sources said that immediately the tough-looking men entered the Government House, they went straight to the State Executive Council Hall, where they surrounded the building, requesting to see the Governor immediately or there would be trouble.
Trumpeta was told that when the Governor heard the loud noise outside, he went to see what was happening, only for the heavily built men to surround the Governor, demanding that they be “settled” for all the promises made to them.
They threatened not to leave the Government House until they were paid for arrears of “salaries” owed them.
Trumpeta sources claimed that the men were alleged to be the “Body Guards” who followed the Governor through out the campaign days, and were promised automatic employment if the Governor wins the election.
The source went on to say that after the election, the Governor posted them to be security operatives at the “City Centres” in the state to help maintain peace in the state.
For one year and four months, the source maintained they have not been paid and therefore they decided to storm the Government House yesterday to receive the “salaries by force” or there would be trouble.
It was learnt that following the security breach, the Governor postponed the inauguration of the new appointees which would have taken place today at Government House, and left for Abuja at about 5pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Governor was said to have asked his Chief of Staff and the Principal Secretary to “sought out the Body Guards”.
When Trumpeta contacted one of those who invaded the Government House, he spoke under anonymity, adding that they did not mean to let the scenario get to the Press, but said that they were being owed over one year salary.
“Forget about my name, we worked for Owelle during the election as Body Guards and he promised to employ us if he wins. But since then, we were placed on N50,000 salary monthly. But for over a year and four months, no body has paid us a kobo until we started demonstrating our anger and were paid just eight months. We are here to receive our money today, and will not leave until we are paid”, one of them told Trumpeta on phone.
When Trumpeta visited Government House, the angry looking men were sighted at a Hotel near the Government House hanging around to be settled.
Trumpeta later called the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Jude Ejiogu severally for his comment, but he refused to pick his calls.
However, a source from the Government House confirmed that some hoodlums invaded the Exco Chambers adding that they were not “Body Guards”, but hoodlums sent by political detractors to embarrass the Governor, but were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further actions.
“These are hoodlums. It beats imagination how they gained entrance into Government House. It is too bad. Heads must role for this negligence”, the source said.
Meanwhile, there was mild drama at Concorde Hotel on Tuesday when some drivers and workers attached to the Governor behaved in a manner inimical to the integrity of the first citizen of the state.
Trumpeta learnt that moments after Okorocha landed Concorde Hotel for an official engagement, the staff car driver and that of the protocol abandoned their duty posts to unknown destinations. Few minutes later, the Governor emerged to enter his vehicle but could not gain access into his official car due to the absence of the driver. The driver’s disappearance heightened tension and caused pandemonium among the convoy crew who searched for their whereabouts.
A disappointed Governor Okorocha later stepped into a waiting back-up car and drove out. While attempting to leave Concorde premises, another convoy vehicle belonging to the protocol people whose driver was said to be unavailable delayed the Governor’s movement until an escape route was discovered for the spare car to take the Governor out.
Later, the APC and Nigeria flag hung on staff car of the Governor was lowered and the official insigma of the Governor was closed for security reasons before the driver later appeared to move the care away.
Trumpeta later learnt that the defaulters did not go unpunished for the embarrassment meted to the Governor as they are now receiving several degrees of sanctions for their misdemeanor and negligence of duty.
