A leading socio-cultural organization in Orlu Senatorial Zone, Orluzurumee Peoples Assembly has called for the arrest of former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha for alleged acts of brigandage committed by his thugs.
In a chat with the media on Wednesday, 4th September, 2019, image-maker of the group, Prince Marshall Okaforanyanwu said; “we in OPA have had enough and are sick and tired of the gross brigandage perpetrated by Okorocha on officials on legitimate duty. It is time for Gov. Emeka Ihedioha to use his authority and take action to check Okorocha’s unbecoming behavior via all legal means”.
On Okorocha’s performance, Okaforanyanwu said; “Looking at the fact that Okorocha was a governor for eight years, I am very much aware after Rochas took over from Ohakim, he set up a government property recovery team led by Placid Ekwueme from Ohaji/Egbema.
“We all knew how the recovery team performed. We saw how most of the civil servants and aides of Ohakim were arrested. Many were stopped on the road, chased out of their vehicles which were recovered from them.
“I was chairman of APGA on which platform Okorocha won election as governor. I expected a better attitude from Okorocha having served for eight years as governor”.
He added “That Okorocha’s thugs unleashed terror on a man on official government duty is reprehensible and he must be used to set an example as deterrence to other political misfits in society”.
He noted that “all these things happened because Rochas refused to hand over government to Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. If there was proper handover, most of the things happening would not have happened. It is a calculated action and an abysmal behavior. So we condemn it in all its entirety’.
He said the Jasper Ndubuaku-led recovery committee heard that about 60 vehicles were parked at Okorocha’s residence in Spibat and only went to serve notice of intention to search the place for recovery authorized by law.
He concluded that the position of Orluzurumee is clear on the issue, saying “I consulted and honestly the position of Orluzurumee on this issue is that Gov. Ihedioha should not take it lightly because he is saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“So we urge him to use whatever is available to him as governor to unravel every mystery concerning the movable and non-movable assets of the state because we are all living witnesses to Okorocha’s eight years of charade.
Describing Ihedioha as a seasoned administrator, he said the first 100 days of Ihedioha as governor have proved that he cares about Imo people who saw hell under Okorocha”, noting that sanity has returned to Imo unlike during Okorocha’s tenure when citizens were beaten in broad daylight and dispossessed of their money and goods helplessly.
Meanwhile, Imo State Markets Traders Forum has urged relevant authorities to immediately arrest Okorocha, threatening to go on protest march if Okorocha is allowed to move around freely after unleashing harm on government officials.
In an interview on Wednesday, the State Chairman of the Forum, Prince Edwin Mary Akwaeze told journalists “We the members of the Imo Market Traders Forum are ready to embark on protest against the excesses of Okorocha who played a fast one on many of us whose shops were destroyed at Ekeukwu Owerri Market”.
Akwaeze who revealed that Okorocha imposed handpicked leadership on Imo State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ISAMATA) to achieve political gains, said “before the demolition of Ekeukwu Owere, I had 10 shops there. Many of us lost our sources of livelihood to that demolition with no alternative arrangement affordable to the people. For this, traders will never forgive Okorocha in this life”.
“As far as we traders are concerned, Rochas whom I call Nda Terror because he never had good heart for traders, should not be allowed to continue to terrorize Imo State. Since a messiah has come in the name of Gov Emeka Ihedioha who is going to reopen the market, we shall give him all necessary support”.
Akwaeze revealed that the same Ohaji/Egbema thugs Rochas used to demolish Ekeukwu Owere were the ones who attacked Ndubuaku at Okorocha’s Spibat mansion.
Akwaeze, who said he lost four shops at New Market and a shop at the Shopping Plaza on Douglas Road said the hope of the traders is that Rochas will not go unpunished for all the atrocities he committed including the attempted murder of Jasper Ndubuaku.
