For the umpteenth, the convoy of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has found himself in another controversial outing. And incidentally or deliberately, the convoy of the governor has clashed with that of his political opponents twice. The first incident was a clash with the convoy of Senator Chris Anyanwu in December last year. The latest which occurred on Sunday at Oguta LGA is between him and that of the candidate of the PDP for the Oguta re-run election, Hon Eugene Dibiagwu.
Ever since the incident broke out, there have been divergent stories. While the State Government insists that the Governor’s convoy was allegedly attacked by Dibiagwu’s supporters, the latter says such story is untrue and does not reflect what really transpired at Awa-Abiazem road in Oguta LGA.
According to Hon Dibiagwu’s aide, Modestus Nwankpa who spoke to Trumpeta on the incident, he said the outrider in Governor Okorocha’s convoy moving in a dangerous manner in a local community, knocked down one Ukemeziem Ejike Christian, a staunch supporter of Hon Eugene Dibiagwu who was on his own. He claimed that the outrider was driving recklessly and before hitting the motorcycle of Ukemezie forcing the latter to sustain severe injuries.
Nwankpa said “rather than the Governor’s aides and security details in the convoy to sympathize with the injured person, they (the governor’s security men) jumped out of their cars and pounced on the injured motorcyclist who was under the machine. They almost dragged him into their vehicles until the youths of the area strongly resisted and opposed their desperation to whisk him away
“The youths of the area were unhappy over the unfair treatment meted to the young man and decided to intervene. They (security operatives) surrounded the governor’s vehicle, as if the governor was the only one that needed protection. The situation would have gone out of control if Hon Eugene Dibiagwu had not intervened to calm the restive youths. Despite the presence of an ambulance that was part of the convoy that would have given first aid to the injured cyclist against the fully protected Governor’s outrider, the Governor’s men went further to attack and attempt to arrest the injured man”, Nwankpa declared.
What however irked the youths was that the Governor never cared to calm down his security aides and other civilians who were around and poised for showdown with the youths of the community. The youths recalled that in a similar instance between the Governor and a man on Orlu-Owerri road, irrespective of who was at fault, the man was arrested and taken to police headquarters where he was kept for a week before the Governor came back to grant him a pardon.
Dibiagwu is the PDP House of Assembly candidate for the June 29, 2013 rescheduled Oguta State Constituency election.
In sharp reaction to Dibiagwu’s claims on the Oguta incident, the Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Rochas Okorocha, Ebere Uzoukwa said there is no iota of truth bandied about by Dibiagwu’s men that the convoy of the Governor hit down a Dibiagwu supporter.
Uzoukwa, who spoke to Trumpeta on phone, said Hon Dibiagwu allegedly instructed his supporters to lay ambush for the Governor’s convoy for attack, stating that the Governor was in Oguta to inspect road projects.
Also, traditional rulers in Imo State have intervened in the latest ongoing drama. In a statement issued by the Council and signed by Mr Gift Nwokoro, media aide to Chairman, Council of Ndi Eze, Eze Sam Ohiri, the traditional rulers blamed the PDP candidate for the Oguta Assembly seat, Hon Dibiagwu and his supporters at Awa Community for the incident.
“Though Gov. Okorocha and Hon Eugene Dibiawgu remain Imo sons, the governor remains the Chief Security Officer of the state and should be accorded the due respect and recognition, as Imo traditional rulers would not condone a situation where someone will engage in acts capable of embarrassing or threatening the life of the governor” the statement declared.
