The race for who wins the Oguta State Assembly bye-election scheduled for next weekend is getting messier each day as the Imo state government is employing several uncongenial methods to emerge victorious after the elections.
Few days after the inglorious convoy clash, new undemocratic measures are being invented to not only persuade but coerce workers into campaigning for the APGA candidate.
Trumpeta learnt that civil servants of Oguta extraction have been granted unofficial leave and indirectly asked to go and “Deliver Owelle” in their respective localities and wards. Some government syndicates are allegedly using subterranean means to coerce civil servants into the action plan. Most of the top workers from Oguta who spoke to Trumpeta on condition of anonymity expressed concern over the interest of the state government in foisting a candidate on them. There were reports that any worker who loses in his LGA should not think of returning to work again.
Poised to have the position by all means, all Commissioners and ranking political office holders in Okorocha’s cabinet have been assigned a specific electoral area to deliver for the Governor’s interest in the fast approaching election. A commissioner who is incharge of local government has been asked to take charge of Agwa Community where stakeholders in the area were reportedly invited by the Commissioner who among other goodies promised to provide power supply immediately to the Community before the election date.
Members of the House of Assembly of APGA extraction are not left out in the operation as Oguta LGA has suddenly turned to a political pilgrimage centre with the member representing Ideato North, Hon Mrs Eudora Igwe taking her Adaoma Foundation to Agwa community to woo voters, while the Speaker reportedly went to the LGA to intensify campaign to ensure Dibiagwu does not return to the chambers.
Not left out in the scheme of things are the traditional rulers who have become a willing tool in the hands of the state government as some of them are reportedly being used to pull strings in their localities, while threats of removing them from office have been posed at them should any loose his autonomous community to PDP, the Governor deliberately suspended settlement of Ezeship crisis in Oguta Community. It was further gathered that government agents have infiltrated the ranks of the warring factions promising each contestant the Ezeship if they deliver the communities to APGA candidate, Walter Uzonwanne.
In the same vein, a new twist emerged in the latest convoy clash involving the governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Hon Eugene Dibiagwu last Sunday. Dibiagwu is the PDP candidate in the Oguta re-run House of Assembly election scheduled for June 29, 2013.
While the Governor’s camp and that of Dibiagwu continue to trade accusations on the matter, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday joined the fray and expectedly took sides with the Governor.
APGA claimed it petitioned the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Jonathan, on the basis that it was Dibiagwu’s supporters that laid ambush for the Governor’s convoy in Awa community and attacked him.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri at the party’s secretariat, Imo APGA Chairman, Prince Marshal Okoroafor Anyanwu, said the governor is loved by Oguta people and this prompted his not returning fire for fire when the incident occurred.
He wondered why the youths hired by a contestant in a re-run election will not cause the disqualification of the contestant disqualified by the National Security Adviser and INEC over the unholy act. According to him it does appear that Imo PDP thinks they have monopoly of power and violence. He accused Chief Eugene Dibiagwu and PDP of being desperate to coast home with victory.
The APGA Chieftain maintained that the Government and the party are on top of the situation, as he described the action of the youths as a slap on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Prince Okafor-Anyanwu averred that the perpetrators will surly be fished out to serve as a deterrent to others. The APGA leader reassured that teeming supporters and the general public to continue to support Chief Walter Uzonwanne for the Oguta Re-run election.
In a related development, the Igbo National Council, Imo state chapter, have condemned the convoy clash between that of the Governor’s and former House of Assembly member.
Ina statement signed by Tony Oha, state Chairman, INC and secretary, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka the group, said after conducting its investigation on the development, it discovered the unhealthy indoctrination going on at Oguta of some youths whose activities will undermine peace in the re-election in Oguta.
