The Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha has reacted to the APC ward congresses that took place on Saturday, May 5 as he ordered for the arrest and arraignment of the party officials sent to conduct the exercise in the state.
The governor said the way he managed the situation saved the state from “a very big crisis” it would have been thrown into Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha on Sunday, May 6, ordered the arrest and arraignment of the committee members sent to monitor the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses on Saturday, May 5. Daily Trust reports that Okorocha took the action, despite the state chairman of the party, Hilary Eke and the state organising secretary, Clement Chijioke Anozie, rating the exercise as successful in all the 305 wards in the 27 LGAs of the state.
According to a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor also charged the police to set all machinery in motion for the arrest and prosecution of the man at the centre of the ugly incident. Okorocha also expressed regret over the role of Senator Osita Izunaso, whom he said was not able to separate his local and personal political interests from his official responsibilities.
The governor said the way he managed the situation saved the state from “a very big crisis” it would have been thrown into. Dknaija gathered that Okorocha has urged Imo people to close ranks irrespective of political differences and unite for a better state that children yet unborn can be proud of.
However the Imo State chapter of the APC insist the congress was successful.
Okorocha’s press release reads in full:
GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE
PRESS RELEASE
GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA ORDERS FOR THE ARRAIGNMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS COMMITTEE ARRESTED OVER THE MISSING SENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR IMO APC WARD CONGRESS
– ALSO CHARGES THE CP TO ENSURE THE ARREST & PROSECUTION OF MR INI OKORI WHO WAS AT THE CENTRE OF THE STORY OF THE MISSING MATERIALS
Following the missing of the Sensitive materials for the Saturday, May 5, 2018 Ward Congresses of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, the governor and Chief Security Officer of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has directed the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Chris Ezike to charge members of the Congress Committee arrested in connection with the missing materials to Court without delay preferably on Monday, May 7, 2018.
The governor also charged the Police in the State to set every machinery in motion for the arrest and prosecution of the man at the Centre of the ugly incident, Mr. Ini Okori, who escaped at the residence of the National Organizing Secretary of APC, Chief Osita Izunaso.
The governor equally expressed regret over the dishonourable role of Senator Izunaso who was not able to divorce his local and personal Political interests or pursuits from his official responsibilities as the National Organizing Secretary of a National Party like APC.
The governor noted that if not that he played his role as a governor and as a father, to manage the situation, the unfortunate role of these people would have thrown the State into a very big crisis which nobody would have been in a position to imagine its outcome.
He remarked that, for the Organizing Secretary of the Party Chief Izunaso to be arguing with Mr. Ini, originally sent for the conduct of the Congresses, over who among themselves, was in custody of the Congress sensitive materials in question was quite despicable. And it showed they never wanted the Congress to be successful abinitio.
It is also important to point out here that those who never believed that APC had prospect at the initial stage and who called Governor Rochas Okorocha all sorts of names including Alhaji in Government House and Okoro-Hausa must not be allowed to disturb the peace of APC in the State.
The governor reiterated his appeal to members of the Party in the State to remain calm and ensure peace and assured that the anomalies would be corrected and the Ward Congress in the State, will hold accordingly.
