The insecurity bedevilling Imo State has continued to generate controversy with former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, trading words.
In December, current governor of the state, Hope Uzodinma, pledged to publicly reveal the identities of persons behind the recent spate of insecurity in the state. He said security agents had uncovered the names of some persons fuelling kidnappings, killings, among others in the state.
Though the governor failed to redeem his pledge, there have been insinuations that his predecessor, Okorocha is sponsoring criminals in the state.
However, Okorocha denied any such act, saying it is the sitting governor, Uzodinma, who is sponsoring criminals in the state.
According to the former governor, Uzodinma has a killer squad known as Hopism Strike Force (HSF).
Okorocha, who addressed a press conference in Oweri, said the killer squad is behind the murder of a chieftain of APC, Ahmad Gulak, and some monarchs in the state.
Okorocha dared the governor to open up on who killed and some traditional rulers in the state.
His words, “If the governor knows he has no such force in the state, let him tell the world who killed Gulak.
“It is not about me or Uche Nwosu; it is about the image of our state. I want to repeat this Sheba, Uzodimma’s CSO, has been in detention for the past four days.
“He is among the striking force of Uzodimma. I still ask Uzodimma, who killed Gulak? Who killed traditional rulers?
“Who killed about 140 bodies of Imolites found in the mortuary? Hope Uzodimma has a striking force called ‘Hope striking force’ they should ask them what they are doing with this killer squad.”
In a couter reaction, The APC, Imo Chapter, has urged Senator Rochas Okorocha, to consider the option of resigning as a Senator representing the West Senatorial District of the State.
The party hinged its call on what it described as poor and dismal performance in the Senate.
The chapter also carpeted Okorocha for publicly hurling accusations at his successor.
The state chairman of APC, Hon Macdonald Ebere, in a statement signed by Cajetan Duke, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, called on the former Governor to refrain from distracting Uzodinma “with fabricated lies, unsubstantiated accusations and fabrications.”
The party lamented that Okorocha, who should be interested in presenting himself as a ‘presidential material’ in 2023 is rather interested in futile attempt to vilify Uzodinma.
The statement reads, “Imo people have had enough of Okorocha and his family, who they consider as unfit to occupy any public office in Nigeria anymore given their poor and dismal performance in the state.
“Our party condemns without reservations the futile attempt by Senator Rochas Okorocha to vilify the Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, on Arise Television interview with wild claims, accusations and allegations filled with hate and vehemence.
“Instead of presenting himself as a good ‘Presidential material,’ Okorocha is busy carrying on in a brazen manner, marring his chances, rubbishing himself by trying to tarnish the image of Governor Uzodinma with fabricated lies, unsubstantiated accusations and fabrications like the alleged Hope Strike Force.
“We are aware that Okorocha is a master of Ostrich politics and grandstanding, which he used to deceive Imo people for eight locust-infested years; but this time he has failed.
“Indeed, if Okorocha has serious or incriminating evidence against Governor Uzodinma, we thought the best place to report to is the Police and not (the) mass media.
“For the umpteenth time, Gov. Hope Uzodinma has stated that he has nothing personal against Okorocha but only bent on actualizing the mandate of the people.”
