THE Peoples Democratic Party on Monday accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, of turning the state into a war zone.
The PDP spokesperson in the state, Ogubundu Nwadike, in a statement on Monday said the clash between the supporters of Okorocha and Uzodimma on Sunday at Royal Spring Estate, Owerri, was “disgusting”.
Nwadike spoke on the heels of the disagreement between Uzodimma’s administration and Okorocha who is currently the lawmaker representing Imo West in the Senate.
The statement alleged that the actions of Uzodimma and Okorocha were causing tension and apprehension in the state.
The statement read, “It is highly disgusting that the present APC government in the state has turned Imo into a terror zone and theatre of war and conflict. In recent times, Imolites have had the most tragic and excruciating experience ranging from the recent military invasion of parts of Orlu and Orsu local government areas, which caused insecurity and other forms of gruesome attacks, leading to breakdown of peace and order, and loss of lives and properties.
“The recent violence perpetrated by supporters of Senator Rochas Okorocha and Governor Hope Uzodimma has stirred up tension and apprehension in the state, thereby toppling the atmosphere of saturated peace and tranquility.”
Okorocha aide slumps in court, gets bail along with others
Meanwhile, an Owerri Magistrate’s Court was on Monday thrown into confusion when one of the 14 aides of former governor, Rochas Okorocha, named Darling Ibekwe surprisingly lost consciousness and slumped while being arraigned before the court.
The 14 of them who were loyalists of former governor Rochas Okorocha, representing Imo West in the Senate, were arraigned for allegedly breaking into the premises of the sealed estate said to belong to the Okorocha’s family.
They were accused of conspiring among themselves to flout an existing order issued by the state government by removing the seal of the state government and entering into the sealed premises of Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartments belonging to the wife of Senator Okorocha-Nkechi Rochas Okorocha.
Specifically, Ibekwe was also accused of publishing a recorded defamatory issue on the social media with an ulterior motive to malign the reputation of the state government and the personality of Governor Hope Uzodimma while Olu Chizoba was charged with unlawful possession of a double-barrel pump action gun without licence.
After six counts were read to the suspects, counsel for the defendants, Eddy Onyema, pleaded for their bail, promising that they would not bolt away if granted bail and would return to the court to take their trial.
Onyema argued that none of the charges preferred against the defendants was a capital offence.
Ibekwe, slumped when the Magistrate, B. U. Adikaibe, returned to the courtroom for her ruling but was revived by his fellow suspects, who pleaded for water with which he was revived.
The court later granted all the 14 accused persons bail with N5m each amounting to N70m, which the court said must be fulfilled before they would regain their freedom.
Those arraigned with Ibekwe are Obasi Goodluck, Nwaiwu Ndubuisi, Median Ijeoma, Obor Victor, Ucheka Claudin, Sunday Chisom and Ekpendu Peace.
Others were Nev Raphael, Basil Mba, Steve Asimobi, Ebere Nwokeji, Eberendu Chimechifulam (former Aide-de-camp to ex-governor, Rochas Okorocha) and Olu Chizoba.
