Okorocha replies Ihedioha

By  Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State Government has expressed reservations at the way the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, rushed to the media to attack Governor Rochas Okorocha over what he claimed to have read about the governor earmarking N600 million for decorations.

The government’s stand was made public through a press statement signed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo.

“On our part, we feel for Chief Ihedioha, that, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of that House for 12 years, could rush to the media to attack the governor over what he claimed to have read about the governor earmarking N600million for decorations, and not that the governor has spent the amount on the issue.   And he could not also disclose the source of the report for it to be believed”, Onwuemeodo stated.

While saying that the only time Chief Ihedioha can be read on the pages of newspapers is whenever he attacks the governor, Onwuemeodo also challenged Chief Ihedioha and his PDP people to catalogue and publish their achievements for the 12 years they governed the state and let Governor Okorocha publish his own achievements for the period he has held sway.

“We also  challenge Chief Ihedioha to tell Imo people why the Owerri-Port Harcourt road, Aba-Owerri road, Umuahia-Owerri road could not be finished when he was number seven citizen in the country as the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives.   Let him also publish the list of NDDC projects for the state and the contractors,” Onwuemeodo said.

…effigy destroyed

The growing anti-Rochas Okorocha sentiments in Imo State, has taken a new twist, as his effigy that was installed in his Ideato South country home was destroyed by unknown persons.

The statue, which depicted Governor Rochas Okorocha on a horse back was  mounted at the Ogboko Junction, along the Orlu-Urualla federal highway, as the frenzy over his gubernatorial success was at its peak.

Vanguard, who rushed to the scene of the destruction, on getting wind of the news, noticed that the effigy had been brought down and damaged beyond redemption.

Although the state government and its functionaries have remained silent over the destroyed governor’s effigy, no individual or group has however claimed responsibility for the destruction.