Gov. Uzodimma Disagrees With Senator Okorocha’s Claims, Gives Point Of Action

Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday disagree with the claim by Senator Owelle Rochas Okorocha, that he sent thugs to attack him at the Royal Spring Palm Estate in Owerri.

Rather, Uzodimma said that Okorocha personally went to the estate owned by Nkechi Okorocha but seized by the state government, with thugs who wounded some “policemen and civil defense civil people.”

The governor told State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that one of civil defence operatives “is currently still in the hospital.”

The Senator had on Monday claimed that thugs and policemen sent on Sunday by the governor would have harmed him but for the swift effort of his orderlies who “rushed me to a room and locked me up.”

Okorocha had said “I want to add that the IGP (Mohammed Adamu) should order the immediate arrest of Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe. They led thugs that injured one of my orderlies and staff with machetes. They also shot Uzor, my in-law, shattering his feet with bullets.”

But Uzodimma countered him yesterday, saying:” Who will assassinate him? I don’t know about any attempt to assassinate Okorocha. Rather, what I know is that I have no personal issues with Okorocha.”

He narrated to the reporters the genesis of the seizure of the estate and the decision of his administration to seal it.

His words: “You will recall that before I became governor, the (Emeka) Ihedioha administration set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into acquisitions and allegations of lands, converting government lands to personal property, and then removing private lands from individuals and giving to other individuals.

“The judicial panel of inquiry chaired by a judge met and they concluded their job and a white paper had since been raised.

“You know institutions and agencies that are involved with implementation are doing their job.

“And the only thing I know is that a few days ago, one of the properties sealed by the government, the former governor went there with his thugs.

“You people saw it, it was was live. He went there with thugs himself, wounded the policemen there, wounded the Civil Defense Civil people. A civil defence officer is currently still in the hospital. He (Okorocha) then broke in (to the estate).

You must have heard him say that he is richer than government and that he is above the law. I am not directly involved. It is a position taken by the government. There is a difference between a governor and a government.

“The government of Imo State sealed a property. And I think that if there is anything anybody considerS that is not right, the person should go to court and not to take laws into their hands or adopt self-help.

“I remember that under Ihedioha, there was a recovery committee, chaired by one Jasper Ndubaku. When they tried to visit Okorocha’s house, they were beaten to a stupor. And the same man who did that is now also doing the same thing.

“People should know the difference between being a governor and government decisions and policies.”