Uzodimma paid group N1b to recall me, says Okorocha
Gov warns against using his name to seek attention
EFrom Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri MBATTLED former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of releasing N1 billion to Orlu Political Consultative Assembly ( OPOCA), to facilitate his recall from the Senate.
The senator, who also accused Uzodimma of dragging monarchs in the state to politics, urged him not to spend such huge money for the recall venture. He advised that rather than wasting such amount against him, the governor should use it in paying Imo workers, pensioners and provision of other infrastructure.
But Uzodimma, in a statement, warned the Senate Committee chairman on Culture and Tourism to stop using his name to seek attention always.
Last week, OPOCA, a group in Imo West Senatorial District led by the Commissioner for Transport, Chief Rex Anunobi, had given Okorocha some hours to apologise to Uzodimma over the unsealing saga at the Spring Royal Palm Estate and Apartments or face recall.
The senator did not apologise; rather he had been trading words with the governor.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, yesterday, Okorocha recalled many similar jobs the group had engaged in to please past governors in the state, except him.
The statement read in part: “A group known as OPOCA has told its audience that it was going to recall the senator representing Imo West,
Rochas Okorocha, from the Senate and for whatever is their reason.
“We would have ignored the ‘ adult delinquents’, but for those who might not know the story of the elements behind OPOCA, we have decided to react accordingly.
“Those behind OPOCA are political undertakers, who glory in absurdities, simply to enlarge their coast or make their leaking pockets fat. And not just for any meaningful venture, but for leisure and pleasure.”
But in a statement, Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/ Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachukwu, cautioned the former governor against using the governor’s name to seek attention.
The statement said: “Okorocha has suddenly found a new pastime – use of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s name to seek attention. No day passes without Okorocha trying to use the name of Uzodimma to either seek or divert attention of the public from activities linked to him, most of them reprehensible.”
AGANGOF suspected gunmen on Tuesday night ambushed and abducted some passengers at Ajebamidele village, along Osogbo- Ibokun road in Osun State, killing a passenger in the process.
The identity of the dead victim was unknown as at the time of filling this report. The body of the slained passenger has been deposited at the morgue of Osun State General Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
The notorious gang, suspected to be herders, reportedly barricaded the road around 8: 00p. m. before ambushing some vehicles plying the road.
It was gathered that the criminals robbed some passengers of their money and other valuables and left the scene after shooting one of their victims. The robbers also injured some other passengers be
fore escaping into the bush with some passengers.
When contacted on telephone yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the in
cident. Opalola said two passengers were injured by the robbers.
She disclosed further that the suspects escaped the scene after the robbery attack and that the police
were on their trail.
“We cannot ascertain if people were kidnapped or not. But there were many vehicles on the road without owners or passengers in them. Some persons said they were kidnapped while we sensed that they might have run into the forest themselves for safety. The police and the state Joint Task Force ( JTF) are currently combing the forest,” she told our correspondent.
During the robbery, The Guardian gathered that distress calls were made by some residents who alerted security agencies to come to the rescue of the victims. To this end, the Osun State Security Network, code- named Amotekun, arrived the scene after the robbers had left. The corps members met the barricade mounted by the robbers and removed them.
According to the Field Commander of Amotekun in the state, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, the prompt intervention of Amotekun Corps saved other road users who ran into the barricade mounted by the robbers.
Operatives of the corps were in the bush since Tuesday night searching for the kidnappers and their victims. Shittu said the number of passengers abducted by the gunmen is yet to be ascertained. A villager, Rufu Adekunle, told newsmen that the gun- wielding herdsmen blocked the road and stopped vehicles travelling along the route. However, a bus driver who was trying to manoeuver his way in a bid to avoid the kidnappers drew their ire as they began to shoot at the vehicle, killing a passenger.
“There were different gunshots last night and we saw many vehicles plying the road turning back,” the witness said.
“After their operation, we realised that one person was killed while many cars were seen without passengers or their owners. The gunmen have kidnapped them. Also, we saw pellets of AK- 47 used at the scene.”