Former governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo west Rochas Okorocha has challenged governor Hope Uzodimma to publish the report submitted by the Eze Duruiheoma – led panel on Local governments saying Duruiheoma was on a revenge mission because he was removed as the Chairman of the Nation population Commission (NPC) by the All Progressives Congress, APC, government.
In a press release signed by Sam Onwuemedo, Special Adviser (Media), Okorocha described Duruiheoma as a People Democratic Party, PDP, agent who sat in his bed room and wrote the report indicting him saying since he approached a Federal High Court to complain that the issue for which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have been investigatingt him, are the same issues been probed by the State government, most of the panels of inquiry have hurriedly submitted their reports.
“The media had come up with stories with the referenced caption, following the report of Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN) led Panel, on the Local Governments in the State. It was one of such numerous panels set up in Imo, against the administration of Senator Rochas Okorocha.
“The report of the Panel has nothing to do with Chief Emeka Ihedioha. They brought in his name, to deceive the unwary. The Panel report is all about Rochas Okorocha and his administration, from May 29, 2011 to May 29, 2019, as it affected the Local Governments in the State. That was one of the panel’s terms of reference. So, how did Ihedioha come in? They only wanted to escape from the accusation of unbridled bias against Okorocha.
“ The Chairman of the Panel, Chief Duruiheoma, was the former Chairman of the PDP in Imo State. He was also appointed the Chairman of the National Population Commission(NPC) by the PDP Government and removed by the APC government. He is from the same Ideato South Local Government, with Okorocha. He had had the feeling that Okorocha was behind his removal as NPC Chairman. That was the man who headed the LG panel against Okorocha and his government.
“ To us, the report could better be described as “Who say men no dey report or Garbage in, Garbage out, report, or COVID-19 infested report”. The man sat in his bed room and wrote a report. Otherwise, we Challenge him or the government to make public, those who appeared before the Panel. At least, the Local Government Chairmen between May 29, 2011 and May 29, 2019 and where the Panel sat.
“To cut the long story short, let Chief Duruiheoma or the State Government, which the report was submitted to, publish it verbatim so that Nigerians of good spirits can see the extent people can go, to witch-hunt or blackmail their target.\
“ What Okorocha’s government achieved in the Local Governments of Imo in 8 years, the past governments, from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2011 and the governments after him, put together, cannot and will not achieve one-third of them. We have made this provoking claim with alacrity. And we are waiting to be contradicted, or challenged.
“We won’t help them by listing Okorocha’s achievements in the 27 Local Governments in the State within the periods under review. Let them publish the report as submitted and let Nigerians read it and know who is saying the truth. For more than one year, Imo people have been waiting to see what those after Okorocha have in store for them, but have not seen anything.
“ Since Okorocha approached a Federal High Court to complain that the issues for which the EFCC have been investigating him, are the same issues being probed by the numerous probe panels in the State, most of them have hurriedly “panel beated” all the blackmails into written “reports” and have been submitting them with speed. But, “for by strength Shall no man prevail” (1 Samuel 2:9).
“Okorocha had governed Imo for 8 years and did what he felt was the best for the State. And he is waiting to see his records of achievements beaten or surpassed by another government and we take off from there. And you do not expect a former PDP Chairman in Imo to turn in a favourable report on Okorocha, who displaced the Party (PDP) from the Douglas House since 2011 till date. And those who have also found these witch-hunting Panels useful, should count their teeth with their tongue.”
Meanwhile, Senator Rochas Okorocha has denied the news making the rounds that he made an alliance with his successor, Emeka Ihedioha to sack governor Hope Uzodimma, warning those behind the story to stop from making mockery of the APC or the State.
Speaking through his Special Adviser (media) Sam Onwuemedo, Okorocha said the purported alliance between him and Ihedioha to sack governor Uzodimma, “only tells the ugly story of where we are now”, stating that he cannot destroy what he had labored to build at the risk of his political career.
He maintained that he planted the seed of APC in Imo State, nurtured it to maturity and it has continued to bear fruits saying those who have benefitted from this vision only need to appreciate and acknowledge who God used to make it possible.
“Since 2013, the story of APC in Imo has remained Okorocha’s Creation. And he cannot destroy what he had worked hard and taken the Political risk of his life to erect, for any reason. Those enjoying the fruits of APC in Imo or even in the South-East should always appreciate the vision and ingenuity of Okorocha that made the whole thing possible. Trying to change the narrative for any reason, won’t be the best.
Interestingly too, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is not in any Court, at the moment, over the 2019 governorship in Imo. To the best of our knowledge, only two Cases are in Court to that effect. One, instituted by the governorship Candidate of Reformed And Advancement Party (RAP), Barr. Kingdom Okere at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the one taken to the Supreme Court by Chief Philip Umeadi (SAN) on behalf of Chief Ihedioha. In the two Cases, Uche Nwosu is neither the plaintiff nor a Party in any of them. It is now left for those behind the story of alliance to tell us the particular Court the Nwosu Case, they had talked about, is.
We also urge those behind this fictitious alliance story to search their conscience and see whether there are things they ought to have done, which they have failed or refused to do, and for which they are being troubled by their conscience, since conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal.
NIGERIAN HORN
