Okorocha Slams ‘Clueless’ Imo Gov After ‘7 Trucks Of Policemen’ Invaded His Warehouse

Former Imo State Governor and the current Senator representing Imo West Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha, has slammed his successor, Hope Uzodinma, for allegedly asking the police to raid a warehouse containing items that supposedly belong to him.

Speaking through his special adviser on media, Sam Onwuemeodo, on Thursday, Okorocha tackled Uzodinma for claiming that properties belonging to the Imo State Government were recovered from the warehouse.

The state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Simon Ebegbulem, was said to have led the armed security men to invade the warehouse situated along Aba road.

Ebegbulem had earlier told journalists that Okorocha wanted to use some of the equipment and machines discovered at the warehouse to set up his own ceramic industry.

“You will recall that Governor Hope Uzodimma earlier raised an alarm that some State Government properties were being hidden in a warehouse at Aba Road, so when the information got to us, we moved in and this is what we saw.

“You can see for yourselves, he is planning to set up a ceramic industry with the machines and equipment from our own Nsu tiles converting it into his own private use,” the commissioner had said.

But speaking in a phone interview with THE WHISTLER on Thursday, Okorocha’s aide, Onwuemeodo, laughed off the commissioner’s claim, saying if his principal was indeed in possession of diverted government properties, the warehouse at Aba road would be the least place to hide them.

“If after eight years a government is discovering street lights in a warehouse of a governor along Aba Express road, then it’s funny. If Owelle wanted to hide something, will it be along Aba road?
This present government is not moving, it is stagnant,” he told our correspondent.

Onwuemeodo had earlier issued a statement to refute the Imo Commissioner’s claim, while describing the Uzodinma administration as “clueless”.

He said, “as early as 6:15am today, being Thursday, January 21, 2021, Seven Hilux Vans loaded with heavily armed Police men, invaded a Warehouse along Aba road, opposite Alaba International Market, on the orders of the governor of the State, Chief Hope Uzodinma.

“We have also read what the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Simeon Ibegbulem said were recovered from the Warehouse. It was interesting to read that what the Commissioner said they recovered from the warehouse were street lights accessories and cartons of tiles and without his disclosing how he arrived at the Conclusion that those items were owned by the government.”

Onwuemeodo also challenged the Imo State Government to publish proof that all the items they recovered from the warehouse belonged to the state government.

He said, “All these cock and bull stories have become irritating. If Governor Uzodinma was not demolishing Okorocha’s projects, he was invading warehouses in his government’s desperation to malign Okorocha.

“And the question is, how would all these help governor Uzodinma in the governance of the State. We have been reluctant to use the word clueless, but the government’s actions and inactions have given reasons to be described as such.

“And if Okorocha wanted to hide any item, could he have done so at a Warehouse along the busy Aba road and opposite one of the biggest markets in Owerri, the Alaba International Market? And if after 8 years of being governor, what the government could claim to have been looted by Okorocha were street light gadgets and cartons of ties then, those who invaded the warehouse should cover their faces in shame.”

He recalled that a recovery committee headed by Hon. Jasper Ndubuaku had similarly led some officials in the past to invade the warehouse, but found nothing.

Onwuemeodo also called on the Imo State Police Command to investigate the supposed policemen used to invade the warehouse “without a valid Court Order”.

He said, “We have also discovered that since the incident that happened at the burial Church Service of Bishop Gregory Ochiagha, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral, Orlu, the governor has intensified his onslaught against Okorocha. At the Service, Imo people who were at the Service, failed or refused to behave as if someone was talking, when the governor addressed the Congregation. But when the priest moderating the Service, introduced Okorocha, there was thunderous ovation that lasted for minutes. This could be the reason behind the renewed anger of the governor against Okorocha.

“Administration is not an easy business. If the governor is finding it extremely difficult to break even or break through, he should consult his brother, Okorocha, to tell him how he did it and to a large extent, succeeded, inspite of the meager resources of the State. The best approach is not destroying Okorocha’s legacy projects or chasing shadows, but to ask questions.

“The governor should have known by now, that, demolishing Okorocha’s Signature Projects could have been one of the reasons for the anger of Imo people against him and against his government. So, his embarking on recovery of non-existent or imaginary Properties only showed that the sound of bitter kola in the mouth, does not reflect the taste.”

He further urged Governor Uzodinma to stand up to his responsibility of delivering on good governance to the people of Imo rather than chasing “shadows”.