OKOROCHA, IHEDIOHA TRADE WORDS AT NEW YAM FESTIVAL

An altercation between Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, almost marred yesterday’s Iri ji Mbaise (new yam festival) in Uvuru. This was just as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, described Okorocha, as an “embarrassment to democracy.”
At the event, Okorocha’s microphone was repeatedly switched off for as long as five minutes, as the people jeered the governor. Receiving the governor in Mbaise, Ihedioha told Okorocha that he would hand over to him in 2015, noting that the governor’s exit was non-negotiable. Ihedioha also challenged the governor on what he described as a “lack of state government presence in Mbaise.”
Ihedioha said, “The major projects in Mbaise are those executed by the Federal Government. In the few areas credited to the state government, we only see projects that are very poorly executed. It is evident that the governor has run out of ideas, so as a matter of expediency, it is expected that he would hand over the reins in 2015 so we can help out.” Responding, an angry Okorocha said Ihedioha’s trademark green cap did not qualify him to become governor. He said, “Green cap will not make anybody governor in Imo State.
As a matter of fact, there is nobody in Imo PDP that is his match in an electoral contest. My three years in office have been more productive than the 12 years spent in Imo by the PDP. Imo people have rejected PDP because PDP is worse than the Ebola virus.”
Okorocha’s microphone was switched off again when he said he had laid the foundation for a campus of the Imo State University to be sited in Aboh Mbaise/ Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency. The confusion was followed by skirmishes between Okorocha’s supporters and those of Ihedioha, but security personnel quickly contained it. Okorocha, however, advised Ihedioha to secure the PDP governorship ticket first before thinking of unseating him and left the venue shortly afterwards.
Onwuliri, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the event, attacked the governor while speaking with newsmen after the event. She said that from the conduct of the governor, it was obvious that he was not interested in the festival but just came to create confusion and derail the event.
“Since Okorocha assumed office in 2011, he has never attended the Iri ji Mbaise until this one that precedes an election year. This is not the ground for venting personal animosities. He even left before the actual ceremony began. He just brought trouble to the event and this is an embarrassment to the state and its people. I am positive that by 2015, we will all have a chance to redress this anomaly.”
Source: New Telegraph