Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has been arrested by the police on Sunday following a fracas over the sealing of a hotel belonging to his wife by the state government, but the South-East Governors’ forum in swift response secured his release hours after.
Penpushing reports that the aide of the former Governor, Ebere Nzewuji, confirmed the incident, just as photo was being circulated on WhatsApp showing Okorocha sitting along a corridor of a building that looks like a police station.
“He has been arrested by the police on the orders of the governor. The police are telling him that he is under arrest. It is so clear now that he is being arrested. And he is being detained”, he said
Penpushing further reports that, Okorocha is accused of forcefully unsealing his wife’s hotel, Royal Spring Palm Hotel, Owerri, which was sealed two days ago by the state government, while the hotel was said to have been built, without permission, on government land.
The former Governor, now a serving senator through his aide denied that his boss tried to unseal the property, explaining that, “when he arrived at the premises, they were confronted with thugs who had guns and machetes, and they were attacking him and his entourage.
“He (Okorocha) can’t go there to make trouble, he went to ask questions. A staff member was beaten up, even the hotel’s guests still had their property inside the hotel. He wasn’t going to unseal the property,” the aide said.
Penpushing also reports that the spokesperson of the former governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement on the incident, alleged that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s aide on special duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, led the thugs that attacked the senator and his entourage.
The South-East Governors’ Forum in a swift response waded into the feud between the former governor and his successor, Hope Uzodinma said to be the genesis of the hotel sealing
Penpushing reports that, Okorocha was however, released Sunday night following intervention of the Governors’ forum, but was said to have been asked to respond to a complaint filed against him by the Imo State Government before he was left off the hook.
The Chairman of the forum, David Umahi, on Monday in a statement signed by his media aide, Francis Nwaze, disclosed that the forum was “already handling the issue” between Senator Okorocha and Governor Uzodinma.
Penpushing further reports that, the Ebonyi State Governor, said contacts have already been made to resolve the feud and assured that both parties have agreed to a truce, adding that, “South-East leaders are capable of settling their disputes internally instead of washing their linen in public
The Governor urged residents of Imo State to conduct their businesses peacefully and in accordance with the law, stressing, ‘we sue for calm among the supporters of both leaders to ensure a timely and amicable resolution of the disagreement. They should also shun provocative statements as we work towards restoring normalcy to the situation’.
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