By Emmanuel Elebeke

As the disagreement between the Imo state Governor, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and his predecessor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha over some looted funds and property takes dangerous dimension, the chairman of Imo State caucus of the Oil and Solid Minerals Landlords’Association of Nigeria, OMPALAN, Bishop Udo Azogu has advised the state Governor to thread with caution on the ongoing recovery of Government property allegedly under the custody of Senator Rochas Okorocha and his family members.

Emeka Ihedioha, obedience

In a statement on Sunday, Bishop Azogu said since the Governor had petitioned the two anti-graft agencies viz: the ICPC and EFCC to investigate the former Governor of Imo State and members of his family, which have commenced ernest investigation on the strength of the petitions before them, the onus lies on the Governor to allow the anti-graft agencies do their job and come out with their verdict.

It will be recalled that the EFCC had questioned Sen. Okorocha, his wife and daughter resulting in the sealing off of a sizable portion of their vast properties in Imo State.

The OMPALAN chairman noted that the security situation in Imo State is spiraling out of control, hence the need for caution by all sides to the imbroglio. He called on the Governor to disbanded immediately the Jasper Ndubuaku committee for recovery of Government property for what he called its lawless behaviour in order to halt the state’s imminent collision course with anarchy.

He pointed out that the recovery of Government property committee appears to be doing a hatchet job against the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his family members, warning that, ‘‘the witch-hunt will spill over to other political opponents in the State and LGAs and would continue until opposition to the PDP-led Government in the State is completely extirpated.

‘‘I call on security agencies in Imo State to help stem the tide of politically – induced crisis in Imo State by deploying utmost professionalism in their engagements. They should only obey lawful orders by Imo State Government in the face of heightening political tensions in the state.

‘‘The issue of Rochas Okorocha is deeper than is visible on the surface. It is unfair to try a man and his family and condemn them on the media without recourse to due process of the law. The discerning public are beginning to see clearly that it is not just recovery of Government property but, a dastardly attempt by PDP leaders in Imo State to recover the slim chances of opposition parties in engaging the ruling party on governance.

‘‘It is shocking to see the SSG of Imo State, Uche Onyeagocha personally leading a large crowd of vengeful and hate-filled party stalwarts to the Imo airport to arrest a sitting Senator. This is a clear recipe for anarchy with serious ripple effects at the grassroots where dispirited and despondent citizens of the state will engage one another based on party affiliation.

Besides, criminals in the society will cash in on the dangerous development to cause a breach of constitutional peace and order and perpetuate mayhem in the society.

‘‘The attack on Senator Okorocha has followed the same pattern when he was consistently attacked as a Governor by those behind Biafra agitation with such demeaning languages as ’Okoroausa’ and ‘Aboki’ because of his firm nationalistic posture.

‘‘The way the crisis is spreading like wild fire in the State requires timely intervention by elders of the state and proponents of the rule of law to avoid pushing the state to the precipice of anarchy with dire consequences of provoking a declaration of state of emergency. The Traditional Rulers who are openly supporting Governor Ihedioha with the draconian approach to governance should make a volte-face in the interest of peace and stability in Imo State,’’ he warned.

These misguided and rented Traditional Rulers are like the biblical Jews who received righteous Jesus into Jerusalem with a thunderous ovation of “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” and later changed their praise to “Crucify him! Crucify him” – voicing they have no other king besides Caesar.

Ihedioha should avoid these elders who do not know the value of peace and focus on governance because these same Traditional Rulers will turn against him when he leaves office as they have turned against Senator Okorocha. Four years in the saddle is short and will soon be over.

Besides, there are many hurdles to overcome in governance. As Governor of Imo State Ihedioha has the responsibility to initiate a peace process that will carry all shades of opinion along while ignoring the hawks around him who only know the language of hate and destruction.

With the way things are going in Imo State it appears we have more than one governor managing the affairs of the state. This is a pointer to extreme weakness on the part of Governor Ihedioha no matter what was agreed upon before the election.

There should only be one Governor at a time and the Governor must be seen to be in total control. Let us support the rule of law and saveImo State from imminent disintegration by allowing the anti-graft agencies do their job unshackled and come out with their verdict.