An attempt to forcefully take over the Local Government Headquarters by Local Government Chairmen elected at the tail end of immediate past Governor, Rochas Okorocha and sacked by the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, relying on a motion by the State House of Assembly was rebuffed by the Interim Management Committee Chairmen with the assistance of security agents and staff of the LGAs.
The Chairmen of the Interim Management Councils repelled the invading sacked APC Chairmen, Councilors and hundreds of their supporters from gaining entrance into the council Secretariat.
The sacked chairmen and Councilors had relied on the Supreme Court judgment delivered in the suit between sacked council Chairmen in Ekiti state and the state governor who sacked them.
In Owerri Municipal council it was reliably gathered that the sacked Chairman, Nze Joe Agor and the Councillors had allegedly mobilized over hundred thugs who were used to invade the council Secretariat to forcefully take over the offices.
According to the report, the former chairman had also barricaded the entrance to the council before he and his supporters were dislodged by both the security agencies from the council after over 30 minutes of scuffle between the invading APC members and the supporters of the TC Chairman, Ebere Chukwuemeka and members of the People’s Democratic Party.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the IMC Chairmen, Ebere Chukwuemeka had this to say “The former council Chairman, Nze Joe Agor who belong to the Okorocha’s faction of the APC had mobilized hundreds of thugs and invaded the council Secretariat as early as 6:30 am, but unknown to him and his supporters, we had earlier alerted security agencies over the looming attack because we don’t want to take laws into our hands.
“It was the security agents who dispersed them from the Secretariat and restored normalcy, making it possible for workers to go back to their duty post”
Staff in the council who spoke on the condition of anonymity said if not the quick intervention of security agents the crisis and losses would have been alarming, as the IMC Chairman had already mobilized members of the People’s Democratic party to counter the APC members.
“We thank God for the quick intervention of the security agents who dispersed them because nobody could have known what would have happened because b the Chairman had already mobilized members of the People’s Democratic Party in readiness to deal with them but the quick response of security agents prevented what would have been a bloodbath today”
Similarly, in Aboh Mbaise council, the former Chairman, Prince Chidi Nwaturuocha was beaten to stupor by youths and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Prince Nwaturuocha and his supporters it was alleged had broken into the office of the Aboh Mbaise council as early as 6 am in the morning where he had sat and taken pictures of himself and posted the same to his facebook accounts. However, he was beaten to stupor by supporters and youths of the people’s Democratic Party.
Also, one of the invading councilors, Mr. Jasper Nwachukwu was also said to have been wounded on the head when a police officer allegedly used the butt of his gun on him.
In Owerri West council area, the IMC Chairmen, Innocent Ekenma told our correspondent that the APC sacked chairmen and their supporters were stopped two hundred meters away from the secretariat before they could even gain access into the council.
“We resisted them, they did not even progress beyond the market square, everywhere is calm now and I am in charge. Whoever told you that they beat us is telling lies”
The situation was similar in Owerri North council, as report gathered has it that the incumbent Chairman, Solomon Onwuegbuchulam also prevented the APC sacked chairman and councilors with over five hundred supporters from coming close to the gate of the council.
Orlu, Nwangele, Orsu, Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Ahiazu Mbaise, Oru east, Oru west, Ohaji/Egbema, and Ngor Okpala recorded no Invading sacked LGA Chairmen and Councillors.
However, at Njaba, the situation degenerated into a free for all fight between APC supporters and PDP supporters. Properties were vandalized and windscreens of vehicles destroyed by the riotous crowd.
In Isu council, one person was killed in the scuffle between the two contending forces.
Confirming the death of Imo State police command spokesman, Orlando Ikokwu said details of the incident that led to the death are still sketchy.
However, Orlando Ikokwu said the police were on ground to avert an impending breach of peace in the state.
He also claimed that the APC chairmen who were coming for reinstatement could not produce a valid Supreme Court judgement they claimed vested on them the authority to occupy their former positions.
The police spokesman noted that the sacked chairmen were relying on Ekiti State judgement which according to him though similar but should never be used as a yardstick.
“We were there to ensure the security of lives and properties, the ousted council chairmen said they have the Supreme Court judgment, to the best of the knowledge of the command, there is no Supreme Court judgement as to such. Orlando claimed.
He continued “the norm or the ethics is that the bailiff would have to serve you with a court order and they don’t have it. However, the judgement that they are referring to is that of Ekiti State, there is no way you can import another judgement from another state, even though they are similar. So there is no order directing them to take over” Orlando explained.
By Jennifer John
