Thugs attack Okorocha’s convoy

Governor Rochas Okorocha’s convoy was attacked yesterday in Oguta Council Area of the state  by youths allegedly recruited by a candidate for the rescheduled Imo House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold next week.

It gathered that Governor Okorocha, who was in Awa community in Oguta to drum up support for Chief Walter Uzonwanne, the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the election slated for next week was on his way out of the community when an opposition candidate was also on his way to Awa community.

According to  an eyewitness account  one of the outriders on the Governor Okorocha convoy had knocked down one of the motorcyclists on the campaign train of the candidate and that instead of the security details on the governor’s convoy to assist the man, they descended on the hapless man and started beating him.

It was learnt that the attitude of the governor’s security men angered the youths, who blocked the passage of the governor as the youths reportedly descended on one of the outriders, who was beaten to stupor by the irate youths and was dispossessed him of his walkie-talkie.

“For several hours, the irate youths barricaded the road and prevented the governor’s convoy from continuing on the  journey while some of them were throwing sachet water and other objects at the security operatives, who ordered them to vacate the road.”

It was further gathered that the situation could have degenerated to bloodshed but for the prompt intervention of the governor, who directed his security aides to handle the situation with utmost care.

However, when contacted, the candidate described the allegation as unfortunate, insisting that he had no powers to attack a governor’s convoy.

In his words: “I was going to Awa community to address my supporters ahead of next week’s election when I saw the governor’s convoy coming from the opposite direction. At first I thought it was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

“One of the outriders knocked down one of the motorcycle riders in my campaign train and the boy was seriously wounded and instead of giving him first aid, the security men pounced on him and began to beat him and this infuriated the youths and they blocked the road and asked the governor to kill all of them.”