Tension in Imo state over former governor's arrest

Emeka Ihedioha and Rochas Okorocha

The confrontation between the Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, has increased in the last two weeks, with growing concern that it could get into full blown crisis if urgent steps are not taken to stop the conflict.

The situation was further incensed by the governor’s order for the arrest of Okorocha by citizens of the state, following the assault of the Chairman of the Committee for the Recovery of Government Property, Jasper Ndubuaku by irate youths.

Secretary to the State Government, Uche Onyeaguocha, gave the order, while addressing youths before they were dispatched to the Sam Mbakwe Airport to ambush the former governor who they assumed was returning to the state from Abuja.

Onyeaguocha said that the state had also placed Okorocha on security watch and urged Imo citizens to arrest him and alert the government whenever they found him in the state.

The state government said that it has become imperative to order for the arrest of the governor following his inciting statements credited to him during his last visit to the state.

Already the state is tensed following the arrest order placed on the former governor. Observers have expressed concern that the order is capable of inciting supporters of both camps to violence.

Meanwhile, the former governor has described the order for his arrest by citizens of the state as a “direct invitation to anarchy”.