By Celephina Onovo
Security operatives trying to stop the inferno
A charred section of Imo APC office
The raging fire
The secretariat of the Imo State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress has been burnt.
The party office was burnt yesterday evening by unknown persons believed to be hoodlums.
The Imo State APC leadership has been divided for some time now over the alleged high-handedness of Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The Hilary Ekeh-led the APC in Imo has not been allowed to assert themselves as the governor wants to dictate what happens, particularly in the build up to the 2019 election.
During the last ward congress election, allegations of missing result sheets, assault on the secretariat and manipulation were level
ed.
Okorocha had to run to Daura in Katsina State to complain to President Muhammadu Buhari.
There was also attempt by the National working Committee of the APC led by John Odigie-Oyegun and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to resolve their differences to no avail.
A petition submitted to the APC headquarters in Abuja by key stakeholders in the state alleging how Okorocha was destroying the party is still receiving attention.
It is believed that the attempt to burn the secretariat was because of the Local Government congress on Saturday, and the attempt by a faction to dominate the exercise.
Already, the governor’s associates are being alleged to be in the know of the fire incident since they were said to have brought thugs from Ohaji Egbema last Saturday, May 5 to disrupt the ward congresses.
Those behind the alleged attempted mayhem of May 5 were also said to have threatened to nurn the secretariat if they are stopped from having their way in subsequent exercises.
It is recalled that two persons were feared killed and property running into millions of Naira destroyed when unknown gunmen invaded the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday.
The unidentified armed men reportedly stormed the court complex earlier in the morning, May 11, and killed two private security officers as they destroyed property with ease worth millions of Naira.
The cause of the Rivers attack is yet unknown, but armadanews.com learnt that it was in connection with tomorrow’s local government congress in Rivers.
It was said that there was an attempt by one of the factions led by Senator Magnus Abe to stop the exercise through the court.
But the other faction controlled by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was said to have resisted the move.
Sources said the attack on the court complex may have been carried out by the group that wants the congress held, and that they may have gone to the court to destroy the materials the Abe-led group had taken to the court to stop the exercise.
At press time, Governor Nyesom wike had gone round the complex to see the extent of damage done to the complex.
On the Imo APC fire incident, a source said it may be connected with the raging war over who controls the structure of the party in Imo State between Governor Rochas Okorocha and APC Stakeholders under the aegis of Alliance Forces of All Progressives Congress led by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere.
The source said: “This evening, the APC secretariat located at Works Layout by Okigwe Road, Owerri, was seen with thick smoke and tongue of flames ripping through the roof of the building, which stirred up pandemonium as people ran helter-skelter while the courageous used everything in sight including sand and whatever that was available as fire-fighting instrument.
“According to Government House source, the fire incident may not be unconnected with tomorrow’s APC local government area congress, which the Governor has vowed to stop following his woeful failure in seizing the party structure in the last ward congresses.
“It will be recalled that last Saturday, during the ward congresses, it was reported that the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, Sen. Ben. Uwajumogu, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba, Sir Jude Ejiogu, Chief felix Idiga among many others were physically attacked by fiercely looking thugs suspected to have those granted amnesty by Governor Okorocha.
“The miscreants were led by Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, member, House Representatives, Hon. Kenneth Emelu, Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Uju, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations who is notoriously known for unleashing thugs on the commoners.
“Following Governor Okorocha’s confusion on how he lost the ward congresses, Monday, May 7, 2018, the party secretariat was reported to have been attacked by a troop of thugs led by Comrade Jeff Nwaoha.
“Now that once known peaceful city of Owerri has become a theatre of war, who knows what the epilogue of tomorrow’s LGA congress will read.”