Imo accuses Okorocha of inciting youths to destroy state property

 

The Imo government has accused Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of the state, of inciting youths to destroy state property.

 

The state made the allegation in a statement released by Declan Emelumba, commissioner for information, on Friday.

 

On Monday, gunmen attacked the correctional centre and the police command headquarters in Owerri, the state capital.

 

Over 1,500 prisoners were reportedly freed in the attacks.

Hope Uzodinma, the state governor, blamed politicians for the incidents.

 

But Okorocha, who represents Imo west at the senate, said the governor should approach him for counsel rather than politicise the security situation.

 

“The recent attacks on the police headquarters and the correctional centre in Imo State, the unending herdsmen crises, the banditry, the unending Boko Haram, kidnapping – these are all products of poverty and injustice,” Okorocha said.

 “While I call for peace and understanding, we have a duty as leaders to correct these ugly issues of injustices and poverty which are ravaging the country.

 

“Whoever is saying politicians are involved is trying to politicize the whole thing. I don’t think that any sane politician will go and ask youths to shoot at the police headquarters and all that.”

 

The commissioner flayed the former governor for blaming the attacks on poverty and injustice, saying Okorocha kept the people impoverished during his tenure.

 

Emelumba said Okorocha has refused to condemn the Imo attacks, adding that the former governor has been inciting northern youths to destroy state property.

 “He is reaping political capital over the unfortunate incidents and had even gone ahead to incite northerners against the government and people of Imo state,” he said.

 

“It is a direct slap on the face of Imo people for Okorocha to say that the cause of the security breaches in the state was poverty and injustice when he greatly impoverished Imo people by mindlessly appropriating their commonwealth in a most unjust manner, as established by the judicial commissions of inquiry that investigated his tenure in office.

 

“Do you know the collateral damage that rascality and indiscretion has cost Ndigbo? As I speak, Northern youths are planning attacks against Igbo property in the north because someone chose to sell out for political patronage.”