After alleged assault on Archbishop, Okorocha boasts that God, 24 LGAs behind son-in-law

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha on Sunday boasted that already his son-in-law’s ambition to succeed him as the next governor of the state had the backing of God and 24 out of the 27 local government areas of the state.

The governor’s boasting came a day after his son-in-law and current Imo Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, allegedly supervised an assault on Owerri Catholic Archbishop, Valentine Obinna, during a burial service of the mother of one Mr. Alex Mbata on Saturday, at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Ngwoma-Obube in the Owerri North Local Government Area.

All Progressives Congress (APC) members who allegedly accompanied wife of the state governor, Nkechi Okorocha; Nwosu; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Acho Ihim; and some commissioners were reported to have invaded the altar and ordered the archbishop to stop his speech, which they considered to be anti-state government.

But Okorocha who refuted the allegation in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, argued that the news that his son-in-law ordered the assault on the Archbishop by members of All Progressives Congress (APC) was a “blackmail being orchestrated by the opposition.”

According to the governor, the opposition having seen his son-in-law as the governorship aspirant to beat in 2019 has resorted to use the church against him.

He said, “We say this for posterity sake. Imo people, including youths, students, men and women have “thrown their unalloyed support behind” the youthful Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, for the 2019 governorship in the state.

Read also: Imo 2019: Confrontation heightens between Catholic Church, Gov Okorocha (Video)

“He has become the subject matter as long as that issue is concerned, with APC officials and leaders from 24 out of the 27 local governments in the state having already endorsed him for the 2019 Imo guber.

“Now, seeing Uche Nwosu as the guy to beat in the 2019 election, they now think that there is no other way to stop him than through unwarranted blackmail. That is the reason such a quintessential gentleman and an embodiment of decency should be associated with whatever that transpired at the event in question.”

Meanwhile, Archbishop Obinna, has likened his alleged humiliation to that of “Christ’s on the cross of Calvary,” saying that he had left the case for God to handle.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now