A N3.8 million naira gift from Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to the state chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has caused division within the ranks of the group in the state.
The governor had last week, convened a meeting with the CNPP in order to woo their support for his re-election bid. The meeting which dragged late into the night at the Government House, Owerri, was reportedly boycotted by the major opposition parties in the state which includes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the Action Congress and the Labour Party.
The N3million gift, Pointblanknews.com learnt, was meant to assist the opposition parties mount a serious campaign against the PDP and other perceived enemies of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) government in the state.
A member of one of the opposition parties who attended the meeting said that the governor also promised to release another N2million to enable them secure an office accommodation.
Sources said it was a free for all fight as the members disagreed over the sharing formula the booty. In the process, it was gathered that some people sustained injuries while trying to scale the fence of the secondary school where they converged to share the money.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the major disagreement was whether it was right to reserve a chunk of the money for some government officials who were said to have arranged the meeting. Some of us who got N100, 000 insisted that the remaining money must be shared at the spot. They said nothing should be given to the government officials as they have been enjoying the money alone since Okorocha came to power. This was the cause of the confusion, the source hinted.
Reacting to the governor’s meeting with opposition group, the Publicity of the Imo PDP, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, could not be reached as at press time, but an official who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the issue, said those who met with Okorocha are “nobodies” in Imo politics, stressing that the governor would soon find out that the meeting was a futile exercise. Can you tell me which major parties attended the governor’s meeting?
This people are jokers who went to collect their share. When the game starts, you won’t see any of them. I don’t want to mention names, he boasted.
Other opposition parties are also said to re-strategizing to battle with the APGA government in the state.