Senator Chris Anyanwu yesterday accused Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha of ordering his security detail to attack her convoy and beat up her security men.<\/p>\n
Wednesday\u2019s convoy clash was the height of the personality clash between the two public officials both of whom were elected on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).<\/p>\n
But Okorocha\u2019s spokesman Ebere Uzoukwa denied the claims by the senator.<\/p>\n
He said the senator breached protocol by using a siren, which has been banned in the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe senator\u2019s vehicle suddenly rammed into the governor\u2019s convoy close to the staff car, cutting off the lead security vehicle after overtaking dangerously and in a very suspicious manner,\u201d Uzoukwa said.
\nBut, Senator Anyanwu recounts the incident in Owerri, the Imo State capital. She described the governor\u2019s security men\u2019s action as \u201cfrightening\u201d and \u201cbrutish\u201d, adding that she had been threatened in the past at several occasions in the state.<\/p>\n
Giving a graphic detail of the clash between her convoy and the governor\u2019s security men, Senator Anyanwu said: \u201cMy day started around 9.30am when I visited the governor at the Government House on Tuesday to exchange pleasantries and he asked if I had adequate security and I said \u201cyes\u201d after which I left for my home town, Mbaise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we got to Azara Egbelu, we heard siren coming behind us and when it grew louder, we parked (our vehicles) to allow the convoy way to pass. But, surprisingly, the approaching convoy which comprised of truck loads of armed and stern looking men double crossed us and pulled out two of my drivers dragging them into the bush where they were mercilessly beaten and left with broken skull and bruises.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I could not bear it any more, I rushed out of my car barefooted and started shouting: \u201cI am Senator Chris Anynawu please don\u2019t kill my driver, but one of the armed men charged at me and threatened to shoot me for running into the governor\u2019s convoy. All these while, the Governor was seated in his car with the glass wound down and I heard him shout at his security men to disarm my orderlies\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Anywanwu described the Governor\u2019s action as \u201ca misplaced show of power. The power of the state is so enormous and you don\u2019t need to intimidate, harass or kill your people to assert your powers as a governor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am tired of all these abuses and harassment in this state. It is not only in Imo State that they have female legislators. If they could do this to me, what will happen to the ordinary people, this has to stop\u201d.<\/p>\n
The governor\u2019s spokesman insisted that Senator Anyanwu breached security, adding that her outburst of anger could have resulted in a heavy casualty if not for the discipline of the governor\u2019s security men who displayed a high sense of decency, professionalism and maturity.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurprisingly, Senator Anyanwu, who no doubt knew the convoy was that of the governor of Imo State, alighted from her car and ordered her Naval security personnel to open fire. The Senator slapped both the governor\u2019s Aide Camp and Chief Detail. She also rained abuses on the governor,\u201d Uzoukwa said.<\/p>\n
Sources in the state said there had been no love lost between the governor and the senator because of the perceived interest of the senator in contesting for governor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senator Chris Anyanwu yesterday accused Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha of ordering his security detail to attack her convoy and beat up her security men. Wednesday\u2019s convoy clash was the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n