Okorocha Under Attack Over Comments Against Ilomuanya

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has come under severe criticism
over his comments that the appointment of the Obi of Obinugwu and
Chairman, Imo State and South East Councils of Traditional Rulers, HRH
Eze (Dr) Cletus Ilomuanya as Chancellor, Federal University, Bernin
Kebbi, Kebbi State, was not acceptable to him. The governor through
his Senior Special Assistant (media) had argued that the monarch is
not in the good books of the State and therefore, not suitable for
such appointment by the Federal Government.

But in a swift reaction, a socio-political organization, Save Imo
Coalition, described Okorocha's statement as ridiculous and anti-Igbo,
pointing out that the governor is still bitter over series of judicial
defeats up to the Supreme Court, which he suffered in the hands of Eze
Ilomuanya for unlawfully dissolving the Imo State Council of
Traditional Rulers under the Chairmanship of the monarch.

Another Igbo socio-political group, Aka Ikenga also flayed the
governor's action, noting that Ndigbo the world over appreciate Eze
Ilomuanya's "giant strides in Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the welfare of
Ndigbo in general", stressing that as a foremost Igbo think tank
organization, Aka Ikenga is pleased with the monarch's appointment and
expressed Ndigbo's gratitude to the Federal Government for such an
honour done to Ndigbo.

According to Save Imo Coalition, in a statement endorsed by its
National Coordinator, Barr. Chukwuma Nwachukwu, Ilomuanya is a
celebrated monarch who ought to be honoured for being the first Imo
indigene to be vested with the Chancellorship of any Federal
University in Nigeria in the past 30years. The organization accused
Okorocha of being averse to due process and rule of law, averring that
"it is appalling that Governor Okorocha has ignominiously chosen to
work against Igbo interests for selfish reasons at all times" "Sultan
of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Emir of Kano, Obong of Calabar, Lamido of
Adamawa amongst other respected monarchs were appointed alongside Eze
Ilomuanya as Chancellors and nobody has complained in their states.
Why is Governor Okorocha alone amongst all Igbos worldwide disturbed
by this appointment? While every Igbo man is pleased with Eze
Ilomuanya's appointment, Okorocha alone is sad", why?

It contended that Okorocha's vituperations against this worthy Igbo
monarch "is a murderous decapitation of facts and an affront on the
collective interest of Ndigbo as well as a hangover of his judicial
losses against the monarch", warning that the organization might be
compelled to champion the ostracization of the governor by Ndigbo if
he does not retrace his steps. It advised Okorocha and his cronies "to
always harken to the voice of reason in all their activities and
desist from the temptation to truncate the rule of law and Igbo
interests in preference for his personal wishes".

In a congratulatory message to Eze Ilomuanya signed by its President,
Chief Goody Uwazuruike, Aka Ikenga pointed that the appointment of Eze
Ilomuanya as Chancellor of Federal University, Bernin Kebbi is
meritorious and a step in the right direction by the Federal
Government.

Aka Ikenga expressed confidence that considering Eze Ilomuanya's known
pedigree, the monarch would discharge his functions with due dignity
and majestic dexterity for which he is known both within and outside
Nigeria, adding that any Igbo man working against the interest of
Ndigbo should have a re-think before it is late to make amends.
--horn newspaper