Matilda Omonaiye/
South-East Governors have secured the release of former Imo State governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha after he was arrested by the police for opening his wife’s hotel that was sealed by the state government.
Reports say Royal Spring Palm Hotel, Owerri, was sealed two days ago because it was allegedly built without permission on government land.
Okorochas aide, Ebere Nzewuji, confirmed the release of his boss.
Nzewuji denied that his boss tried to unseal the property. He said, “When he arrived at the premises, they were confronted with thugs who had guns and machetes, and they were attacking him and his entourage.
“He can’t go there to make trouble. He went to ask questions. A staff was beaten up, even the hotel’s guests still had their property inside the hotel. He wasn’t going to unseal the property.”
Okorocha’s spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement on the incident, alleged that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s aide on special duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, led the thugs that attacked the senator and his entourage.
The South-East Governors’ Forum later waded into the feud between the former governor and his successor, who was accused of ordering the hotel sealed.
Before his release last night, Okorocha was reportedly asked to respond to a complaint filed against him by the Imo State Government.
The Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State, disclosed today in a statement signed by his media aide, Francis Nwaze, that the forum was “already handling the issue” between Senator Okorocha and Governor Uzodinma.
Umahi reportedly said contacts had been made to resolve the feud. He assured that both parties agreed to a truce.
“South-East leaders are capable of settling their disputes internally instead of washing their linen in public,” he said.
He urged residents of Imo State to conduct their businesses peacefully and in accordance with the law.
He said, “We sue for calm among the supporters of both leaders to ensure a timely and amicable resolution of the disagreement. They should also shun provocative statements as we work towards restoring normalcy to the situation.”
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