Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has blamed defectors to the party for the fire incident that occurred at the All Progressives Congress, APC, secretariat in Owerri on Friday.
In a statement by his spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor said the fire may not be unconnected to the frustrations of some of the party men over the disputed ward congress in the state.
He said: “The State Secretariat of All Progressives Congress, APC, located at Imo State University Junction, Okigwe road Owerri was this evening, Friday, May 11, 2018 set ablaze by thugs obviously working for the opponents of the administration and they had hidden under the heavy rain in Owerri at that time, to carry out the disdainful act.
It should be recalled that APC in Imo has remained a peaceful Party until the entry of those known for thuggery and carrying of ballot boxes into the Party.
“Their frustration must have arisen from their inability to convince leaders of APC and Nigerians in general that they didn’t steal the sensitive materials meant for the Ward Congresses of the Party in the State last Saturday, being May 5, 2018.
“Obviously their current claims have heavily contradicted their claims on video that Saturday and thereby making it difficult for them to convince their audience that they never stole Sensitive materials for the Ward Congresses in the State.
Governor Rochas Okorocha in all his Political life has not been known for Political thuggery or violence. And that is the reason those in the so-called Coalition are exceeding their bound even when most of them have not won their booths in any election.
“It is also important to warn that people should not take Governor Okorocha’s high level Political tolerance and unbridled peaceful dispositions for granted or interpret such virtues to mean weakness. A word should be enough for the wise.
Meanwhile, the governor has asked the Commissioner of Police in the State to launch full-scale investigation into the incident and ensure that the culprits are apprehended to face the consequences of their action,” the statement added.
