Drama as Imo monarch assaults Okorocha inside aircraft

Former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West,  Rochas Okorocha was involved in a mild drama inside the business class section of Air Peace at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri on Sunday, as the former chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, attacked him.

Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, who was dethroned as the traditional ruler of Obingwu community in Orlu council of Imo, sighted Okorocha on the aircraft heading to Abuja from Owerri, Imo State capital.

Okorocha, who governed Imo between 2011 and 2019, had refused to reinstate Ilomuanya despite a court order.

He was, however, reinstated as the traditional ruler by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, who said the reinstatement was based on legal advice.

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Eyewitnesses said Ilomuanya, who was calmly seated before Okorocha’s arrival, suddenly charged at him when he entered the plane and attacked him with his walking stick.

The monarch attempted to fight the ex-governor over his alleged humiliation by Okorocha during his tenure.

He was said to have accused Okorocha of being unfair to him but the former governor said he had no regrets dethroning him.

It took the timely intervention of the flight captain and other attendants on board, who rushed in and stopped Ilomuanya from further hitting Okorocha with his walking stick, to douse the tension.

Reacting to the incident, Okorocha, through his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, described Ilomuanya’s assault on him as “disgraceful, unfortunate, condemnable, embarrassing, indecent and unexpected from someone who had led the state Council of Traditional Rulers.

The statement said the monarch’s action was propelled by his desire to return as the chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers.

According to the statement, people like Ilomuanya “have told themselves that the easiest way or method to adopt to achieve their aims or ambitions will be to insult or attack Okorocha, leveraging on the hostility of the government in the state now, against Okorocha and his family.

“If Senator Okorocha saw his brother, llomuanya and chose to sit close to him, that action should be highly commended and applauded. It showed that Okorocha had behaved not only as a Christian but also as a statesman. It showed that he had nothing personal against llomuanya.

“Again, if llomuanya could confront Okorocha to the extent of hitting him with his walking stick and Okorocha did not retaliate but hastily relocated to another seat, we will only say that Okorocha has acquitted himself very well as a two-term former of Imo State governor and now a sitting senator and a worthy ambassador of the state and the nation. He has shown character worthy of emulation.”