By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
For the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Sunday March 28, 2021 will remain green in his memory, as he was physically attacked aboard an Air Peace flight to Abuja by a monarch he dethroned when he was a governor.
Okorocha, the senator representing Imo West in the Senate, was seated beside Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, the Obi of Obinugwu, in the aircraft, when suddenly there was an argument between the two, which caused the monarch to cane the former governor repeatedly with his walking stick.
The beaten degenerated and attracted the attention of the pilot and his crew, who saved the helpless Okorocha from further punishement from the highly enraged monarch.
The former governor was immediately relocated to another seat by the crew to avoid further punishment, according to a source, who was in the same plane.
Ilomuanya was said to have warned the lawmaker to stay away from Orlu, Imo’s second-largest city after Owerri, the state capital.
There are insinuations that the anger of the monarch may not be unconnected with his dethronement as the Imo Council of Traditional Rulers Chairman by Okorocha.
Ilomunaya was removed in 2011 shortly after Okorocha assumed office as the governor of Imo State.
Ilomuanya won the case, which moved from the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal Court then to the Supreme Court; but Okorocha refused to reinstate him.
The media aide to the former governor, Mr. Sam Onwuamaodo, has confirmed the attack on his principal.
He said that it was unfortunate to physically attack a serving senator inside an aircraft.
He explained that Okorocha only went to the monarch to exchange pleasantry, but received assault instead.
Recall that in 2017, Ilomunaya had alleged that Okorocha was vindictive over a political decision the traditional rulers made before he assumed office.
“I must confess I have no personal problems with Governor Rochas Okorocha. I have no other option than to honour and respect his person and office. This I have always done, despite his calculated attempts to dishonour me.
“But what I oppose in all ramifications is Governor Okoracha’s dictatorial tendencies. He is playing the god in Imo. This is not good for our people. It is also not good for the image of Imo State.”
Ilomuanya was re-instated after Okorocha left office.
