OPAC demanded explanation from Uzodinma on how Anunobi’s name was erased from the list of the accused persons in court papers.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The apex political leadership group in Orlu Zone, Orlu Political Action Committee (OPAC), has criticised Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma for the incessant attacks on former governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.
The group’s statement followed fake letters ascribed to Ihedioha, one of which was allegedly addressed to the AGF Abubakar Malami to continue the detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
OPAC also criticised some persons it called “agents of the same Government” who “congregated under a very bizarre nomenclature to demand for the arrest of the Rt. Hon. Ihedioha over a completely baseless and absurd allegation of misappropriation of N19.63 billion.”
OPAC Publicity Secretary, Barr. Nnamdi Maduka, in a statement dated October 18 said, “The latest, therefore, in their orgy of fakery, forgery and charlatanism was the cloning of the voice of the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, so as to suggest that the former Governor made statements on the phone about the security situation in the State. Immediately the cloned voice recording was released to the public, a non-existent group of imposters called OPOCA, which arrowhead has been unmasked to be one Mr. Rex Anunobi, a serving Commissioner in Senator Uzodinma’s Government, was let loose to call for the arrest of the former Governor, Rt. Hon. Ihedioha.”
The statement further said, “OPAC recalls that, some six weeks ago, Senator Uzodinma had mobilized his appointees, proxies and political thugs to stage a demonstration in Owerri and demand for the arrest of Rt. Hon. Ihedioha. It must be noted that the cloning of Ihedioha’s voice was an afterthought which was contrived only to create the pretext that would justify an arrest and possible elimination being plotted a long time ago.
“For us in OPAC, by aiding and abetting such mind-boggling criminality, even to the extent of forging the letterhead and signature of the former Governor, and cloning his voice too, Senator Uzodinma has crossed the red lines, and we cannot remain silent any longer.
“Imo people must know that, Senator Uzodinma, having realized that the people are now collectively enraged by his embarrassingly poor performance in the past three years, he has at last unleashed countless fake groups to plunge the State into crisis in order to divert attention from the killings, arson, abductions and treasury looting going on right under his watch.
“OPAC therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), to move in now without any further delay to arrest and prosecute Mr. Rex Anunobi, who has been identified as the person behind the fake letters, cloned voice recording and fake groups criminally heating up the State.
“To set the records straight, there used to be a group known as OPOCA, which became very notorious in Orlu not just for ripping off political office seekers and ambushing any government in power for patronage, but also in carrying coffins and publicly conducting mock funeral ceremonies against prominent Orlu indigenes who refused part with some cold cash. OPOCA was another name for fraud in Orlu. But the group has since gone into extinction, and now the identity is appropriated by Senator Uzodinma to spread falsehoods against innocent citizens.
“We are genuinely worried that Senator Uzodinma, in speaking through OPOCA, tends to create the wrong impression that the views of the non-existent group reflect those of Orlu people. As the apex political group in Orlu, we dissociate ourselves and indeed Orlu people from Senator Uzodinma’s blackmail, propaganda and campaign of hate against Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
“It borders on gross abuse of office that Senator Uzodinma would parade his Commissioner, Rex Anunobi, as the face of a fraudulent and extinct group and would use same to attack innocent citizens and create anarchy in Imo State. Senator Uzodinma is the aggressor, and he should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Imo State.
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“OPAC wishes to remind Imo people that this same Rex Anunobi was arrested in October 2021 even as a serving Commissioner and was secretly arraigned at Magistrate Court 2 at Shell Camp in Owerri by the Government of Senator Uzodinma on very serious allegations of extortion and diversion of public funds.”
OPAC demanded explanation from Uzodinma on how Anunobi’s name was erased from the list of the accused persons in court papers.
“He should also let Imo people know the deal they struck which yielded in Anunobi’s sudden release. OPAC alerts Imo people that part of the deal reached was that Anunobi must make himself available to be used for levying attacks on Senator Uzodinma’s perceived political foes. And forging Ihedioha’s letterhead, cloning his voice and attacking his personality are obviously part of the sleazy assignments which Anunobi must do to remain a free man.
“OPAC, on behalf of Orlu Zone, apologizes to former Governor Emeka Ihedioha for mindless actions of our misguided son, Rex Anunobi. As a recompense, we have set aside Saturday, December 31, 2022 as the day to honour the former Governor in a grand style as ‘EZINWANNE NDI ORLU’, given his unimpeachable contributions to the development of Orlu Zone within the seven months he was in office as Governor,” the group added.
