The existing peace enjoyed in Imo State, since the commencement of campaigns by different political parties was truncated when party supporters from the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, clashed at the Government House gate in Owerri, the Imo State capital, south east Nigeria.
Eyewitness said that the clash occurred at about 8:00am on Tuesday, when some aggrieved widows, all dressed in black attires from different Local Government Areas of the state, alleged to be supporters of PDP stalwart and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, marched towards the government house with coffin, to protest against the purported and incessant media attack on the minister by the State Government.
However supporters of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who were not pleased with the whole scenario attempted to prevent the widows’ entrance into the government house, which eventually led into a free for all fight.
In the course of the whole pandemonium, an innocent journalist, Eric Etuk, who was on assignment, sustained several injuries during the protest.
Meanwhile, on arrival from Abuja, the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, while suing for peace, condemned the act by Professor Onwuliri, for instigating such action against the State Government.
He called on President President Goodluck Jonathan to call his ministers and PDP leaders in the state to order, so as to prevent any further chaos and political violence in the state.
However, while speaking to Channels Television, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in Imo State, Mohammad Kura, expressed disappointment over the incident which he said is capable of destabilizing the existing peace in the state.
He said hence, any protest or rally by any political party or group should get the permission of the police. he warned all politicians to play by the rules in this delicate period.
With the present acrimony existing among the two major political parties following the postponement of the elections, it is hoped that politicians and their supporters in the state conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner, to avoid any further breakdown of law and order in the state.
