Uche Nwosu, who was arrested under controversial manner by the police during a church service is said to have committed a sacrilege in the church- assaulting the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Anthony Obinna, in March 2018.
Nwosu who is the son-in-law of Rochas Okorocha representing Owerri West in the Senate was arrested by police at St. Peters’ Anglican Church, Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo state on Sunday.
Nwosu, his family members, relations, friends and associates were in a thanksgiving service for his late mother, Jemaimah Adaeze Nwosu, who was buried last Wednesday.
Obinna’s stirring the hornet’s net
In 2018, Obinna had a brush with supporters of All Progressives Congress in Imo State for condemning the apportioning of political offices to the family members and allies of then Governor Okorocha.
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The Archbishop who preached at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ngwoma in Owerri North council area during the requiem mass for the mother of Alex Mbata had told Nwosu, then Chief of Staff to Governor Okorocha that the state needed a seasoned administrator democratically elected and not a handpicked successor as likened to the governor’s son-in-law.
“It is like civilian dictatorship which is unacceptable. Not the governor, not his deputy, not even me can handpick and determine who governs Imo without recourse to the will and votes of Imo people,” the Archbishop said.
Obinna urged the members of the congregation to endeavour to get their Permanent Voters’ Cards and deploy them appropriately in 2019.
Trouble started when Obinna lamented the dilapidation of roads and infrastructure in the area and the increasing level of poverty and hunger in Imo State.
An appointee of the governor from Orlu West council area, Chief Chris Ekwueme, shouted that Governor Okorocha was working and doing his best. Ekwueme was invited to the podium and was given the microphone.
The APC stalwart stated that Okorocha was working and cannot finish all the developmental works in Imo State during his tenure, noting that the concern of the Archbishop will be addressed.
Another member of the congregation, who apparently was not sympathetic to the APC, dashed off to the podium and requested to speak and was also given the microphone after Archbishop Obinna, who was sceptical about his intentions, had quizzed him in low tones.
The man lamented that the APC Government in Imo State is a tragedy, which has continued to inflict pain and poverty on the people of the state.
He stressed that nothing under the Okorocha administration was working or functioning in the real sense of it as issues are driven by more of propaganda than truth.
He called on the people to demand change in government come 2019 and use their PVCs wisely.
Angered by the man’s submission, APC followers started jeering and shouting in the church.
Thereafter, it degenerated to raining insults on the Archbishop, forcing him to end his admonition.
The Archbishop handed over the microphone to the Monsignor as the APC supporters thronged out to the front and turned the church into a rowdy session.
Priests and church workers formed a wall around the vestry with most of the young priests ready to defend themselves if the APC supporters breached the altar, but they didn’t.
While the bedlam continued, the First Lady, Mrs. Okorocha, and Nwosu, many commissioners were also in the church.
An eyewitness, Rev. Fr. Chika Opara, noted that it was not the first time Okorocha’s men were bringing thuggery to the church.
Opara said: “This was exactly what they did in 2015 when the Catholic Church organised a debate for governorship aspirants in the state.
“When things were not going their way, they sent in their thugs, attacked the organisers and destroyed the podium for the debate.”
Reacting to the incident, the Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria condemned the harassment of the Archbishop.
The ACMPN said in a statement by its chairman, Dr. Philip Njemanze: “These dastardly acts have become frequent occurrences in the current administration against leading religious leaders, human rights activists and social critics.
”The present event goes further to underscore that in Imo State under the current administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, there is suspension of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion as enshrined in Sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Okorocha blames Uzodinma for Nwosu’s travail
Okorocha accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of being behind Nwosu’s arrest, saying he (Uzodimma) deceived the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman Baba, to apprehend his son-in-law.
He maintained that the governor had been after him and his family members since he assumed office.
“Uzodimma deceived Abuja for the arrest of Nwosu. He is responsible for the arrest. He is using distraction to cover up his non-performance, but that can’t work. It is either Uzodinma is the IGP or the governor of Imo State. I don’t even know the whereabouts of Uche Nwosu,” he said.
But in sharp reaction, Special Assistant to Uzodimma on Print media, Modestus Nwankpa, said the police arrested Nwosu and not Uzodimma, insisting that nobody was above arrest.
Also, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, advised that Okorocha should have allowed the law to take its course before his allegation.
His words: “If Nwosu is arrested, Okorocha should wait and see why he was arrested, but he is talking incoherently and that will not save him. He should wait for the law to take its course.”
The Imo State Police, Sunday, cleared the air that the candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the 2019 Imo State governorship election, Uche Nwosu, was arrested and not abducted, as earlier reported.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Rabiu Hussaini, had urged members of the public to disregard the media report that Nwosu was abducted.
A statement issued by the Imo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, confirmed that Nwosu was arrested, stressing that the command was committed to ensuring the safety of life and property of Imo people.
He, however, did not give details of why he was apprehended, adding: “This is to inform the general public that Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and the Imo State Police command is aware of the arrest and presently, he is in police custody.
“This is to refute the earlier report that he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Hussaini assured Imo people of the command’s commitment to ensure the safety of life and property during the Yuletide season and urged members of the public to always shun fake news.”
Owing to condemnations, the police released Nwosu.
