Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, yesterday made a startling revelation of how the elder brother of the impeached Imo State deputy governor, Chief Martin Agbaso and some chieftains of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, offered him a whopping N3 billion to impeach the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Speaking during an interview with selected journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Uwajumogu alleged that Chief Agbaso, a business mogul, Sir Emeka Offor, the PDP National Vice-Chairman, South East, Col. Augustine Akobundu and other high ranking PDP members promised to give him the money if he would facilitate the impeachment of Okorocha to pave way for his deputy, Jude Agbaso, to become the governor.
His words: “Sometime in August, 2012, Chief Martin Agbaso, elder brother to the former deputy governor, invited me for a meeting to help stop the PDP hierarchy from removing me from office.
“I attended the meeting in Anambra State in the house of a high level member of the party, Sir Emeka Offor, we had other high ranking PDP members, including the current South-East National Vice-Chairman of PDP, Col. Augstine Akobundu.
“I was shocked at the meeting. I was told that the Presidency has directed that impeachment proceedings be commenced against Governor Okorocha to remove him from office, so that the then deputy, Sir Jude Agbaso, can take over.
“The sum of N3billion was offered to me and of course adequate protection. I now asked them to give me the evidence that was required to impeach the governor and up till today they have not given me any required evidence.”
The Speaker further stated that; “While Chief Agbaso was trying to sponsor the impeachment move against Okorocha, the governor got wind of it and confronted him (Agbaso) and myself. I owned up having heard their discussion and there was no evidence but I didn’t think it was anything to worry about.”
Uwajumogu also debunked claims that the impeachment of the deputy governor was predetermined, stressing that, “I am actually surprised by some of the information being released by the Agbasos. If there was any predetermined impeachment action, it was to be against the governor, which was to be sponsored by Martins Agbaso and the PDP in line with the directive of the Presidency.” When contacted, Akobundu, said he was not aware of the Speaker’s allegation.
“I am not aware of what he (Speaker) was talking about. I am a member of the opposition in the state and can’t be talking about impeachment; the PDP is concerned with restoring good governance in the state.”
Also speaking, the state Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the party, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, described the Speaker’s claim as unfounded and total falsehood.
He continued: “The PDP is not interested in the impeachment of Okorocha because if he is impeached the PDP will not takeover, however, we are only working so that we can win the next election and restore good governance in the state.
“The PDP will remove Okorocha during the next general election; we are not talking about impeachment.” In his reaction, Chief Agbaso simply said, “I am not sure the Speaker can say anything like that.”
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