EXECUTIVE DRAMA: Governor T.A Orji halts Governor Okorocha’s birthday bash in Abia state.

So , the proposed civic reception in honour of Governor Rochas Okorocha which was billed to hold on Saturday in Aba was stopped on the executive orders of His Excellency, Ochendo Theodore Orji.

This is how Saturday Sun reported the drama:
Abia governor who alleged that the reception was a ploy to launch the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state stopped the reception organised by rescue missionaries to mark the 51 birthday of Okorocha.According to one of the organisers who pleaded anonymity, “all arrangements have been concluded for today’s event to mark our governor’s (Okorocha) birthday, scheduled to hold at Abia State Polytechnic, we have paid for the venue and obtained police permit but suddenly Governor Orji ordered that it should not be held on the soil of Abia”.

Saturday Sun gathered that the sudden cancellation of the birthday reception by Abia State governor might not be unconnected with the strained relationship between the duo.

It was equally learnt Governor Orji also instructed the police not to permit any gathering in the state in whatever guise as long as it has to do with the Imo State governor.

When contacted the deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Chinedu Offor, said that they were not aware why the reception was stopped, adding that it was not a political rally but a religious affair.

According to him, “our brothers and other progressive minded people in Abia State felt that since the governor had been hosted in the South West, they felt they also should felicitate with him, so I don’t see anything wrong with that”.

However efforts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, proved abortive, as his phone was not responding…..

While Sun was unable to get hold of the CPS, Premium Times did. Read their version below:

Earlier on Saturday, the Sun Newspapers reported that the birthday reception was stopped on the orders of the Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, purportedly because it was a ploy by Mr. Okorocha to launch the recently registered All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia Governor, Ugochukwu Emezue, said Mr. Okorocha planned to launch a pet-project called Imo Rescue Mission at the Abia State Polytechnic without permission from the school authorities. He also said that the police in the state were unaware of the planned programme.

Mr. Emezue said Mr. Orji and Mr. Okorocha have a cordial relationship contrary to what many think. He, however, said that Mr. Okorocha should hold his pet project in Imo State where he is governor instead of Abia State.

He also hinted that the state would do whatever it takes to stop the flow of political thugs from Imo State to disrupt the peace in Abia.