By Onyekachi Eze
After two days of silence by Members of the Imo State House of Assembly, following alleged physical combat between two members and detention of the Ohaji/Egbema Lawmaker, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu has said he neither had any altercation with Heclus Okoro, nor fought him.
Recall that Speaker of the House, Chiji Collins was impeached last Friday by the endorsement of over nineteen Lawmakers, over accusations bordering on incompetence, financial impropriety, highhandedness, and sabotage to the party, APC.
This led to the emergence of the Onuimo Member, Paul Emeziem, succeeding Chiji as Speaker.
However, while the official presentation was going on at the Government House, Owerri, before the Governor Hope Uzodinma, trouble started.
A source said that Hon. Heclus Okoro was alleged to have attempted to attacking and stab the Deputy Speaker, before he was bridged by Security Orderlies attached to Iwuanyanwu and Government House Policemen.
Another source said that the Deputy Speaker, slapped Okoro, who retaliated and fought Iwuanyanwu before security men stepped in.
Also, it was gathered that he (Okoro) was later detained by the Police for the display.
Meanwhile, while reacting on the development, Hon Iwuanyanwu told our Correspondent that he never had any issue with his Ohaji/Egbema colleague.
He stated that Okoro arrived when the members were already in Government House and came straight to him querying why the members had to sit without informing him.
He said the stern looks and manner Okoro tapped his shoulder was quite suspicious like one on a mission.
Reason for Okoro’s action, when Trumpeta further asked, the Nwangele representative said he wasn’t aware, but maybe because he the (Deputy Speaker) presided over the plenary that impeached the former Speaker.
More so, Iwuanyanwu told this Newspaper that he had already called Hon. Heclus Okoro and had a phone conversation with him, and his friendly nature when he picked the call never showed any sign that there was a misunderstanding over the weekend.
Hon Iwuanyanwu said they have moved on, hoping of the best legislation from the new Leadership of the House, especially geared towards the good of the masses.
In a related development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri who was earlier mentioned to be involved in the fracas has also denied taking part in the theatrical display at Government House on the said day.
When contacted on a telephone, he said he has been in London for the past two weeks.
Nze Nwaneri opined that even though he wasn’t around, what Hon Heclus Okoro did, according to eye witnesses was totally wrong, and should be condemned.
He claimed that a DSS officer and two others who were wedging the fight sustained injuries from the knife and bottle cut brought in by the Ohaji/Egbema member.
