By Chidiebere Iwuoha
Eldest son of the late legal icon, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Mr Charley Boy, has stated why he humiliated Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, at his father’s burial at the weekend.
He said because he did not want his father’s burial to be politicised he made it clear earlier that after the president’s speech there would be no other speech.
He felt that Okorocha flouted the order by trying to make his speech after President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, had concluded his condolence message.
Okorocha himself might have felt that as the No 1 citizen and Chief Executive Officer of the state, he had the right to speak at such burial, especially after contributing the sum ofN20 million to ensure the success of the burial.
But Charley Boy thought otherwise, especially as he felt that the governor, after the donation, decided to politicise the matter by making it public. Again, he did not want the governor to continue the public humiliation by coming to announce it to the “home front” as that would further embarrass both his family and guests.
Okorocha had before this time told Imo people how he intended to organise a befitting burial for the late justice just like that of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, a move his political detractors regarded as “one of those cunning political moves aimed at boosting his ego.”
It would be recalled that during the burial of a foremost businessman in the east, Sir Richard Anyaehie at Nkwerre, a few weeks ago, Okorocha literary carpeted the likes of Chief Achike Udennwa, Chief Hope Uzodinma, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume (his perceived political enemies) and a host of others, when he stated without caring to know whose ox was gored that what was important was not mourning the late businessman, but “what would they be remembered for when they must have died?” This did not go down well with the above mentioned politicians and their friends who silently cursed Okorocha for his “bad verses.”
