Gov Theodore Orji was not booed , says aide

THE report that the governor of Abia State Chief Theodore Orji was booed and pelted with sachet by a hostile congregation  when  he attended the burial of the pioneer Catholic Bishop of  Aba Diocese , late Most Rev Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia has been described as false, and misleading.

  In a statement  he issued which was sent to The Guardian , the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor , Charles Ajunwa said the report and the pictures painted therein never occurred.

“The write-up is a figment of the imagination of the reporter” he wrote, adding that the governor  on arrival with  his delegation moved straight into the cathedral which was filled to capacity without any incident.

 “There was no time the governor was booed or jeered at not to talk of pelting him with pure water. The crowd outside merely cheered thunderously when he was officially announced as one of the dignitaries attending the burial.

“ It was not true that the hostile attitude of the crowd towards the governor prevented him from speaking at the event.

  From the programme , there was no provision for the governor or any other dignitary to speak. Not even the speech by President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi including the condolence message from Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State were read at the Mass. No politician who attended the church service was also allowed to speak”.

According to the Chief Press Secretary , “When the service ended, the governor  and others accompanied  ‘the late Bishop Ezeonyia’s  body to the graveside and after the internment, quietly entered his vehicle  and left the premises without fuss.”