Charly Boy disgraces Imo State Governor Okorocha at father's burial

The first son of late Socrates of the Supreme Court, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Charly boy, yesterday disgraced Governor Rochas Okorocha at an Arequiem mass organised for his father in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

Eye witnesses said that the mass which was conducted by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rt Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oguta, went on smoothly until Okorocha was permitted by the Bishop to pay his tribute to the fallen judge.

However, Chief Okorocha, was stopped midway into his speech, by Charley Boy who walked up angrily to the altar and snatched the micro-phone from the governor, to the embarrassment of all the dignitaries present. It was a disgrace to the governor.

Among eminent Nigerians present at the church service included representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Governors Willie Obiano (Anambra), Theodore Orji (Abia); the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha and former governors of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige and Mr Peter Obi respectively.

Also present, were the former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Uche Chukwumerije and the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, the state Police Commsiioner, Almajid Ali and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, for Oguta, Ikembuchukwu Abugu.

The intervention of Bishop Kukah could not assuage Charly Boy's anger as he insisted that no politician would take advantage of his father's burial to score "cheap political" goals. He insisted that the Governor should not speak at the event.

However, obviously embarrassed by Charley Boy's action, the Governor and members his entourage hurriedly left the church service mid-way, despite entreaties from the officiating Bishop Kuka for them to stay on.

It was gathered that Charly Boy's action followed a recent statement by Government House, Owerri, to the effect that the Oputa family was given N20 million to assist it in the burial arrangements.

Sources told Saturday Vanguard, however, that "the family never received a dime from either Okorocha or the state government, not to talk of the alleged N20 million said to have been made available to them,'' as reported by a section of the media".