By Our Reporter, Delta state
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ika south local government area of Delta state was said to have turned bloody on Saturday leaving the former speaker of the house of Assembly, Mr. Martins Okonta hospitalized.
Trouble, it was learnt started at the state PDP secretariat in Asaba when the former speaker allegedly protested against the choice of the returning officer for the LGA’s ward congress which resulted into bloody fracas between him and other party members who resisted his protest.
It was gathered that following the heated argument, Okonta who is currently representing Ika south constituency in the state Assembly was allegedly mobbed and fell unconscious on the ground and was immediately rushed to the St. Luke’s Hospital, Asaba for medication attention.
Speaking to journalists at the hospital, Mr. Martins Okonta accused Cairo Ojuogboh, a former member of the House of Representatives, representing Ika Federal constituency of attacking him. “Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh brought his personal assistant to be the returning office for the congress which I protested against and before I knew it, he attacked me with a bunch of keys in his hand and before I could know it I found myself in the hospital.”
When contacted, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, former Presidential Aide to Late President Umaru Yar’Adua on legislative matters denied all the allegations saying Martins was acting Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Nduka Irabo’s script because “Okowa want to be governor at all cost.”
According to Ojuogboh “That is very very far from the truth. Dr. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa sent Martins Okonta to the PDP secretariat and I was there with a name called Hillary, Okowa’s PA to be the returning officer for Ika south they argued it out and the party said they want a neutral person. Then they choose one Oritsbubemi Nanna from Warri North LGA of Delta state which was okay by me and I left the place. When fight and everything started I wasn’t there I had already left. I wasn’t at the venue and I have nothing to do with Okonta, it is what Dr. Okowa asked him to do that he is doing. This thing started in the year 2002. Dr. Okowa and Nduka Irabo, are the problems of Ika South, I don’t know what Dr. Okowa and Nduka Irabo is looking for Ika south.”
