Information available to 247Ureports.com indicate that the immediate past Commissioner for Housing in Abia state and PDP governorship aspirant ,Chief Iheanacho Okezie Orji is currently embroiled in a clash with a tricycle rider over a hire purchase agreement.
According to a source, Orji who got a tricycle from the recent youth empowerment scheme of the state government was said to have entered into a hire purchase agreement with a tricycle rider, Gideon Ikonne at the cost of N650, 000.
A close associate of the ex commissioner whose identity is still unclear allegedly brokered the deal between the former and the Ikonne, but the latter paid up to N200, 000, leaving a balance of N450, 000 before problem arose.
Trouble was said to have started as a result of an alleged misunderstanding between Orji and his associate who ordered Ikonne to stop further payment to the ex commissioner.
As a result of the development, Orji is said to be threatening to deal with his associate if he fails to come forth by the end of July 2013 to offset the total cost of the cost of the tricycle.
According to another close ally of the ex commissioner, “We have pleaded with Chief Orji to forget the incident. These people may have offended him, but I don’t think it is worth making trouble for or inviting the police. He is a rich man and can procure many of such tricycles to people, so it makes no meaning to make trouble over it.”
A resident said it is unfair for the ex- commissioner to have lent out a tricycle gotten from the Governor’s empowerment programme on hire purchase agreement.
“Gov. Orji gave out the tricycles free of charge. How can a high ranking person like Okezie Orji give it out on hire purchase? Can’t he use it to empower a youth in his area? I believe the Governor has been empowering people like him, but they would never extend it to the youths who really deserve it. This is why he got the tricycle, to use to assist the needy.”
Other close associate who spoke to 247ureports.com on the condition of anonymity hinted that the ex commissioner has vowed never to let go of the incident until he recoups his money.
