UGOCHUKWU EKE, OWERRI
The people of Imo state came out in their numbers to protest against the alleged plans of the state government under the leadership of governor Rochas Okorocha to impeach the deputy governor, Eze Madumere over trumped up charges.
The protesters who came out very early took over the major streets of the capital city of Owerri to register their grievances over what they perceived as grave injustice against Madumere.
They were chanting various songs in protest, accusing Governor Okorocha of masterminding what they termed as kangaroo charges against his Deputy, who is seen in many quarters as innocent of the charges being leveled against him.
They also described Imo State House of Assembly as the worst Imo has ever had, calling them mere rubber stamp in the hand of Okorocha, who they allegedly accused of controlling the House as his personal estate, without reference to the feelings and aspirations of the citizenry.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “Okorocha leave Madumere alone; Okorocha must you foist your son-in-law on Imo people; we are in Democracy not in ‘familiocracy’.
Others read, “We say no to Okorocha’s third term agenda; APC will not accept imposition of family candidate; NWC rise up before we lose Imo to PDP; We appeal to President Buhari to intervene in Imo Situation”.
The protest saw traffic difficulties for both vehicular and human movements while workers were seen abandoning their vehicles to walk long distances to their places of work.
It was not easy for traders as well as they were not spared the agony as major streets such as Wetheral, Okigwe road, Assumpta Avenue, Tetlow road and other adjoining streets were shut down as a result of the surging crowd.
Addressing newsmen, one of the leaders, Barr Chidiebere Nworgu lamented that the State is sliding to a one man business where an individual now treats Imolites with levity, without any care of what the state is going through.
Nworgu said that the time to resist such undemocratic tendencies coming from Okorocha is now and called on the clergy and the elites to speak out against the injustice being done on Madumere in particular and other Imolites in general.
He asked, “Where has Madumere derailed? This is a man who has been discharging his duties conscientiously coupled with infectious humility. Is it not the same Okorocha who told us that his deputy does not give him stress”.
“This is the same Okorocha who had in various fora pronounced, “Prince Madumere as his son in whom he is well pleased”, and wondered what has changed between now and then.
Nworgu further attributed the love lost between the Governor and the Deputy to Madumere’s insistence in taking his destiny in his hand by making himself available to contest the governorship of the State against Okorocha’s resolve to foist son-in-law on the citizenry.
He insisted that Charter of equity which the founding fathers of the state used as the basis for the creation of the state must be adhered to, insisting that it is the turn of Owerri zone to produce the next Governor, come 2019.
In his contribution, Nze Stanley Onuoha stressed that there is nothing wrong in Madumere to pursue his ambition and it is only God that gives power and charged Nigerian politicians to stop playing God in pursuit of self-aggrandizement.
Nze Onuoha maintained that the Deputy Governor is eminently qualified to govern the State with his education, cognate experience and exposure in corporate world, Governance and impeccable strength of character.
