A group known as Coalition of Imo Patriots has taken a swipe on Gov.
Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his government for attacking the former
minister of Interior, Capt. Emma Iheanacho and other Imolites for daring
to condemn his alleged tyrannical style and failures of his rescue mission
government in the state.
In a jointly signed statement by the president and secretary of Coalition
of Imo Patriots Sir Isidore Mgbeahurukwe and Nkechi Madu N. (Mrs)
respectively that was made available to newsmen in Owerri, the group
decried a situation where ‘a man elected to protect and enhance the
welfare of the people has turned to persecutor and oppressor of the same
people’.
The group in the statement entitled “Attack on Iheanacho: When Will
Okorocha Stop Fooling Ndi-Imo” strongly maintained that Okorocha’s attack
on prominent Imolites that have chosen to fight on the side of the people
could be a diversionary tactics employed by the governor to continue
fooling the people amidst the failures and atrocities of his government.
The statement reads: “We have closely observed with utter dismay the
re-launched attack on Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho by Imo state governor as
orchestrated and ingloriously amplified by his half-baked and untrained
media aide, Sam Onwuemedo.
We are not unaware that the Emekuku-born oil mogul and shipping magnate
may have rattled Okorocha and his government with his recent interview
published by Daily Sun which evidently captured failures and tyrannical
style of his government.
“Capt. Iheanacho returned to his business after the conduct and shocking
outcome of the 2015 elections in Imo state. He has ultimately carved a
niche for himself through hard-work and determination having nurtured and
raised his businesses to great outfits that presently contribute to the
national economy.
It is undisputedly clear that Capt. Iheanacho’s foray into politics was
strictly propelled by his desire and appetite to right the wrongs in Imo.
He strongly believes that Imo could be economically and socially retraced
to the right track if responsible people are elected into sensitive
positions of authority and trust.
The legal action taken by Capt. Iheanacho challenging the senseless
destruction of his Orlu road residence by Okorocha and his government
remains the only legitimate action a responsible and patriotic Nigerian
can take in the face of oppression, tyranny, lawlessness, anarchy and
non-adherence to due process and rule of law. He strongly believes that
the judiciary which remains the last hope for a common man shall rise to
save Ndi-Imo from Okorocha’s lawlessness and his devouring agents.
“While we roundly condemn Okorocha’s many attacks on Capt. Iheanacho and
other well-meaning Imolites with courage and audacity to publicly confront
him with records of his failures and numerous atrocities, we also wish to
remind the governor that a day shall come when he will surely give account
of his stewardship.
There is no gainsaying that Okorocha has earned notoriety for himself as
he continues to run Imo aground. This is as several billions of Naira has
been siphoned via failed and dubious contracts. His government has
economically displaced thousands of Ndi-Imo from their legitimate means of
livelihood following aimless destruction of properties in Owerri by his
government. Imo workers are presently facing excruciating hardship as the
governor refuses to pay their salaries and entitlements. The pensioners
are dying on daily basis owing to obvious neglect and government inability
to pay their pensions. The 27 LGAs are completely decimated as their
allocations are diverted and pocketed by the governor. This is as the
governor has massively borrowed to destroy even the future.
“It is unfortunate that the governor has continued his fraud believing
that Ndi-Imo are fools. He attacks anyone that condemns his style of
governance and employed tyranny. This is a man that mesmerized his people
with what he called fourth tier government also christened Community
Government Council (CGC). After winning election using the CGC as a
political instrument, he returned with what he has today called State
Development Council (SDC). Is SDC replacing CGC or another gimmick to
further fool Ndi-Imo?
The governor’s disregard to due process and planning has reduced
governance to mere jamboree in Imo state. This largely accounts to why all
his programmes collapsed. Can Okorocha explain what happened to
Health-At-Your-Door-Step, Ikuola Nkwu and Back-to-Land programmes? What
happened to his so-called gigantic projects? The Prince and Princess
hotels, Akachi Towers, AMA JK Multiple Car Park, 27 General Hospitals and
Imo European University that have all gulped several billions of
taxpayers’ money? Who owns the Imo European University? What happened to
Ada Palm he renamed Imo Palm Plantation, Nsu Ceramic Tiles and Avutu
Poultry he claimed to have revived?
It is unfortunate that even the 15 kilometers rural roads the governor
claimed to have built remains a hoax as the roads were largely abandoned.
The Osemotor Marine University project used to divert the 13% Oil
Derivation is still a mirage. The federal government sponsored Universal
Basic Education Commission-UBEC primary school blocks in 305 INEC wards
were never realized. Imo State University is today barred from admitting
students into law faculty, medicine, nursing, engineering and other
relevant courses for loosing accreditation. Yet, the governor claims to be
running free education programme in the state. Imo is today burdened with
huge debts. According to records from Debt Management Office, Imo ranks
among states with huge debts as a result of massive bank loans. This is as
the governor has failed to explain how he spent bailout, ecological and
floods relief funds so far received by his government.
“It is inconceivable that a man elected to protect and enhance the welfare
of the people has turned to persecutor and oppressor of the same people.
Besides waging war against Ndi-Imo, Okorocha’s actions and inactions have
completely destroyed Imo. The governor whom before his first election in
2011 had no traceable means of livelihood has become richer that the state
he governs. It is unbelievable that these are happening in the hitherto
progressive state Dee Sam Mbakwe laid a solid foundation for its
socio-economic growth.
While applauding Capt. Iheanacho’s courage and disposition to fight on the
side of the people, we also implore the governor to stop dancing naked in
the market square hence he can’t continue fooling Ndi-Imo. The judgment
day is fast approaching. A word is enough for the wise.”