IPAD berates Nigeria Police, Okorocha over attack on peaceful rally

ITREALMS:

… Demands redeployment of CP Chris Ezike

The Imo Peoples Action for Democracy (IPAD) has berated the Nigeria Police Force over the attack on innocent Imolites for expressing their freedom to assembly peacefully, says Governor Rochas Okorocha has turned the state into terror zone, reports ITRealms.

IPAD in a press statement made available to ITRealms and endorsed by the Coordinator, Mr. Aku Obidinma, Secretary Organizing Committee, Marjorie Ezihe and member, organizing committee, Mr. Chido Onumah, lamented that Imo State has unfortunately become a fascist state where freedom of expression and assembly is no longer guaranteed.

They also demanded redeployment of the Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, insisting he has lost the confidence of the people.

“We say this because of the ugly incident that happened this morning where the Imo State government used the police to brutally attack peaceful protesters. We peacefully commenced our protest this morning from Wetheral Road Roundabout in Owerri, Imo State, and were accosted by heavily armed policemen who demanded we stop because the commissioner of police did not approve the rally.

“We insisted that we must continue since the law did not say we needed his permission before we could embark on a peaceful protest. As we continued our match, the police descended on us and started beating up the protesters, firing tear gas, confiscated our placards and manhandled even the minors amongst us.

“Today is really a sad day for our democracy. Imo State has been turned into a terror zone. Governor Rochas Okorocha is now a full-blown dictator and he has as his accomplice the Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, who is always ready to do his dirty jobs. We are disturbed that the police who ought to protect peaceful protesters are the ones now used to attack law abiding citizens.

“We wish to inform the government and the police that no amount of intimidation will make us drop our agitation for good governance in Imo State. We will in no distant time mobilize Imolites for a massive protest that will bring the government to its knees.

“We use this medium to call on the police authorities and the Presidency to quickly redeploy the Imo State Police Commissioner out of Imo State as he has lost the confidence of the people of the state.

Ozo Nweke Ozo/GEE

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Open letter to Rochas Okorocha

Commentary@ITRealms:

Owelle, compliments of the season!

Owelle, I have not met you before and I am not writing this article for any form of inducement. I am also writing this article considering your current level of governance in Imo State which has not been encouraging and has left the state in chains.

Also, you are running the state aground because you already know that you can't come forward to vie for the post of the office of a governor again, but you have shown that you do not think ahead. You have continued to run the state very recklessly no matter whose ox is gored, you run the state like a private enterprise with a touch of cronies and nepotism.

I believe that power is not a toy and should not be handed to all comers, for you, you grabbed power and you have misused it.

For a visionary leader, his quest for political power is simply to enable him pursue and attain the set goals as may have been spelt out. Vision breeds purpose, and purpose in turn breeds direction and if the other way round, it makes power useless with the person in charge.

Let me tell you that your antecedents are shrouded in half-truths.

It has not been that long that Jacob Zuma and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf visited Imo State. Talking about Zuma, you handed him the Imo Merit Award, the highest award kept aside for those that have paid their dues in the state in different field of endeavors. What is Zuma known for, rather for a continuous level of corruption? You still went ahead to give to him a chieftaincy title, you unveiled a statue in honour of him likewise Sirleaf. The financial attachments are indeed scary.

On Friday, 22nd September, 2017,you marked your 55th birthday and  each of the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) presented 27 cakes and tax payers money were used for that purpose.

Imo State has remained a state where nothing is working and governance has taken a flight. Pensioners and their families are facing life and death struggle due to unpaid arrears, teachers are been owed too.

Just last week, your wife Mrs. Nneoma Okorocha marked her 50th birthday celebration and I looked at the trappings of the set-up, and I say that the money spent was also scary. It was a lavish celebration.

Owelle, you are known to boast openly for your lack of regard for due process and  contempt for the rule of law, hence your habitual neglect and  failure to comply with due process in taking sensitive official decisions and  actions. You have the penchant for disregarding court orders and judgments, so as to reverse some of your wrong decisions.

I was flummoxed when I heard the post of your biological sister, Mrs. Nkechi Ololo (Nee Okorocha) as the Commissioner of Happiness and Couples’ Fulfilment. I heard that there has been a slight change to the portfolio? Does it still matter?

Of what essence does the post stand for? Must you carve out a post to satisfy your family members?

Owelle, you need to go back to the drawing board if you have any. Let me tell you that, you lack vision in all you do and you forgot that vision is that creative mental force which enables a leader to rise above the pack, point out, define and provide newer and worthier directions or alternatives for the people on issues that affects them. It is the creative spirit that enables a leader to connect to the people through performance - and not through propaganda, undue sentiments or empty posturing.

Anytime I remember Imo State, I remember the likes of Mbonu Ejikes, the Nzirimos, the Mbadiwes and today you are the joker in the saddle. I look at the films you have acted so far and I say that you would have done better as a Nollywood actor than as a political actor.

As I ponder on your type of governance in Imo State, I cannot but feel for the people of Imo State. 

This whole episode is just horrifying like having a bad dream.

Owelle, let me tell you that you represent a sore and sour taste when it comes to governance in Imo State and posterity will indeed judge you.

May God Bless Imo State!

*Courtesy; Chris Uruakpa, wrote in from Lagos.

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Okorocha changes gear, says it’s now Ministry of Happiness & Purpose

ITREALMS:

Following rain of criticism on the Imo State government, over the creation of Ministry of Happiness and Couple Fulfillment, the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has changed gear by renaming the ministry to ‘Happiness and Purpose’ reports ITRealms.

A press statement from his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said in a press statement made available to ITRealms, attributed the initial naming of the ministry to ‘Happiness and Couple Fulfillment’ to typographic error.

According to him, the real name of the new ministry is ‘Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment.’

“… There was a typographic error in the first statement issued on the swearing-in of the new commissioners. The word “Couple” was inadvertently written, instead of the word “Purpose”. We regret that,” he pleaded.

He went on in effort to justify the Ministry, saying, that real essence of life is to be happy and to fulfill one’s purpose in life, hence government officials are elected to address this.

“This is the very reason people elect their leaders to guarantee their happiness and purpose fulfillment. A great leader therefore, is one who provides happiness to the people,” he said.

Onwuemeodo also decried as unfortunate, that this vital element of “our social lives has not been properly addressed. Governments at different levels have created several ministries and departments to achieve this, yet people are bitter, angry with hate speeches which lead to crisis, war and even terrorism.”

He insisted that “To be happy and achieve purpose mean different things to different people. Generally,

1.    People are happy when they see their children going to good schools

2.    People are happy when they are in a secured environment and can work freely in their areas of residence.

3.    People are happy where they can relax and admire a beautiful environment.

4.    People are happy when they know they can access good and quality health care facilities.

5.    The Youth are happy, when they can get good jobs, marry, have children and train them.

There is no activity of mankind that is not geared towards providing happiness.

He explained that in today’s world, especially in our country, millions of people are not fulfilling their purpose in life because of lack of mentorship and guidance. There is complete talent abuse as people no longer engage in life activities suitable to their talents.

Sometimes in university environments, students are meant to study courses they ordinarily would like to do.

This has given rise to why we have people who are favoured, do work against their natural will just to survive.

Happiness and Purpose Ministry therefore, is established for the lost time to correct the Policy framework to guide Ministries and Department son what they must do to guarantee the citizens happiness and contribute better to the society.

Governor Rochas Okorocha in one of his public speeches stated “My Social Contract with the people is to make them happy. Political power to me therefore is a trust which can only be justified when used to make my people happy”.

This is why in the past 6 years as Governor of Imo state he introduced several programmes aimed at making the people happy such as; Free Education, Urban Renewal, Back to Land, Health at your Door Step, Youth Millionaire Program, Youth Request Work program, Secure the State Program, Community Government council, etc.

The choice of Mrs Ogechi Ololo; a Masters Degree Holder in Computer Science, USA who has been the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor on Domestic Matters and Food Security can be described as a round peg in a round hole. Before her appointment as the supervisory commissioner, She was charged with the responsibility of Liaising with the Federal Government on N-Power Project, CBN Anchor project& BOI, Empowerment Projects.

Governor Rochas Okorocha has also created other Similar Ministries such as the Ministry of Non Formal sector and Market development to address issues of the poor state of Imo Markets where Millions of Imolites converge everyday for their daily existence and to organize the non-formal sector to make them more productive.

The Ministry of education now has 3 Ministries; Primary and secondary, Tertiary & non-Formal Education, ICT, Science and Technology.

It’s our belief that these Ministries, when fully functional will provide Happiness to our people.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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N850m ChristmasTree: Group decries, warns Okorocha over frivolities

ITREALMS:

A socio-political group, G42 Imo Liberation Forum has warned the state government to desist from what it described as a waste of tax payers’ money over its alleged plans to spend a whooping Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira on erecting a Christmas tree ahead of the Christmas celebration, reports ITRealms.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications of the group, Dr. Walter Duru and made available to newsmen further described the plan as a misplaced priority, even as he accused the government of insensitivity.

“The attention of G-42 Imo Liberation Forum has been drawn to an alleged plan by the Imo State Government under the leadership of Chief Rochas Okorocha to spend about Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira on a meaningless Christmas tree ahead of the 2017 Christmas celebration.”

“This is coming at a time Civil Servants and Pensioners in the state are being owed several months arrears of salary and other entitlements; while poverty is at its highest level in the history of the state.”

“The situation is made worst by the fact that the dust raised by the over Five Hundred Million Naira allegedly spent in the building of a Statue for the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma is yet to settle.”

“We refuse to treat this as mere speculation as history has shown that this is not far from the style of the present administration in the state; a government that is not accountable to anyone and is run in utmost secrecy. The government must tell Imo people how much it actually spent on erecting the ridiculous Jacob Zuma Statue and others there-in, as well as the said Christmas tree.“

“The G-42 Imo Liberation Forum, a Socio-political group in the state sees this as the highest level of insensitivity, misplaced priority and share waste of the people’s resources and hereby condemn it.”

Continuing, Duru accused the Okorocha-led government of disrespecting the citizens of the state, even as he urged him to discontinue the project and pay attention to the welfare of the citizens.

“The present APC-led government must realize that it is holding the people’s resources on thrust and therefore accountable to the people. This administration has treated Imo people with so much disrespect and disdain that we can no longer fold our arms to allow this anomaly to continue.”

“We therefore call on the state government to discontinue the wanton waste of the peoples’ resources and invest the people’s resources in areas that are beneficial to majority of the citizens.”

Uzo Ochi/GEE

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Okorocha intervenes in Ahiara Catholic diocese crisis

ITRealms:

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has promised to intervene in the lingering crisis at the Ahiara Catholic Diocese, reports ITRealms.

This follows the visit of alleged notable priests from the Ahiara Catholic Diocese Mbaise, to Governor Rochas Okorocha concerning the lingering crisis in the Diocese over the Choice of Bishop.

Confirming this to ITRealms the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, said that the governor has chosen to mediate in the whole saga to get whatever is the bone of contention resolved, in the overall interest of the Diocese, Mbaise people, the Catholic Church and Imo State in general.

The Priests had come on the visit few days after they met with the Pope in Rome over the same crisis, while ITRealms gathered that their visit was necessitated by the claims that they must have been misrepresented before the Pope following the decision of the Pope on the issue in question.

The delegation, made up of some of the old priests in the Diocese including Rev. Monsignor Edward Amakiri met with the governor behind closed doors and they had discussed on how best the crux of the crisis at the Ahiara Catholic Diocese could be resolved without further delay.

The governor, he said, assured that the lingering crisis in the Diocese has never been a good public relation stuff for the State or for the Catholic Church or Mbaise people in particular, and must not be allowed to continue.

Okorocha explained that he had delayed his intervention in the matter to see whether the concerned parties could resolve the issue in contention without government’s intervention, and noted that the situation now has called for his intervention.

The governor described the Ahiara Diocese of Mbaise as one of the most vibrant Catholic Dioceses in the State and regretted that the crisis has not augured well for the Diocese, and that disputes concerning the Church and things of God should not be allowed to drag on for a long time.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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