PROTESTERS numbering about 3,000 on Tuesday took over the major roads of the capital city of Owerri to register their grievances over what they perceived as an injustice against the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, by State House of Assembly through trumped-up charges aimed at impeaching the Deputy Governor.
The protesters had taken over the streets of Owerri as early as 6.00am, chanting various songs in protest, accusing Governor Rochas Okorocha of the state of masterminding what they termed as kangaroo charges against his Deputy.
They maintained that Madumere was innocent of the charges being levelled against him by members of Imo State House of Assembly.
They also described State Assembly as the worst Imo has ever had, calling them mere rubber stamp in the hand of Okorocha, stating that he (Okorocha) controls the House as his personal estate, without reference to the feelings and aspirations of the citizenry.
They also 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’; 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, which brought vehicular and human movements to a standstill, saw workers abandoning their vehicles to walk long distances to their places of work.
Traders were also not spared in 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, Mr Chidiebere Nworgu lamented that the state was sliding to a one-man business, where an individual now treats Imolites with levity.
ALSO READ: Edo PDP chairman Slams Obaseki over national cattle policy
He maintained that it’s high time Imo citizens resisted such undemocratic tendencies coming from Okorocha. The lawyer further called on the clergy and the elites to speak out against this injustice against Madumere and other Imo citizens.
He queried; “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 told us that the Deputy Governor that does not give him stress, which made him pronounce in various fora that the; “Prince Madumere as his “son in whom he is well pleased”.
He 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.
Nworgu however, explained that Charter of Equity must be adhered to, insisting that it was the turn of Owerri zone to produce the next Governor, come 2019.
In his contribution, Nze Stanley Onuoha stressed that there was nothing wrong in Madumere to pursue his ambition and it was only God that gives power. He charged Nigerian politicians to stop playing God in pursuit of self-aggrandizement.
Onuoha maintained that the Deputy Governor was eminently qualified to govern the state with his education, cognate experience and exposure in the corporate world, governance and impeccable strength of character.
It would be recalled that prominent leaders across the nation had continued to speak against the impeachment plot because of its negative implication in the polity.
Ventilating on the issue, Senator Victor Umeh, Rt. Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Zeek-Martins Nnadozie among others had also berated the Governor and the House of Assembly to towing the inglorious line of action, describing it as an onslaught against democracy.
and then