Town Unions, Students Block Imo Gov's Convoy, Demand Okorocha's Probe

Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions and student groups on Thursday prevented the state Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, from accessing the state Government House in protest that the former state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, should be probed.

The protesters, who displayed placards with various inscriptions, demanded that the immediate-past governor of the state, Okorocha, be probed.

They were of the view that Okorocha, his wife and family members allegedly plundered the resources of the state within the eight years he held sway as governor.

President of the Imo State Indigenous Town Unions, Emeka Diwe, who presented the grievances of the group in a letter he read to the governor, said during the Okorocha's administration, public assets were allegedly converted to private use.

According to Diwe, "The eight years that Okorocha held sway as state governor were characterised by unprecedented and unbridled plunder of our common patrimony.

"We are the leaders of the Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions (AISITU) in collaboration with Orluzurumee, Olu Owerri, Olu Okigwe, Amalgamation of Imo Professional Associations (AIPA), the students unions and other various youth groups in the state. We are concerned and indeed compelled to protest and make this demand on Governor Ihedioha to act because we represent the vast majority of the poor and defenceless citizens of this state at grassroots level who suffer the greatest impact of bad governance.

"During the disastrous misrule of Okorocha, Imo State went through a sort of untold financial hemorrhage, as resources were frittered away and public assets looted and converted to private use.

"As if that was not enough, Okorocha cruelly plunged the state into irredeemable debt slavery to the tune of over N200 billion, a debt stock that will remain unpayable even by 10 generations unborn.

"Yet, under the watch of Okorocha, the bailout funds to state inexplicably disappeared at the residence of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, and he neither budged nor stirred.

"Worse still, allocations to the 27 local government areas of the state were hijacked and looted, and the system stifled and made moribund. On this note, we wish to inform the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, that we deeply appreciate his innovative approach to the state local government system which now makes the LGAs of the state to have their complete monthly allocations.”

In the letter, they further noted that "staggering sums were voted for the construction of supposed general hospitals which never saw the light of the day. Revenue-spinning investments of the state, notably the Concorde Hotels and Adapalm among others, were sold off to unknown investors and at unknown rates."

According to the groups, “The internally generated revenues (IGR) of the state were literally handed out to family and friends, and on a monthly basis, nearly N1 billion disappeared through that channel, even the civil servants got their salaries slashed by 30 to 40 percent. Pensioners, men and women who expended their youthfulness, brains and their brawns in service of our state were left unpaid for nearly 60 months and some died on a daily basis.

"These senior citizens were subjected to the most excruciating torture by Okorocha so much so that even their three chairmen died in quick succession holding dud cheque in their hands. These pensioners are still dying till date. Indeed, Imo State had a governor that was any other creature other than human. We therefore call on Ihedioha to kindly intervene to save our pensioners from further deaths.

"We are also worried beyond words that till this moment, not so much has been done by the government of Ihedioha,  pertaining to the general cries that all which were looted by Okorocha should be recovered and reassigned to serve collective purposes.

"We therefore enjoin the governor to entrust this recovery process into the hands of persons of credibility and integrity so that the recovered assets do not go the way of the  recovered Abacha loots, which can only be heard but can never be seen."

Responding, Ihedioha said his administration was sensitive to public opinions, assuring the protesters that their demands would be looked into.

The governor said he was delighted that they did not take laws into their hands.

"We are happy that you did not take laws into your hands. Ours is a responsible government. We would take deliberate steps in looking into your demands and grievances,” he added.