A civil society group, The Imo Peoples Action For Democracy, IPAD has said it will stage a week rally in Owerri, Imo State capital.
The group, according to its co-ordinator, Aku Obidinma in a statement said the rally which will take place from December 18 to 24 at Okigwe road in Owerri “ is a response of the people to the increasing height of bad governance in the State which is now attaining its peak”
The group listed some of the bad policies and actions of the governor to include “Lack process and respect for rule of law; waste of scarce resources on non-economically viable and life improving ventures; refusal to fully pay workers’ salaries, pension arrears and gratuity to pensioners and issuance of dud cheques to pensioners.”
Part of the statement include “Failure to account for the bailout funds, Paris refunds and other loans collected; use of state funds and apparatus in conducting governor’s personal business; illegal demolitions and displacement of people resulting to loss of means of livelihood by thousands of Imolites even against restraining court orders; nepotism and ‘familiocracy.’”
Also, they accused the State governor of, “unending grabbing of land using government powers and conversion of same to personal properties; refusal to conduct local government election and failure to account for the trillions of Naira that had been allocated to that tier of government for over six years and construction of poor quality infrastructure and increasing abandoned projects in the state.”
The timing of the protest and venue according to the conveners has been ‘strategically’ chosen to ensure that, ”the state government’s usual ploy of diverting attention of Christmas returnees away from the rot in governance through impressionist cosmetic beautification of the state is thwarted.”
He said that popular musician and human rights activist, Charles Oputa (Charley Boy) will lead other notable Imo born activists to speak at the rally.
The Organizers representing coaliation of civil society organization,faith based organization,Community based organizations and has lined up speakers for the rally and they include; Chidi Odinkalu, Sam Amadi, Festus Okoye, Ezenwa Nwangwu, Victoria Ibezim, Chido Onumah, Clement Nwankwo, Okechukwu Nwanguma, Wisdom Durueke, and Louis Alozie