Imo people protest impeachment move against Deputy Governor, Madumere

www.odogwublog.com reports hundreds of people in Imo State, today took to major roads in the state capital, Owerri to protest the planned impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, even as they insisted that they described Imo House of Assembly as the worst. 

The protesters had converged as early as 9am and within minutes took over the popular Okigwe road, made a brief stop at the government House roundabout, proceeded to Warehouse roundabout and then made a turn back to their take off point, the campaign headquarters of Madumere.

The roads include Wetheral, Okigwe road, Assumpta Avenue, and Tetlow roads. 

They chanted different songs even as they clutched placards and pictures of the Deputy Governor saying the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly through trumped up charges was a grave injustice against Madumere.

Their placards had 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”, amongst others.

According to the leader of the protesters, Nze Stanley Onuoha insisted that there is nothing wrong if Madumere seeks to pursue his ambition, saying it is only God that gives power. 

Onuoha charged Okorocha and other Nigerian politicians to stop playing God in the pursuit of self-aggrandizement, saying "the Deputy Governor is eminently qualified to govern the State with his education, cognate experience and exposure in corporate world, Governance and impeccable strength of character".

On his part, Barr Chidiebere Nworgu lamented that the State is sliding to a one man business empire where one individual treats Imo people with levity, saying it is time to resist such undemocratic tendencies from Okorocha, even as he called on the clergy and the elites to speak out against this injustice against Prince Madumere and other Imolites.

He said “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 that told us that the Deputy Governor does not give him stress, which made him pronounce in various fora that Prince Madumere is his son in whom he is well pleased”, and wondered what changed between now and then.

Further, he said the love lost between Governor Okorocha and Madumere is the latter's insistence in running for the plum Imo Governorship job as against the Governor's choice of his son in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu. 

According to him, it is the turn of Owerri zone where Madumere hails from saying the Imo charter of equity must be adhered to, adding that it is the turn of Owerri zone to produce the next Governor, come 2019.

Meanwhile, Madumere has secured an injunction against the impeachment move from a Federal High court in Abuja to halt the process.

On their part, the lawmakers have adopted the report of the committee set up to investigate the allegations of abandonment of duties; refusal to hold meetings with the Governor; and refusal to attend official functions levelled against the Deputy Governor.

The House of Assembly had directed the state Chief Judge, Justice Pascal Nnadi to set up a panel to investigate the allegations but it is yet to be complied with.

Meanwhile, political leaders in the State like former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; Chief Zeek-Martins Nnadozie; and Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra State have condemned the impeachment move.