IMO SHUT DOWN: WOMEN PROTEST INCESSANT HARASSMENT OF IMO GOVT. OFFICIALS BY EFCC, ICPC AND OTHER AGENCIES OF FED. GOVT.
...THREATENS TO GO NAKED AS THEY OCCUPIED OWERRI METROPOLIS FOR OVER THREE HOURS
... WARNS FED. GOVT. AGAINST INFLUENCING FORTHCOMING SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT
...IMO GOVT. CALLS FOR CALM
Earlier today, Imo women shut down Owerri City Capital of Imo State in protest against what they described as incessant harassment against Imo State Government officials by EFCC and ICPC over spurious petitions by enemies of the government.
The women numbering over five thousand with carrying placards of various inscription - injustice against Owelle Rochas is an injustice against Ndigbo, INEC release Oguta election result, President Jonathan you promised Free and Fair election, we are surprised you are silent on Oguta election, Police, SSS leave government officials alone to work for Imo people, Abuja, allow INEC release Oguta election and so on so forth.
Speaking to the journalists, one of the women leaders, Mrs. Adaku Abubaeruleke, allays fears over the news of the attempt of the Federal Government to compromise justice and warned that should any injustices be meted out to Governor Okorocha, it means injustice to the entire women of Imo State and the Nation. Warning further, she said the worm will resist any act to tele-guide the verdict of thenSupreme Court.
'When we voted for President Jonathan, we did it with our heart and that was because we wanted and love him, where he decides to do other wise for no other reason than political divide, we shall rise against him. We have read so much in the newspapers, we believe that there is no smoke without fire. We advise President Jonathan to hands off the matter should any of news filtering the ears of the people be true as Igbo women in conjunction with others will resist such act with the last drop of their blood'.
Speaking further, Lady Mabel Echebiri who introduced herself as Apex woman Leader described the present government as a well focused and people oriented. 'How can we keep quiet over a perceived perpetration of injustice to a government that has done so much for the the women and every family in Imo State? A government that has given free education from primary to tertiary level. This is a government that has remembered the rural dwellers and is constructing roads for the good of our people. Again, this is a government that has reminded us of what good governance is all about. Since exit of our dear Mbakwe, we have never had it this good. I call on the Presidency to search itself and review its action plan in Imo to avoid avoidable anarchy.'
When the angry women in their peaceful protest arrived Imo Government House for a reaction of the government, Prince Eze Madumere, Imo Deputy Governor after receiving their grouse, he called on the women to be peaceful in their protest and should not allow bad element to take advantage of their protest to perpetrate their heinous acts while calling on the Imolites to remain calm. He further advised no one should take laws into his hand for whatever reason while promising that the Government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha will continue in his people oriented programmes to making Imo people bettere and better.
Again, the women may have been responding to the news over the purported move by the Presidency to influence the out coming of the forthcoming Supreme Court ruling at the end of this month. Major National Dailies have been awashed with front page banners with allegation over the concluded plan of the Presidency to pervert justice against the Governor of Imo State at the Supreme Court judgement, which comes up on October, 2013.
However, the women vowed to occupy Nigeria if their entreaties are not met and will go the extra mile to ensure that justice is not only done but be seen to have been done.
