IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

Governor, Lawyers at war …As legal practitioners lobby for his impeachment

Rochas Okorocha

By Don Uba

Governor of Imo state, Nigeria, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has declared that he would not follow any form of the constitutional provisions to demolish people’s houses and property in the state capital, Owerri.

He made this declaration through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo while answering questions on the current mass demolition of structures for road expansion in Owerri, anchored by a radio station in Owerri.”There is a reason behind every action. The aim of the ongoing massive demolition of structures is to make Owerri look good and people will benefit. If the Imo State Government follows due process and the law in doing that, it will not achieve its aim, “Onwuemeodo opined.

In their separate reactions, some executive members of the Owerri Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its chairman, Barr. Lawrence Nwakaeti, who featured on the radio programme, said that it was clear that the governor was due for impeachment for disregarding the same constitution which brought him into power and which he also swore to obey.

“The structures being demolished have government approvals and many of them existed even before the creation of Imo State. If government is to change its development plans and wants to acquire people’s land, the constitution, Land Use Act and other relevant laws provide that a notice in writing be served on owners of the properties stating reasons for the acquisition which must be in the overriding public interest.

“Thereafter development on the property is evaluated and compensations paid accordingly. All these government never did, but has continued to arbitrarily destroy people’s houses and structures unilaterally. The governor should also remember that it is the same constitution that made him governor that he is now disobeying. Well, since the governor through his media man has made it clear that he would not obey laid down constitutional and legal provisions on the demolition exercise, then the governor is openly inviting anarchy in Imo state and it is an impeachable offence,” Nwakaeti lamented..

Speaking further, Barrister Nwakaeti described Mr. Onwuemeodo’s statement on the issue as careless, uncivilized, provocative and possible of provoking break down of law and order in the state. He however, called for his immediate resignation and sack.

On the state legislature, the Anambra-born NBA boss described the state lawmakers as the Governor’s ‘errand boys’ who according to him, have mortgaged their legislative positions by accepting political and executive appointments from the governor. He however called on the lawmakers to do their legislative duties in order to curb executive lawlessness in the state.

The association nevertheless vowed to fight on to protect the interest of citizens in the state against Governor Okorocha’s oppressive policies, ruthlessness and illegalities in the state.

Many people who made a call-in during the programme commended the association for the outing and urged the government not to allow the exercise to cause break down of law and order as a result of the demolition exercise. Others who featured on the programme were the Secretary of the branch, Barr. Ismael Nkwocha and his counterpart for publicity, Barr Eke Onyeforo.