Anthony Anyanwu.
Indications that the recent administration inImoStatemay have bowed to the elected chairmen and councilors emerged yesterday as the State Governor in a world press conference at the Imo State Government House, Owerri softened on his government’s earlier stance to implement the recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the sacked chairmen.
At the briefing broadcast live in the state owned radio station, the state Governor while expressing reservations about the comments of the Attorney – General of the Federation, Hon Justice Mohamed Adoke and role of the men of the Nigerian police Imo State command in the lingering matter between the sacked chairmen and the state government called for calm and advised the outgoing TC Chairmen no to take laws into their hands in the ensuring struggle for the LGAs.
Governor Okorocha however requested to have a meeting with the elected chairmen who have been reinstated on Friday July 27, 2012.
Okorocha in the broadcast said “As a father to all and not a governor I will uphold the rule of law and protect interest of all. I will invite the chairmen to a meeting on Friday. I came into power by the special Grace of God and support of the masses, my people. The interest of my people is uppermost in my mind. Whatever will create controversy and shedding of blood will not be tolerated by this administration…both the TC Chairmen and elected chairmen are Imo children. Therefore, there is no need to create a chaotic situation.
Meanwhile, it appears a sharp disagreement and loss of confidence is brewing between the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his Deputy, Sir Jude Agbaso over the position of the recalled elected Local Government chairmen and Councilors in the state.
The divergent news came to the fore Sunday evening July 23, 2012 when the Governor who has been away for the past two weeks convened an emergence Executive Council meeting on arrival from abroad to seek for solution over government rift with the Council Chairmen. At the Executive session held at the new multi – purpose the issue of the elected chairmen was the subject of discussion.
While some of the sycophantic members of the state executive insisted on not obeying the July 5th, Appeal Court Judgment and order which nullified the dissolution of the Council Chairmen, the Deputy Governor and few of those loyal to him stood their grounds on the need to respect the court order and judgment. Owelle was said to have sought the opinions of the aides when Agbaso reportedly stated that the State government has no option than to respect the constitution and obey the court.
Imo Trumpeta gathered on good authority that the State Government had since that judgment prevented the elected council chairmen and councilors from performing their legitimate functions as directed by the court.
The said judgment did not only declare the dissolution of the council chairmen as unconstitutional and unlawful, the court further warned the state government against interfering with the duties and functions of the council chairmen until the expiration of their tenure.
Consequent upon the judgment, the elected council chairmen headed to their various officers which was greeted with stiff opposition initially by the Transition Chairmen.
Apparently, worried by the development, the elected Council Chairmen took their complaint to both the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to impeccable reports, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General had to appeal toImoStategovernment to respect the rule of law by adhering to the court judgment.
But unfortunately all these appeal fell on deaf ears as government officials refused to budge until the arrival of the Governor on Sunday when the matter was presented at the State Executive Council meeting.
Irked that the controversy was unnecessary, the Deputy Governor Sir Jude Agbaso harped on the need to abide by the court judgment and order contrary to the perceived position of the Governor and some of his loyalists.
However, the Governor ended the emergency meeting promising to make an official statement on the mind. The governor was said to have told his Exco – members not to worry he knows how to handle the matter promising to address the paper which he did yesterday.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the executive session and Governor Okorocha’s decision to mediate on the matter before making public government position forced some of the hoodlums and political thugs loyal to APGA to down their tools over the planned attack on the chairmen and councilors on Monday.
Following a statement credited to one of the commissioners who at a function threatened that the present government will whisk away the elected chairmen and councilors out of the 27 LGAs in the state, APGA through the out – of – favour TC chairmen began to mobilize thugs and hoodlums. But their planned mayhem was cut short by the Governor’s new disposition and announcements by the PDP that the state government and Owelle Rochas Okorocha will be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the councils.
In a related development, the state Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Prince Marshal Okoroafor Anyanwu, has advised members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be calm and allow justice to take its full
course.
The party chieftain gave this advice during a recent interaction with
Journalists in Enugu where he accompanied Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha
to South-East Governors’ meeting.
He advised PDP members to stop using members of the Nigerian Police
Force to bulldoze their way into Council Headquarters of the 27 local
governments in Imo state without respecting the law.
Anyanwu also stated that Imolites are unhappy because PDP is plotting
to derail a purposeful government that has recorded monumental
achievements within one year in office of which their party past
governors could not do for over twelve (12) years in office.
He further advised them to be law-abiding and allow the local
government matter that is in the Supreme Court to continue until
judgment is given on the case to avoid further breach of peace and
law.
