Imo Youths Threaten Showdown Over July 3 Protests Against Okorocha

A group, Imo Youths Platform has threatened a total showdown against the upcoming protest directed against the governance style of Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha.

The New Media, Media & Strategy Coordinator of Imo Youth Platform, Mr Austin Echefu stated this in an open letter to the Inspector-General of police and DG of Department of State Security [DSS], titled “The July 3rd 2017 Planned Protests In Owerri, Imo State”.

The group noted that two planned protests were slated to be held in Imo State on Monday, 3rd July, 2017, by a group led by the former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kelechi Nwagwu, from Owerri Zone and Comrade Jeff Nwaoha, from Orlu Zone.

They further expressed worries that “the planned protests will only bring dangerous and regrettable outcomes, none of which will be good for the peace and security of the state.”

They, therefore, warned the Police and the DSS not to allow the planned protests to go on as scheduled.

Otherwise, they “will occupy the streets on the said date to confront these evil forces and manipulators who are set out to destabilize the state for their personal aggrandizement”.

The claimed that Imo State is peaceful, hence, “nobody should be allowed to cause breach of the peace and cause chaos and public disorder for the selfish political motives and personal aggrandizement of few disgruntled politicians.”

The full contents of the letter read:

Dear Sirs,

INTRODUCTION:

1. The attention of Imo Youths Plantform, a socio-political organization of Imo youths, has been drawn to two planned protests in Imo State on Monday, 3rd July, 2017, by a group led by the former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kelechi Nwagwu, from Owerri Zone on the one hand, and Comrade Jeff Nwaoha, from Orlu Zone, on the other hand.

2. As a proactive youth organization that believes in a united and peaceful Imo State, where every citizen should have the greatest opportunities available to him to reach and maximize his potentials, we are greatly worried that the planned protests will only bring dangerous and regrettable outcomes, none of which will be good for the peace and security of the state.

OUR OBSERVATION:

3. Our interactions for over a period of one week now have shown us that the mass protest which is led by the former Speaker, who is also a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is said to be mass protests to register the disapprovals of the citizenry to the way the Governor, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, has been running the affairs of the state. According to the anti-government mass protesters, the move is to communicate to the government that the people of the state are not happy with the way he has managed the state, ranging from the payment of pensions and salaries, corruption and bad governance, etc. 

4. On the other hand, the pro-government protest is scheduled to hold same day, Monday, 3rd July, 2017. The pro-government protest led by Comrade Jeff Nwaoha is meant to counter and render a nullity the aims of the Kelechi Nwagwu group of protesters. This group believes the Governor has done well. The anti-government protest is being organized by Imo Stakeholders Forum led the former Speaker of Imo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kelechi Kennedy Nwagwu, while the pro-government protest is being championed by a group of daring youth bodies of over 10 different youth organizations in the state. 

5. Ordinarily, protests are part of what makes democracy vibrant and different from dictatorship, where the wills and freedoms of the people are cruelly suppressed. However, as responsible youth body in Imo State, we are worried that the outcomes of the protests would be different from the sweet messages posted on social media and the traditional media.

6. Sadly, we have discovered that the anti-government protest alleging corruption and bad governance is only a euphemism to the real plan of setting the state on fire, destabilize it and give some people some advantage ahead of the 2019 general elections. Our point is that the planned anti-government protest has been politicized by the planners, and it is just one of their tools to achieve their aims in the 2019 general elections. But we are afraid that these activities are capable of causing havoc of unimaginable proportions in the state.  

7. As a matter of fact, our interactions have shown that the anti-government protest is being bankrolled by a powerful member of the APC who is hugely interested in the 2019 governorship election in Imo State. Our interactions have also shown that the former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kelechi Nwagwu is closely working with this powerful APC member and 2019 aspirant for the governorship election in the state as a possible running mate upon which he has been briefed to organize and carry out this dubious protest. 

WHAT MUST BE DONE:

7. It is the view of Imo Youths Platform that the planned anti-government protest will not address the issues they claim but will only achieve the hidden aim, which is to cause disaffection among the people of the state and also deepen the perceived division in Imo APC into several factions, cause the breach of peace, law and order and incite Ndi Imo against the government of Gov Rochas okorocha. Whereas we do not claim that the state government led by Governor Okorocha is blameless, it is our considered view that the planned incitement of the people of the state for whatever reason is unwarranted and a smokescreen.   

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