Owerri Market Killings: Imo Leaders Asks Rochas to Resign or Get Impeached
Senator Iroegbu
The leaders of thought in Imo State have called on Governor Rochas Okorocha to either resign from office or be impeached by the state House of Assembly following last weekend demolition of structures at the Ekeukwu Owerri market that led to the death of some people.
Speaking under the umbrella of Concerned Imo Leaders, Chief Sam Obaji, at a briefing in Abuja yesterday, said Okorocha has lost both moral and legal authority to preside over affairs of the state because of allegations bordering on flagrant violation of court orders, abuse of the executive power vested on him, insensitive demolition of the market and leadership incompetence.
He accused the governor of ordering the demolition of the ancient market without recourse to court order restraining the state government from doing so, went ahead “engaging the military in the exercise which allegedly resulted in the killing of four persons, including a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu Igboanusi, an indigene of Anambra State who was “gunned down whenas he tried to clear wares from his father’s shop.”
Obaji warned the governor to refrain from further violation of court orders in respect of the demolition.
The group “unambiguously condemns the governor’s penchant for disregarding court orders and carrying out actions that traumatise the people and render many homeless and without means of livelihood.”
He described Okorocha’s style of governance as “uncivilised, reckless, thoughtless and disrespectful.”
The group claimed that the demolition was carried out in violation of the order of Justice S.I. Okpara restraining the state government from demolishing the market until the determination of a suit filed by the stall owners in the market and in utter disrespect for the general will of Owerri people and their traditional institutions.
Meanwhile, an Abuja-based lawyer, Charles Mbalisi, yesterday dragged the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and nine others before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja, over the demolition of a market in Owerri and the alleged killings of some persons during the demolition.
In the petition dated August 29, 2017, Mbalisi is asking the commission to investigate the involvement of the Imo State Government, Nigeria Police, Imo State Commissioner of Police, Nigerian Army, Brigade Commandant Nigerian Army Brigade, Owerri; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Imo State Security Network and Imo State Community Watch over the incident.
While speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, the legal practitioner, said the NHRC is empowered by Section 6 (1), (2) a, b, and c of the Human Rights Act to conduct investigation and enquiries in a complaint of human rights abuse of this nature.
“By section 33 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, that boy that was deprived his life has the constitutional right to life and that right has been deprived. That is why we have brought this to the human rights commission, which has every constitutional right to investigate and make inquiries in respect of the cause of the death of that boy and anyone found culpable or liable will then be charged to court by the NHRC to ensure that justice is done,” he said.