Connect with us

Politics

Ohakim, Bishop Obinna kick as Okorocha orders workers to stage solidarity march for his son-in-law

Published

on

Court stops swearing-in of Gov Okorocha’s new deputy

Governor Rochas Okorocha’s alleged orders to civil servants in Imo State to stage a solidarity march for his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, over his governorship ambition has continued to illicit reactions from different parts of the state.

Among those who have strongly condemned the development are former governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim, and the governor’s notable critic, Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna.

The alleged solidarity march by civil servants in support of Governor Okorocha’s son-in-law’s governorship ambition is said to have been fixed to hold on Tuesday.

In his reaction Ohakim told Ripples Nigeria Monday morning through his Chief Press Secretary, Collins Ughala, that the action of the governor further proved that Okorocha has destroyed the civil service in the state by his ignorance of what governance is.

He said, “The civil service by regulation should be apolitical. They are only seen and not heard. Forcing them to stage a solidarity rally is an aberration. It further proves our claim that the Governor has destroyed the civil service in the state by his ignorance of what governance is, and in desperate bid to retain power through his son in-law.

“The destruction of the state civil service and governance structures in the state will get Ohakim’s primary attention when he wins as second term Governor. He will give back life to the civil service and reactivate all dead governance structures in the state”, Ughala said.

Earlier on Sunday, Archbishop Obinna who spoke on the matter after the Mass at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, insisted that Okorocha’s efforts to impose his son-in-law on the people of the state is a project that died with its conception.

He said that the governor’s order meant to intimidate the helpless Imo civil servants to carry placards in support of his son-in-law could only end up in perceiving him as a dictator.

“It is not right to force anybody to do your will that is against the fundamental human rights and the right of freedom of association.

READ ALSO: INEC registering foreigners to rig 2019 polls, Southern, M’Belt leaders allege

“Those who know Okorocha should advise him that we are not in a military regime, even though it looks as if we are still under the military dictatorship in Nigeria.

“It is only on two occasions since the second republic till date that we saw pure civilian rule, and that was during Presidents Shehu Shagari and Goodluck Jonathan’s regimes. The issue of forcing civil servants to do your will that is totally unconstitutional is an aberration and that cannot be allowed,” he said.

He called on the civil servants to resist such intimidation and continue to do the right thing according to the laws of the land.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now