A civil society group, Coalition for Defence of Democracy, CDD, has petitioned Imo State Police Commissioner, over alleged utterances of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, few days to the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state, warning that they were capable of leading to violence during and after the polls.
CDD in a petition by its President, Mr. Peter Okafor to the state police boss, yesterday, said: “We bring to your notice an imminent danger provoked by a series of utterances and action of the governor of Imo State, which if not curtailed could result in a bloodbath in the state during and after the forth-coming elections.”
He alleged that in two major speeches transmitted on local radio stations, the governor set the scene for a massive assault on political opponents, the police, military and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by Imo youths.
“The governor urged them to come out in their numbers to challenge the law enforcement agents and over-run INEC if the outcome of the elections did not favour him and his party. In his series of utterances ever since, he has publicly warned of crisis in Imo State.
“Going back to the governor’s violent utterances, we note in particular that on his live TV broadcast, celebrating the victory of APC on April 3, he most unabashedly threatened INEC officials who succumbed to the wishes of the opposing parties, failing which he would go after them.
“This most certainly is not the kind of talk expected of someone in such an exalted office. What is likely to ensue from such official licence to violence against the innocent.
At a time when events all over the world particularly the recent actions of the International Criminal Court, ICC, has proved that even the “big man” must face justice, it is sad that the Executive Governor is inciting a bloodbath in his own state.”
CDD in a petition by its President, Mr. Peter Okafor to the state police boss, yesterday, said: “We bring to your notice an imminent danger provoked by a series of utterances and action of the governor of Imo State, which if not curtailed could result in a bloodbath in the state during and after the forth-coming elections.”
He alleged that in two major speeches transmitted on local radio stations, the governor set the scene for a massive assault on political opponents, the police, military and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by Imo youths.
“The governor urged them to come out in their numbers to challenge the law enforcement agents and over-run INEC if the outcome of the elections did not favour him and his party. In his series of utterances ever since, he has publicly warned of crisis in Imo State.
“Going back to the governor’s violent utterances, we note in particular that on his live TV broadcast, celebrating the victory of APC on April 3, he most unabashedly threatened INEC officials who succumbed to the wishes of the opposing parties, failing which he would go after them.
“This most certainly is not the kind of talk expected of someone in such an exalted office. What is likely to ensue from such official licence to violence against the innocent.
At a time when events all over the world particularly the recent actions of the International Criminal Court, ICC, has proved that even the “big man” must face justice, it is sad that the Executive Governor is inciting a bloodbath in his own state.”
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