By Daniel Kanu (Assistant Politics Editor)
Police on Monday morning attacked protesters on a peaceful protest against the Rochas Okorocha government in Imo State.
The protest, tagged ‘Occupy Owerri’, which is expected to last for one week, was called by Imo People’s Action for Democracy, IPAD, against the policies of the Governor Okorocha administration.
Chief among the grouse of the protesters is the erection of statues in Owerri, the state capital, costing millions of naira, when the state is still owing workers salaries and pensions.
They are also opposed to the appointment of the governor’s sister as Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment.
The group had written to the police and the State Security Service for security during the rally. While the SSS gave approval for the rally to hold, the police asked that the rally be shifted till after the yuletide period.
But the group refused, arguing that the police have no right to stop it from protesting.
A press statement issued by IPAD after the attack and signed by signed by Aku Obidinma (Coordinator), Marjorie Ezihe (Secretary Organizing Committee) and Chido Onumah (Member Organizing Committee) and made available to The Niche read:
“The Imo Peoples Action for Democracy (IPAD) wishes to inform the world that Imo State has unfortunately become a fascist state where freedom of expression and assembly is no longer guaranteed.
“We say this because of the ugly incident that happened this morning where the Imo State government used the police to brutally attack peaceful protesters. We peacefully commenced our protest this morning from Wetheral Road Roundabout in Owerri, Imo State, and were accosted by heavily armed policemen who demanded we stop because the commissioner of police did not approve the rally.
“We insisted that we must continue since the law did not say we needed his permission before we could embark on a peaceful protest. As we continued our match, the police descended on us and started beating up the protesters, firing tear gas, confiscated our placards and manhandled even the minors amongst us.
“Today is really a sad day for our democracy. Imo State has been turned into a terror zone. Governor Rochas Okorocha is now a full-blown dictator and he has as his accomplice the Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, who is always ready to do his dirty jobs. We are disturbed that the police who ought to protect peaceful protesters are the ones now used to attack law abiding citizens.
“We wish to inform the government and the police that no amount of intimidation will make us drop our agitation for good governance in Imo State. We will in no distant time mobilize Imolites for a massive protest that will bring the government to its knees.
“We use this medium to call on the police authorities and the Presidency to quickly redeploy the Imo State Police Commissioner out of Imo State as he has lost the confidence of the people of the state.”