A CALL FOR GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA’S IMPEACHMENT

The Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI) is sad to note that In the midst of abundant human and natural resources, the vast majority of Imo working masses and the youths live in abject poverty. It is no secret to us that the politician responsible for this embarrassing state of absurdity in Imo State is the “profit first” capitalist anti-poor, anti-peoples Governor of Imo State Chief Rochas Okorocha.

YARPTI  is sad that despite enormous human and material potentials, Imolites’ crisis of poverty in the midst of plenty continues apace. Vicious attacks on living conditions, wages and social services have reduced the mass majority to a state of perpetual misery. According to statistics, about 70% of Ndi-Imo exists on less than one dollar per day. The capitalist anti-poor, anti-peoples Governor of Imo State (Owelle Rochas ) continues to loot the collective wealth of Imo without remorse.

YARPTI  is calling on the Imo House of Assembly to impeach the Governor of Imo State immediately for financial recklessness and profligacy as well as  abuse of executive  powers  which has made him unfit  to serve as the number 1 citizen of the state. We are not motivated by malice, spite, pecuniary interest or promise thereof, nor are we propelled by any desire for public office.

Since his election as Governor , Okorocha has embarked on a mission to undermine the Constitution of Nigeria while attacking the freedom and liberties of the people of Imo State. The evidence of Okorocha’s financial recklessness, profligacy and anti poor  policies are impossible to ignore. So we are demanding that the duly elected members of the Imo House of Assembly should take immediate action to remove him from office in order to prevent him from doing further harm to Imo with the following reasons:

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1. The failure of Governor Okorocha  to pay salaries of  Imo civil servants and pensioners  who constitute less than 2 per cent of the population of the state, shows a total failure of governance and profligacy on his  part
2. The monthly allocations from the Federation account is more than enough to meet the basic governance obligations of the states, because it is far above the monthly wage bill of the states. It is also more than enough to meet the cost of maintaining basic utility infrastructures of the states so why can’t Okorocha pay salaries and pensions in Imo.
3. He should be impeached for callous, inhuman and malicious persecution of civil servants and pensioners alike, and the undermining of their dignity of human person, on a scale and in a proportion, that amounts to depraved cruelty with malice afore thought.
4. The reason Okorocha  can no longer pay salaries of workers in Imo  is because he has  been diverting public funds to his private estates.
5. He has displayed  gross incompetence and incapacity to discharge the functions of his  office.
6. Governor  Okorocha cannot  remain in office even when his administration is unable to meet the basic obligations of government, which is payment of  the salaries of its workers.  Imo civil servant are owed 9 months salaries, some 6 months and 4 months while pensioners have not been paid for 18 months yet, the Governor and his hangers-on continue to live ostentatious lifestyles and build estates around the world
7. His policies are geared and are being pursued solely for the purpose of enriching himself, his immediate families, in-laws and his cronies, whilst impoverishing the generality of the people of Imo  who look up to him for their welfare.
8. Okorocha squandered all the huge monthly allocations of the  27 local Government areas in Imo State since May 2011 till date that is well above N132 billion. What has been done with these funds that he could not pay salaries and pension
9. He looted over  N16 billion 13% (derivation) allocated to Imo State Oil producing Areas Dev. Commission (ISOPADEC) since May 2011 till  date
10. Okorocha has astronomical increase personal income taxes when there are no jobs and the policies of government are unfriendly to private sector economic activities and hostile to the self-employed
11. He destroyed people’s houses and business premises without due compensation
12. He forcefully acquired Government and  individual properties
13. In Imo today only person fit for sensitive contracts, appointments and Government patronage are the Okorochas, the Nwosus (his in-laws from wife’s side), another Nwosu has joined through the acquisition of Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s daughter.
14. He has not explained to Imo people about  Joseph Dino of Jpros Limited and Imo tax payers N1.3 billion naira
15. He siphoned  and defrauded  Imolites N3.5 billion through Mr. Jos Marin Lopez-Pepe and his company Hommipreses a poor artisan company based in Spain.
16. He connived  with contractors to defraud Imo taxpayers of over 10 billion Naira with his sham rural road projects
17. He has put  Imolites into bondage by secretly borrowing money from banks in Nigeria and abroad
18. Impoverishing Imolites by doing all the contracts alone through his surrogates
19. He could not  conduct council election since 2011 and cannot account for the following local government council funds
20.  Aboh Mbaise LGA’s  5,592,914,085.45 billion naira  funds from May 2011 – December 2014
21. Ahiazu Mbaise LG’s  4,893,694,597.34 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
22. Ehime Mbano LGA’s  4,725,559,182.63 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
23. Ezinihitte LGA’s  4,997,483,173.94 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
24. Ideato North LGA’s  5,093,265,185.62 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
25. Ideato South LGA   5,012,503,586.88 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
26. Ihitte Uboma LGA  4,626,105,741.15 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
27. Ikeduru LGA  4,995,560,424.90 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
28. Isiala Mbano LGA 5,577,420,777.89 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
29. Isu LGA  5,011,558,318.56 billion naira  funds from May 2011 – December 2014
30. Mbaitoli LGA 5,900,278,353.78 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
31. Ngor /Okpala LGA  5,182,836,304.63 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
32. Njaba LGA 4,819,954,493.86 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
33. Nwangele LGA 4,659,850,212.82 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
34. Nkwerre LGA 4,085,707,232.35 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
35. Obowo LGA 4,462,812,258.27 billion naira funds from May 2011 – December 2014
36. Oguta LGA 5,014,875,269.83 billion naira funds
37. Ohaji/Egbema LGA 5,373,005,346.51 billion naira funds
38. Okigwe LGA  4,804,445,947.19 billion naira funds
39. Onuimo LGA 4,371,098,781.40 billion naira funds
40. Orlu LGA  4,759,790,822.05 billion naira funds
41. Orsu LGA  4,547,088,244.85 billion naira funds
42. Oru East LGA  4,706,100,105.04 billion naira funds
43. Oru West LGA 4,646,145,112.23 billion naira funds
44. Owerri Municipal LGA 4,622,099,470.68 billion naira funds
45. Owerri North LGA 5,103,710,965.71 billion naira funds
46. Owerri West LGA  4,782,559,065.16 billion naira funds
47. Since Mr. Governor has  consistently shown that he has  no regard for our Constitution and our democracy, it has become imperative and pertinent to remind Mr. Governor that: sovereignty belongs to the people

YARPTI is calling on the Imo House of Assembly to as a matter of urgency redeem themselves by giving effect to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution that empowers  them to investigate and bring to justice a  state governor

Kenneth Uwadi

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