The Peoples Democratic Party in Imo state as well as the Imo East Senatorial candidate of same party has condemned the alleged abduction and unwarranted arrest of Mrs Franca Okorokwo, the President General of Ndom Owerri Nshi Ise by agents of the state government.
The PDP Imo state chapter in a press stat6ement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini said that Information has it that Mrs Okoronkwo was arrested on Thursday, 25th, detained and only released today, Saturday, 27th. According to the statement, “Her offence is that she in defiance to government directive, went on to convene the annual August meeting of the women which was planned over ten months ago.
“The question is, in the thirty two years of creation of the state, when has it been the responsibility of government to regulate the direct activities of independent bodies of this sort? Or could it be an added responsibility to Uzodimma’s administration and by who?
Governance has basic tenets, lmo PDP cannot stand aloof and watch as the people are being subjected to inordinate and draconian conditions by the APC government in the state. A couple of days back, the same government for unjustifiable reasons, sealed the campaign office of a frontline contestant in the lmo East senatorial election, Hon Uche Onyeaguocha.
“The Imo PDP hereby wishes to vehemently to condemn and remonstrate over these acts of rascality fashioned to intimidate opposition and indeed the generality of Ndi Imo into accepting and ingesting the toxic pills by the Uzodimma-led APC. From available information, the women group president, Mrs Frank Okoronkwo is a member of the Owerri municipal chapter of the PDP. But there is no law, not even the electoral act or the constitution of the Federal Republic that forbids her from heading an organisation of such nature.
It is her inalienable right to be member and to lead the group if duly elected. As a major stakeholder and law abiding political organization, lmo PDP wishes again to appeal to good spirited lmolites and leaders of thought to call to order this reckless trend of the APC government before it gets out of hand. Let us recall that lmo in the recent times, has been in the news for most dastardly acts that have never been identified with the state in its thirty two years of existence.
No doubt, realizing the determination of Imo people to continue to reject the illegitimate regime of Uzodimma is becoming desperate. We call on Imolites to remain resolute in their determination to vote out the scourge called APC in the next elections. “
Similarly, the Special Assistant on Media to the PDP candidate for Imo East Senatorial District, Prince MacDonald Enwere wrote in a statement saying “Hon. Barr. Uche Onyeagucha Condemns in totality the recent arrest of Mrs Franca Okoronkwo, President of Ndom Owerre Nchi-Ise. Mrs. Franca Okoronkwo was arrested on Friday 26th August, by Governor Uzodimma’s armed policemen to stop the Women August conference of Ndom Owerre Nchi-Ise. The woman never committed any offense, only that she is a member of PDP.
Her arrest is not unconnected with Governor Uzodimma’s latest onslaught against the opposition in the state. It is appalling to note that Governor Uzodimma is making himself the Idi-Amim of Imo state. We condemn without any reservation, the reckless use of naked power and brute force by Governor Uzodimma against the opposition in the state.
We call on Governor Uzodimma to order the immediate release from incarceration of the innocent Woman and allow Ndom Owerre Nchi-Ise to hold their Women August meeting.” The state government has not replied as at the time of filing this report.
