– Governor Rochas Okorocha has been accused by a Nigerian journalist of planning to take him out of circulation
– The journalist, Kenneth Uwadi said the governor is against him because of his opposition to the state government’s policies
– He accused the state government of making anti peoples’ policies
Kenneth Uwadi, a Nigerian journalist has accused the Imo state government of planning to arrest and detain him for speaking out against the mismanagement and fraudulent activities of the state government.
Uwadi said the government of Imo state his after him because of his relentless condemnation of the policies of the administration.
The journalist who made this known on his Facebook page said: “I wish to inform the media, trade union activists locally and internationally, organizations and individuals in Imo state, student and youth members of the JTVC, activists across the federation and the general public that the Imo state government is on phase two of its plot to arrest and impose criminal charges against me.
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“A telephone number, 08033637*** called me on Tuesday 18th July, 2017 claiming to be speaking from SSS office in Owerri and threatened me over my recent article titled Isopadec and the thieving cabal in Imo state.
The journalist, Kenneth Uwadi said the governor is against him because of his opposition to the state government’s policies. Photo credit: Kenneth Uwadi
“By this action the government of Imo has once again showed that it is diametrically opposed to the democratic and constitutional rights of free speech. It is another indicator that Imo has no respect for press freedom.
“I am stating it here strongly that I am not intimidated. The plot to put me out of circulation will fail and the excuses will not stand the test of the law, the test of decency, nor the test of time. In 2014 similar actions were moved against me without success. I am a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Imo State Chapter.
“As the publisher of Hot News Newspaper, Managing Editor of Famouszenithblogaz Online News, former Coordinator of Youths Against Human Rights Violations and Corrupt Practices (YAHVCP) and current President of Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative-YARPTI ,section 22 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution empowers me to demand responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.
“The press and members of the civil society are here to watch the excesses of any government anywhere in the world. The press is the guardian of the people as the fourth estate of the realm.
“I have for some time now been condemning the anti poor and
“Of course you cannot run a government for 6years in my state without conducting local council elections and expect me to keep silent. Over N29 billion has been earned as 13 percent oil derivation funds in Imo since June 2011. 40 % of this money is for the commission (Isopadec) set up for development of the oil areas yet the level of poverty in some communities in the oil areas of the state remains incomparable to many ghettos in Nigeria.
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“Where are the monies? Infrastructures and public utilities are at zero level in some of our communities. Allocations to Imo expanded dramatically from 2011-2016, but mismanagement have left basic health and education services in terrible state of decay. Thus the more money the state actually gets, the poorer the people becomes. You don’t expect me to keep quite.
‘Things should be done right in my state for the overall good of the majority. You can label me an enemy of the state that must be jailed at all costs as you like and be sending SSS to threaten me but it will not stop me from calling for good governance. It is my right as a Nigerian.
“But whoever is sending security men after me should note that if you buy suya, you will be given pepper. I can never and will never be intimidated. The mobile number 08033637799 should never, ever call to threaten me again!
“The shameless security man should go after criminals as I am not a criminal. There are many kidnappers and thieves on the prowl in Imo. Intimidation cannot frighten me away from the truth. Any bad policy of the government is antithetical to the interest of the poor masses and as such I must speak against it.
“To be an activist or a media man is not only a great responsibility, but also a high honour and not a high crime.
Efforts to get Imo state government’s reaction to this allegation was not successful as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, ZENITHBLOG.com had reported that Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Tuesday sacked the state executive council and 27 local government transition committees with immediate effect.
The Transition Committee (TC) chairmen are advised to hand over to the directors of administration and general services of their respective council areas.
A statement by the Principal Secretary to the governor, Mr Pascal Obi, in Owerri directed all former members of the executive to hand over to permanent secretaries or the most senior director in their ministries.
Below is a ZENITHBLOG.com video in which Acting President Yemi Osinbajo delivers a speech on the Biafra war.
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