Imo State House of Assembly lawmakers have been put on edge over their plan to impeach the deouty governor, Eze Madumere on the prompting of Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The lawmakers are being accused of collecting N2 million each for the dirty job, and have been asked to suspend the idea or face the wrath of the people.
On Thursday, the premises of Imo State House of Assembly was rocked with protest from Imo people, calling on Imo lawmakers to call-off the impeachment proceeding of face their wrath.
The group of protesters accused the lawmakers of abandoning their constitutional duties to do the bidding of Governor Okorocha for alleged N2 million gratifications, describing it as very shameful.
Protesters who had besieged the House of Assembly premises at about 10 am in the morning were carrying placards with various inscriptions like; “Leave Madumere alone, he is innocent; Is it a crime to be incorruptible and to have integrity among others?; Madumere Ride on, Imo people are with you!; There is no locus to impeach the Deputy Governor, Stop the trumped up Charges, Dead on arrival!”
Speaking to newsmen, leader of the group, Victor Osuagwu accused the lawmakers of supporting Governor Okorocha’s impunity and disrespect for rule of law, calling on them to drop the impeachment move against Madumere, who he described as innocent and have been loyal to a fault.
He also described the charges leveled against the Deputy Governor as gross misconduct as rather unfortunate.
Speaking further, he insists that Madumere’s decision to contest the governorship of Imo State is his inalienable right and could not be viewed as a crime since Okorocha is no god to decide the fate of the people of Imo State.
He therefore called on the lawmakers to rescind their decision while also calling on them to recall five members of the Imo Assembly who were unjustly suspended over their stout refusal to join in the unjust impeachment fray.
He regretted the alleged N2 million gratification to the lawmakers, saying it is shameful that such should ever be heard around those who have the mandate of the people to represent them at the hallowed chambers.
Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Uche Onwuchekwa has notified the general public that the Deputy Governor has not received the said notice of gross misconduct, pointing out that he is supposed to be mandatorily served personally as required by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He assured that the Deputy Governor as a law abiding and responsible citizen will personally respond to the charges against him the moment the right procedures are followed as required by law.