Odinkalu, Charlie Boy, 100 CSOs Want State of Emergency in Imo

…Condemn Military Invasion of South East

Over one hundred Civil Society organisations in Nigeria have
called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare a state of
emergency in Imo State following the continued disobedience of the
state government to Court orders, even as they condemned the
deployment of the Military to the South-Eastern part of Nigeria
through the Operation Python Dance 11.

Rising from a meeting at the Secretariat of the Nigerian Bar
Association, Owerri, Saturday, held to review what they described
as human rights emergency in the state, the groups expressed
regrets over the gross abuse of rule of law by the government of
the day in the state.

They further called on the Federal Government to set up a
Commission of enquiry into the acquisition of communal land in the
state.

On the demolition of Eke Ukwu Owerri market, despite a
subsisting Court order, the groups frowned at the ignoble roles of
security agencies in the state, even as they asked for an end to
the ongoing demolition in Owerri and her environs.

“We demand an end to further demolitions in Owerri and environs
and compensations paid to the victims.”

“Security officials involved in the unwholesome act should be
identified and made to face the wrath of the law. They must desist
from interfering in civil matters.”

“Imo State government should be prevailed upon to obey court
orders. The Federal Government should set up a Commission of
enquiry into the acquisition of communal land in the state.”

“The Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in
Imo State to have normalcy restored in the state.”

“Citizens should defend their rights and take to non-violent
civil disobedience in an event that their rights are grossly
violated.”

“The deployment of the military to the south-eastern part of
Nigeria in the name of Operation Python Dance 11 is unacceptable
and uncalled for. Has the provison of the Constitution been
followed? Has the President given an approval for this? Has the
National Assembly approved such a deployment? Is there a public
disorder that overwhelms the Police to warrant the deployment of
the military?”

Continuing, the group called for a probe into the activities of
Imo Security Network by the Inspector General of Police, describing
their activities and use of fire arms to harass innocent citizens
as unacceptable.

Those present at the meeting were: popular musician and convener
of ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ campaign, Charles Oputa and his group,
representatives of the Chairman of the National Human Rights
Commission, former Chairman of the National Human Rights
Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkanu, founder, CLEEN Foundation,
Innocent Chukwuma, National Coordinator, Network on Police Reforms
in Nigeria, Okechukwu Nwanguma, President of Civil Liberties
Organisation, Barrister Wisdom Durueke, Executive Director of Media
Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC, Dr.
Walter Duru and Citizens Center for Intergrated Development and
Social Rights.

Others are: Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Lawrence
Nwakaeti, former Chairman, Imo State Civil Service Union, Chief
Frank Amakwe, Chairman, Imo Bilie Initiative, Aku Obidimma,
representatives of Owerri Council of Elders, community leaders,
town union representatives, victims of Eke Ukwu Owerri demolition,
representatives of the state council of Nigeria Union of
journalists, among others

…Condemn Military Invasion of South East

Over one hundred Civil Society organisations in Nigeria have
called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare a state of
emergency in Imo State following the continued disobedience of the
state government to Court orders, even as they condemned the
deployment of the Military to the South-Eastern part of Nigeria
through the Operation Python Dance 11.

Rising from a meeting at the Secretariat of the Nigerian Bar
Association, Owerri, Saturday, held to review what they described
as human rights emergency in the state, the groups expressed
regrets over the gross abuse of rule of law by the government of
the day in the state.

They further called on the Federal Government to set up a
Commission of enquiry into the acquisition of communal land in the
state.

On the demolition of Eke Ukwu Owerri market, despite a
subsisting Court order, the groups frowned at the ignoble roles of
security agencies in the state, even as they asked for an end to
the ongoing demolition in Owerri and her environs.

“We demand an end to further demolitions in Owerri and environs
and compensations paid to the victims.”

“Security officials involved in the unwholesome act should be
identified and made to face the wrath of the law. They must desist
from interfering in civil matters.”

“Imo State government should be prevailed upon to obey court
orders. The Federal Government should set up a Commission of
enquiry into the acquisition of communal land in the state.”

“The Federal Government should declare a state of emergency in
Imo State to have normalcy restored in the state.”

“Citizens should defend their rights and take to non-violent
civil disobedience in an event that their rights are grossly
violated.”

“The deployment of the military to the south-eastern part of
Nigeria in the name of Operation Python Dance 11 is unacceptable
and uncalled for. Has the provison of the Constitution been
followed? Has the President given an approval for this? Has the
National Assembly approved such a deployment? Is there a public
disorder that overwhelms the Police to warrant the deployment of
the military?”

Continuing, the group called for a probe into the activities of
Imo Security Network by the Inspector General of Police, describing
their activities and use of fire arms to harass innocent citizens
as unacceptable.

Those present at the meeting were: popular musician and convener
of ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ campaign, Charles Oputa and his group,
representatives of the Chairman of the National Human Rights
Commission, former Chairman of the National Human Rights
Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkanu, founder, CLEEN Foundation,
Innocent Chukwuma, National Coordinator, Network on Police Reforms
in Nigeria, Okechukwu Nwanguma, President of Civil Liberties
Organisation, Barrister Wisdom Durueke, Executive Director of Media
Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC, Dr.
Walter Duru and Citizens Center for Intergrated Development and
Social Rights.

Others are: Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Lawrence
Nwakaeti, former Chairman, Imo State Civil Service Union, Chief
Frank Amakwe, Chairman, Imo Bilie Initiative, Aku Obidimma,
representatives of Owerri Council of Elders, community leaders,
town union representatives, victims of Eke Ukwu Owerri demolition,
representatives of the state council of Nigeria Union of
journalists, among others