Information reaching 247ureports.com has revealed how the officials of the Imo state government led by the commissioner for Information; Chief Chidi Ibe and Youths and Sports counterpart, Kenneth Emelu, mobilized thugs to assault widows who were on peaceful solidarity protest against Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s incessant attacks on the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri over her recent revelation of federal government projects in Imo State.
In the process the hapless widows under the auspices of Imo Widows Association, Jesus Triumphant Widows Association and Amuzi Women Association had a clash with some hoodlums hired by the Information Commissioner and other aides of the governor.
The women numbering over 2000 arrived the Okigwe Roundabout, opposite the Government House, Owerri as early as 8am singing solidarity songs in support of President Goodluck Jonathan and Prof. Onwuliri, with the following lyrics “leave our benefactor alone, she is not responsible for the death of her husband, Jonathan should continue, “Onwuliri is our pride and princess, we stand by Onwuliri”.
However, unknown to the women, hired thugs were laying ambush with the intention of unleashing mayhem on the harmless widows. It was alleged that soon after the widows had assembled at the designated venue the hoodlums began to unleash terror on the protesting women leaving five of them lying critical ill at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, FMC and the NTA cameraman beaten to stupor while his camera was confiscated by the commissioner for information, Chidi Ibe. The women alleged that the thugs carted away their bags.
The act which was allegedly coordinated by the Commissioner of Information, Chief Chidi Ibeh and Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Kenneth Emelu, and the Chairman of State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB Mrs. Getrude Oduka, left many women also sustaining various degrees of injuries.
One of the wounded women, Mrs. Margret Kwusi from Oguta Local Government Area, narrated her ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums. “As we were praying at the venue for peace to continue to reign in the state and the nation generally, the hoodlums descended on us flogging us mercilessly with canes which resulted in bodily injuries among many of our members.”
Speaking, the leader of the group, Mrs. Josephine Ibewike, stated that they on peaceful procession in protest of the unfounded accusation leveled against their benefactor which they found to be very repulsive and decide to let the public know the truth in this respect.
“We embarked on the peaceful protest to inform the State Government that Prof. Viola Onwuliri is a good woman who cannot harm a fly talk less of killing the husband, she has been assisting us through the instrumentality of her office,”
“I have been a widow for 15 years and I know how painful it is to live without a bread winner. Accusing a woman who the world knows died in plane crash of killing the husband is absurd.”
According to her, philanthropists all over the world practice same with human face and detest a situation where a situation where people tell lies in the name of philanthropy.
