Re – Alleged Demolition of Imo IICC Center by Suspected Govt Officials

It is no longer news that, part of one of the signature projects of Senator Rochas Okorocha when he was governor, the imposing Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) was demolished the previous night, by elements with sympathy for the State Government.

They had chosen to do that at night when evil actions were most free and had also chosen to demolish the back side of the edifice, to avoid people seeing them. And they had done that, for three reasons.

(1) As usual, to use Rochas Okorocha’s name to divert the attention of the public over the failure or refusal of the State Government to bring the deteriorating security situation in the State under control.

(2) To justify the more than N500 million budgeted for the renovation of the Centre in the last budget. So, demolishing part of the monumental edifice was to justify the amount provided in the budget, for its renovation.

(3) The IICC has been at a very strategic place in Owerri. And each time people see it, they remember Okorocha. So, the government in Imo today, does not want to see or hear about Okorocha. And has been working very hard to envelop or enclipse all that Okorocha did for Imo people. The same reason for the demolition of some solid round-abouts built by Okorocha. And the tunnels vis-à-vis, other projects of Okorocha.

When Okorocha told the world that the Imo Governor hates him with all his strength, he was saying the truth. The government, abinitio, had made efforts to “submerge” Okorocha and the latest being dragging his name into the unfortunate attacks in the State. But God has always shown that He is on the throne.

When they failed on that, they began to arrest Okorocha’s associates on the imagined crime of recruiting Cultists to disrupt or distort the peace of the State. For almost two years on seat, the government in Imo, has not got any other business than to unleash attacks, blackmail and unfounded propaganda on Okorocha, his family and political associates.

The IICC has been there for more than Seven years and has not gotten any crack. The 12000 Capacity Ultra Modern structure, did not collapse when more than 10,000 lawyers across the nation, used it for their Bar Conference.

It didn’t fall when more than eight thousand Nigerians used the place for the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) event under Okorocha. It didn’t fall when more than 5000 traditional rulers and religious leaders from all over the Country gathered there for a 2-day peace Conference.

It didn’t fall when Igbo leaders in their thousands met in the place or when APC members and leaders in the South-East used the Centre. Or, when President Buhari used the place to address more than, 10,000 APC members from the South-East and beyond.

IICC didn’t collapse when more than 12000 students of Rochas Foundation College from all over the Country used there for their get-together. It didn’t fall when more than 10,000 people gathered there for mega crusade or religious programme like that of Bishop David Ibiyiome of Salvation Ministry and a host of others.

And only for part of the edifice to fall when there has never been any pressure on it. The government must begin to bear fruit worthy of emulation and of repentance. Since the advent of this government, there has never been any good story, but stories of woes and wars. Stories of attacks. Stories of threats, harassment, intimidation, arrest, detention, arraignment and remanding people in prison custody.

The government, in a democracy, cannot continue to advance in all these. The time to change style or approach is now. With God, the security situation in the State will become normal. But the government has to help the situation by giving its utterances, actions and inactions a human face.

We call on the Security agencies to investigate the IICC incident and apprehend those behind the demolition, because it was built with Imo people’s money.

Sam Onwuemeodo
Special Adviser (Media) to the former Imo State Governor and Senator Representing Imo West Senatorial District, Senator Rochas Okorocha