IMO GOVERNOR BOWS TO PRESSURE; REVERSES STREET NAMED AFTER BUHARI IN OWERRI

At last, sound and superior reasoning has prevailed on the Imo State Government as it vacated it's own order to rename the Assumpta Avenue street name. 



The Owelle Rochas Okorocha led APC government's action to name the street after President Muhammadu Buhari, came barely a few hours after reports hit the news stand amidst rising tension generated by what some residents, especially those from the Catholic faith described the idea of the renaming of "Assumpta Avenue”.

The Imo state Commissioner for Information, Professor Nnamdi Obiaraeri, while announcing the reversion order, said that; "it was never government’s intention to rename the said strategic road".

The Information Commissioner, in his address before media practitioners in Owerri, claimed that the said street spans from Assumpta Cathedral and terminates at Warehouse Roundabout. 

“Assumpta Avenue is symbolic for both religious and historic reasons in Imo State, and these facts are not lost on the government and people of Imo State".

"All inconveniences occasioned by the initial oversight or error of wrongly installing a Street sign, suggesting a renaming of the street is highly regretted”, Nnamdi Obiaraeri said. 

Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna in his reaction to the reversal order, stated that; "there was no need to celebrate the restoration of the street name by Governor Rochas Okorocha".

“Catholics were already putting heads together to face the unwarranted and most uncharitable frontal attack on the Church, when he retraced his locus. His misdeed had already reached the ends of the earth before he did the needful”, the Archbishop said. 

Responding to questions, Archbishop Obinna wondered why Okorocha wants to destroy everything that predated his administration, including Assumpta Avenue. 

Isaiah Ikedi, a business tycoon wondered why the governor would be acting this way especially when one considers the goodwill he had enjoyed from Imolites. 

Ikedi, noted that with this action of Rochas, he should be prepared for the reactions of of the people of Imo  state.

"Agreed, he will not be seeking re-election in 2019 but then, he should know that Imo peopleare tolerant but certainly not stupid", Ikedi stated.

A community leader from Amieze Autonomous Community in Owerri North while reacting to the reversal order, told NAIJ NEWS ALERT in the city centre that the Catholics, despite their quiet mien, cannot be taken for granted.

Chief Calistus Jideofor stated that the actions are going beyond the abnormal and can no longer be acceptable by Imolites anymore.

However, information reaching this medium, reveals that, the Catholic laity had declared three days of fasting and prayers in Imo State. 

An online directive has asked Catholics and their well wishers to do this “for God to manifest His power in Imo State, and deliver His children from the evil leadership of Governor Rochas Okorocha”. 

"Catholics, by the directive, were asked to begin the fasting and prayer from December 29-31, starting from 6am-12noon, while recitation of the Rosary starts 12noon". 

“Strict adherence to this call will go a long way to salvage Imo State. Our Lady will surely crush the ugly serpent that is raising its head in Imo State now. Catholics stand up to your faith and win this spiritual battle. God is with us. We shall live to see the end of this evil. The heavenly beings are greater than all the principalities here on earth.

"We will surely overcome”, the directive added.