Hundreds of Imo widows on Friday 20th february, 2015, rose from a marathon praying and fasting session in Owerri placing curses on Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha, the group that attacked them, some traditional rulers led by Eze Samuel Ohiri and Eze Chudume Okoro for allegedly peddling falsehood and dangerous propaganda claiming that they carried a mock coffin during their recent but botched peaceful protest against the incessant verbal and media attacks on one of their own.
The widows resorted to placing of curses on Gov. Okorocha and some of the traditional rulers in the state whom they accused of selling off their duties as custodians of the people’s culture and tradition but instead have become drowned in partisan politics in the state to the surprise of all citizens of the state.
“How can a real traditional ruler who knows his culture that it is a taboo in Igbo land for anybody under any circumstance to beat up a mother, instead of condemning the atrocity went to town to perform mock cleansing, all in their bid to shield their paymaster”, one of the widows lamented.
Some other women who spoke on behalf of women from their zones but in the same tone include Mrs Edith Anyiwo, (Orlu zone), Martina Ejimmadu (Okigwe zone) and Mrs Ijeoma Nwabueze (Owerri zone).
“We as widows do not have the power to fight Goliaths in authority apart from crying to God. They dehumanised and manhandled old widows like us because we don’t have the powers to fight back but our God in heaven will surely fight for us”.
Also not spared in their call for God’s wrath are the Commissioners for Youth/Sports, Kenneth Emelu, that for Information and strategy Chidi Ibeh and Chairperson of SUBEB, Getrude Oduka whom they accused of misleading the Governor into accepting that they carried a coffin announcing his obituary.
The widows threatened to continue to seek various peaceful means until Governor Okorocha not only retracts his lies and tender an unreserved apology to them but also bring all those involved in their unwarranted attack to book.
Meanwhile, the Honourable minister (state) for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri has taken it upon herself to visit and cater for those that sustained injuries during the fracas across the state.
