Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha appears to have courted the ire of opposition parties and rights groups in the state following his declaration of two weeks Christmas holiday for civil servants. The opposition parties agree that it was wrong for the governor to simply grind the state to a halt in the name of celebrating Christmas not minding its attendant effect on the state’s economy.
Reacting to the declaration, the State Chairman of the All Nigeria National Party (ANPP), Dr. Vitalis Orikaeze Ajumbe, said it was an indication that the government had no plans and vision for the state.
“This is to show that this government has no vision” he started.
“There is nowhere in the world where the government declares two weeks Christmas holiday for civil servants which meant that the state would be practically shut down which also means huge revenue loss to the state, adding that the government did not also consider those coming from abroad that might require the services of the civil servants, so it simply shows that both the government and the civil servants are idle.”
In its own reaction, the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who used to control the state from 1999 until 2011 when the incumbent defeated the party’s candidate , Ikedi Ohakim at the polls, throught its state publicity secretary, Chief Byleden Amajirionwu, described the holiday as reckless and irresponsible, adding that the government was obviously “naive” to the economic implications of its action. “The governor appears to be naive on the economic implications of such notorious holiday, this action goes further to explain our stand that this administration that this Administration is ruthlessly disorganized and deceitful”.
Similarly, the acting National President of the Civil Liberties Organization, Comrade Uche Durueke, a legal practitioner described it as nonsense wondering how the government could ever conceive of such an idea, noting that it would have a far reaching effect on the people and economy. “As far as I am concerned it is nonsense because as a lawyer, I cannot go to the court now because of the holidays.”
