A cross section of Imo people, who have expressed deep concern over the worrisome activities of the Special Adviser to the Governor on illegal Motor Parks, Frank Onwumere and his team have been terrorizing and unleashing mayhem on road users who they harass and intimidate into parting with huge sums of money for violating non-existent traffic rules.
One of such concerned people is, Hon Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic and Creative Media, who, in a statement he issued yesterday, called on Onwumere and his boys who he referred to as “armed militia” to desist from projecting the Hope Uzodinma administration in bad light through their overzealous, barbaric and inhman activities of his boys, who aside falsely claiming to be staff of the Environmental Transformation Company ENTRACO, are operating beyond the scope of their office which is simply to check the activities and proliferation of illegal motor parks in the state.
Nwaogwugwu, in a release dated August, 14, 2024, which he issued and made available to the press, said, “The recent activities of ‘Pastor’ Frank Onwumere, the Special Adviser on Illegal Parks, have become increasingly worrisome and becoming out of hand that if he is not stopped or called to order, he will cause a great calamity for the state government and a constitute a serious image problem.
It is essential to put it on record that the #PeoplesGovernor, Hope Uzodimma, that I know could not have authorized the recent terrorization of road users unleashed by Frank Onwumere and his armed militia.
Frank Onwumere, although an SA, is working well above his scope of work as a Special Adviser on Illegal Parks. His duties do not include enforcing traffic offenses, which is the responsibility of a separate government agency. However, Frank Onwumere and his armed touts are enforcing traffic offenses, which is beyond the terms of reference of his appointment.
Furthermore, Frank Onwumere and his team are impersonating government agencies like ENTRACO, carrying out nefarious activities in their name.
A recent case involving trailer drivers is a prime example. They impounded a trailer at Concord Junction by Portharcourt road, claiming to be ENTRACO, and took it to Ndubuisi Kanu Square (formerly Hero Square). However, ENTRACO’s office is at Aba Road, not Hero Square.
It is public knowledge that since the construction of the flyover at Control Post began, some routes leading to the construction site were temporarily blocked, and motorists were advised to use alternate routes. Articulated heavy-duty vehicles like trailers cannot turn from the U-turn at NUT, so they are forced to take the one-way route from Concord Junction to continue their journey to Onitsha Road. Impounding these vehicles for using the alternate route is criminal”.
Frank Onwumere’s team boasted that they would not release the trailer, despite calls from important people in the state. The trailer drivers stormed out of their office and started protesting, blocking the roads.
I have written this to emphasize that Frank Onwumere is acting on his own and not according to the terms of reference of his appointment as Special Adviser on Illegal Parks. Soon enough, the long arms of the law will catch up with him.
Frank Onwumere was one of the characters that made the last administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha fail in many aspects of government, and he must be stopped now before it’s too late.
As an Imolite who feels the brunt of Frank Onwumere’s atrocities on innocent Imo road users and an appointee of the governor, I must defend the governor’s integrity. I confirm that the governor did not send Frank Onwumere to unleash terror on innocent citizens”.
Onwumere, in his response to Nwaogwugwu indicting statement about him and members of his team, said, he has the Governor’s tacit endorsement and approval for whatever he and members of his team otherwise called militia are doing in the state. Hence, nobody should question their modus operandi.
Onwumere in a statement he issued and made available to the press, said, “I have read with concern the recent publication by Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, which attempts to malign my name and the work I am doing as the Special Adviser on Illegal Parks in Imo State. It is important for the good people of Imo State to know the truth and not be swayed by this baseless propaganda.
What we are doing in Imo State is not unique—it is happening all over the country. For example, would trailer or tanker drivers dare to act with such disregard for traffic regulations in Abuja or Lagos? Certainly not. Yet, in Imo State, some people believe they can park their vehicles carelessly and go about their business without considering the rules of traffic.
We have also consistently encountered the menace of armed robbers known as “One Chance”, who lure innocent people into their vehicles and rob them of their valuables. It is through the diligent work of my office that we have been able to save countless Imolites from these horrifying experiences. We are not surprised by the backlash, as those who resist change are often the ones who attack us, trying to discourage our tireless efforts. But let me be clear: we will not relent in our support for Governor Uzodimma’s strides toward a better Imo State. This is what we know how to do best, and the Governor will not be distracted by these media-driven attempts to derail our progress.
We are not here to hurt anyone; rather, we are committed to serving the people of Imo State to the best of our ability. Let me remind everyone of the tragic incidents that have occurred when traffic laws are ignored—a trailer once drove recklessly, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives. Another example is of a man who entered a taxi within Owerri Municipality but found himself stranded in Okigwe. These are just some of the harrowing experiences people have faced in Imo.
This government operates like a family, and I will never engage in anything that would bring harm or a bad name to this family. We are here to protect and serve, and no amount of criticism or distraction will deter us from fulfilling our duties to the good people of Imo State”.
