We’ve not legalised abortion in Imo – Okorocha

According to Vanguard, Imo State government was Monday engaged in double-speak, saying abortion had not been legalised in the state.Governor Rochas Okorocha’s signing into law last week of the Abortion Bill passed by the State House of Assembly had drawn condemnations from Christians in the state, especially Catholics.However, Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Chindu Offor, told Vanguard yesterday that the state had not legalised abortion, disclosing that Governor Okorocha would address members of the State House of Assembly on the contentious issue today.

“The government of Imo State has not legalised abortion in the state. Governor Okorocha will speak on Rescue Mission Projects and the purported state law on abortion, among other issues,” Offor said.He disclosed that church leaders from the Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal families were also expected at the event.“Also invited to this event are our revered Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal bishops,” Mr. Offor said.

While Offor was not prepared to be drawn into further discussion on the controversial abortion law, most critics of the administration were insistent that the governor carefully and secretly signed the obnoxious document.Already, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, had during a press conference in Owerri last week, called for the immediate abrogation of what he called “the anti-life law”

.Apart from the Archbishop’s demand, priests serving in the province have equally held a meeting in Owerri to strategize on how to battle the abortion law.At the time of going to press, it was not clear if Archbishop Obinna and his priests would attend the proposed event, where Okorocha was expected to explain his stand on the law.