The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma says the agitation by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been politicised.
While condemning the calls for secession, the Governor said the dream is not feasible because over fifty years ago, the late Udumegwu Ojukwu started the same agitation, which was not realized.
“The issue of IPOB has been politicised and the sit at home order is also being politicized because those issuing such order are faceless, we have not seen anybody through a broadcast or a publication in any newspaper directing people to sit at home.
“Rather, what we know is happening is the mentality of trying to put fear into our people and make them vulnerable. The opposition parties are the ones moving to wherever people are gathered to raise an alarm that gunmen have killed people and people begin to run helter-skelter and on getting to the scene, you see nobody.”
Uzodinma said the sit at home order is no longer being obeyed and people are going about their daily activities.
He however regretted the insecurity challenge witnessed in the State recently.
“The truth of the matter is that we had these security challenges, we have also had disagreements and misunderstanding but we have been able to also do a lot to bring the effects of such to the barest minimum so the security situation in Imo State is relatively okay and people are going about their businesses.
“The only regret is that we have invested a lot of money trying to manage insecurity, which of course was not expected,” he explained.
The Governor expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win next month’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State because of what President Muhammadu Buhari has done for the South-East zone.
“All I know is that I am the Chairman of Anambra gubernatorial campaign council and I am working, doing my best to ensure that APC wins that election. You recall that after the visit of the President to Imo State and his engagement with the leaders from South-East, a lot of things were exposed; the interventions of the federal government in the South-East like the progress report of the 2nd Niger bridge, Portharcourt-Enugu road, Onitsha-Enugu road and Owerri-Aba road.
“So the people of Anambra State who were also in that gathering have discovered the genuineness of the President and his policies as it concerns the Igbos and they have seen that it is only through national politics, which some of us have been advocates of, that the South-East will rapidly develop.
“Therefore, our people are now willing to join the winning team, which is the APC party. At the last count, eight members of the House of Representatives from APGA and PDP joined the APC.
“Just this afternoon, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State joined the APC and has been presented to the President so, what is remaining? If there is any strong parameter for conducting an opinion poll, this exodus of legislators and the 2nd in command in Anambra State should automatically translate into electoral victory,” the Governor added.
PIAK
