Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma said two arrests have been made in connection to the killing of a Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in the State last week.
Governor Uzodinma spoke to the State House Correspondents, after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor said the two persons were arrested on Monday and are currently helping the police in investigation.
The Governor informed Journalists that it was bandits that carried out the attack on INEC Staff, who were carrying out the on-going continuous voter registration exercise.
“Yesterday, two of the bandits have been arrested and are helping the Nigerian Police, Imo State Command now to do a very thorough investigation. Until that is done, I will not speak much on that,” he said.
The Governor further disclosed that the initial plan of the bandits was not the INEC Staff but the Correctional Centre Facility in Okigwe.
He said on getting the information on that, the State government in collaboration with security agencies fortified security around the centre thus frustrating the bandits, who later vent their anger on the INEC Staff.
He said: “The incident that happened, that involved the INEC Staff, regrettably, INEC was not the target. We had the information that the Correctional Centre Facility in Okigwe was to be attacked by bandits and we caught their conversation so we fortified the facility.
“True to it, the bandits, while approaching Okigwe, saw how fortified the place was and they tried to escape through Ihitte-Uboma, where they ran into INEC Staff where they were doing continuous voter registration and out of anger and frustration, attacked them. ”
On the insinuation in some quarters that the State government was responsible for some of the attacks in the State and beyond due to internal wrangling within the governing party, Governor Uzodinma debunked such claims, saying a government in power cannot shoot itself on the foot by causing mayhem.
Interim Government
Reacting to the call by Professor Afe Babalola that Nigeria should not hold elections in 2023, instead, an interim government be formed, the Governor simply said the Nigerian constitution does not provide for that.
“By May 29, 2023, if there is no elected government, our constitution has not provided for an interregnum. So we shouldn’t give a gap otherwise, you will be creating room for anarchy.
“What will be the process for selecting the interim government because by May 29, the President will not have the constitutional powers to function as a President anymore? So, I don’t think we will decide to abandon our constitution and it should be the instrument guiding our actions as a country.
“If there is any opinion that he thinks is worthy to be canvassed, superior to what is currently in the constitution, such opinion should be taken to the National Assembly and they will through due process amend our constitution, to factor in such an opinion,” Uzodinma added.
The Imo State Governor said he was in the State House to update the President on the progress of work on two reconstruction of Federal roads located in Imo State.
He said he had gotten the President’s nod to work on the roads; Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe and the two are almost completed and would be due for inauguration next month.
“The roads are almost 95 percent completed and by next month they will all be completed and the President has graciously approved that he will be there to inaugurate them,” he said.
Dominica Nwabufo
