Amby Uneze in Owerri
All is not well in Imo
State since the advent of the incumbent governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma;
if it is not insecurity, it is strike and agitation or bringing trump-up
charges against the opposition in the State. These political gambits are all
targeted towards the 2023 Imo governorship and the State House of Assembly
elections.
Unfortunately, for the
governor, he is heading to political calamity if he continues to bridle with
the opposition instead of working towards the provision of the needed democracy
dividends to the people of the State.
Currently, judging by
the down-turn in the state including the hardship people are passing through,
the incessant insecurity which had contributed to the low patronage of visitors
and the ease of doing business, fear of the unknown, lack of government welfare
policy to the people, harassment of the perceived opposition elements, and the
issue of lack of confidence on the activities of government by the people; it
becomes an herculean task to convince the electorate to vote for the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) at any level other then looking for cockade means
to foist the party’s candidates on the people.
Not too long ago, the
country home of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Imo
IkengaUgochinyere Ikegwuonu was burnt to rubbles which left his uncle and
others dead. Again, two weeks after that very attack, his residence was visited
by the same hoodlums. He accused the State actors and the security agents of
being the brain behind the attacks.
Ikegwuonu, however,
won the House of Representatives election for Ideato North/Ideato South federal
constituency. The State government is still not done with him as he is
currently being invited by the State Police Command for alleged murder and
other charges.
A week ago, the State
government also through the State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ahmed Barde arrested
the former deputy governor under Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Engr. Gerald Irona
for alleged charges bothering on terrorism. He was subsequently charged before
a magistrate court which later remanded him in the correctional centre. He has
been denied bail on two occasions for reasons best known to the authorities.
The big one that
invariably blows the minds of Imo people presently is another police invitation
extended to the State Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Charles Ugwu, Rt. Hon. Emeka
Ihedioha, Engr. Gerald Irona and Imo Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikegwuonu. In the
letter of invitation addressed to the State Chairman of PDP and captioned:”
Investigation Activities: Re-Case of Murder, Kidnapping and Arson” signed by
DCP Ukachi Opara, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) for Commissioner of
Police, Imo State Police Command, it reads that the office of the State Intelligence
Bureau, Imo state Police Command is investigating the underlined case involving
some prominent members of your party.
The list of clamping
down on perceived opposition or those who criticize the government have been
framed up directly or indirectly. Trending on both social and conventional media
is the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe
Ajaero who had been in battle of supremacy over the strike embarked upon by the
NLC in the State. As a result of the strike, which centres on a number of
issued which the government has failed to address in the past, including salaries
arrears to civil servants and pensioners, etc, the Enugu Electricity
Distribution Company (EEDC) decided to punish the people of the state by
switching off light for the past two weeks.
As if the fight with
NLC president is not enough, the State government joined another chieftain of
the Labour party, Chief Martin Agbaso who is also a governorship aspirant of
the party in the State and accused him of sponsoring Comrade Joe Ajaero to
instigate strike action in the State. The premise of their allegation is based
on the fact that Ajaero is a kinsman of Chief Agbaso and because he is a governorship
aspirant, he must be tagged names in order to discredit him.
Again, Dr. Sam Amadi,
a public analyst and an Arise Television discussant, while advising Uzodimma to
take it easy with Ajaero has been also tagged as an opposition.
Amadi simply said, “Hope
Uzodinma is Chief Executive of Imo State. He controls the formal institutions
of the state. It is his responsibility to ensure security and well-being of the
people by articulating and implementing policies. He is assisted by the State
Assembly and other regulatory institutions in the state.
“Comrade Joe Ajaero is
the Chief Executive of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). His responsibility is to
ensure that workers in Nigeria who are affiliated to the NLC enjoy their
democratic rights to the fullest.
“The crisis in Imo is a
result of lack of respect and reciprocity. It is a result of not recognizing
that the Governor is not God, he is not a King. He has legitimate sphere of
influence or control. It does not extend to Labour affairs. Ajaero is in charge
of that. He can always consult Ajaero, but not to impose on him,” he stated.
Reacting, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan
Emelumba said the Government is raising the alarm for Nigerians, especially the
security agencies and labour leaders, to know that what is going on in Imo
State has nothing to do with labour issues but the personal clannish ambition
of some people in the opposition.
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