Imo PDP wants to squeeze air out of Imo people – Group

GLOBAL ASSOCIATION OF CONCERNED IMO YOUTHS (GACIY)

PRESS RELEASE

GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA PREACHES HOPE, PEACE AND UNITY AT NIGERIA’S 61ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

NDIGBO WILL BENEFIT MORE FROM UNITED NIGERIA, WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE FG ON BURNING ISSUES

IMO PDP REJECTED GOVERNOR’S OLIVE BRANCH, WANTS TO SQUEEZE THE AIR OUT OF IMO PEOPLE BUT THE GOVERNOR WILL NOT ALLOW IT

On Friday October 1st, 2021, Governor Hope Uzodinma addressed Imo as Nigeria turned 61, calling for unity of purpose among all peoples and stakeholders of Imo State.

The speech held a warning, but it also conveyed hope.

The warning is this: “Unfortunately, we have had to contend with reactionary elements who want to sabotage the nation for purely selfish and political considerations. The unrelenting activities of these elements manifesting in banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality have been a setback to the progress and development of the nation. Trillions of Naira which would have been used for development are being wasted in fighting insurgency and criminality. This is why both the perpetrators and their sponsors should have a rethink so as to release their stranglehold on our economy and advancement….

“As a people who suffered the devastating consequences of a 30 month civil war, reason demands that we should be extremely circumspect in the pursuit of our agenda. I have said it repeatedly that we stand to benefit more in a united Nigeria where justice and equity define our group existence. As a people who are everywhere in Nigeria, we need to remain agents of consolidation, not division and destruction. We cannot afford to suffer in our own country, by our own actions or inactions, what our people are suffering in Ghana and other African countries. The benefits of hindsight and lessons of history demand that we should constructively engage the Federal Government on the need to address whatever grievances we have, be it injustice or marginalization. But we may not be taken seriously if we continue to send out mixed signals. As our people say, it is easy to count the items left in the basket of a woman who falls twice on her way back from the market. Put differently, it is only a fool that allows the same stick to pluck his eyes twice. Let us put on our thinking caps.”

For the sake of our homeland, Imo, the Governor invited all stakeholders to join in building Imo. He extended, if you like, the proverbial olive branch to all.

Uzodinma said: “The 2019 elections have long been concluded. Those still looking back at it stand the risk of suffering the fate of Lot’s wife. Let me use this auspicious occasion to once again extend my hands of fellowship to our brothers and sisters on the other side to join our prosperity agenda-driven Government to offer quality service to our people. This is not about me. It is about the future of our youths. Those who genuinely and patriotically want to serve Imo people would not have any problem joining us to do so.”

The Governor has set a table, Imo people are heeding the call to join in recovering the State. Imo people, except unhealthy forces of political opposition, are joing on Recovering, Reconstructing and Rehabilitating the State.

Despite the alarm, the PDP, in the pretext of opposition dustbinned this offer of cooperation. In a statement soon after the Governor’s address, the party highlighted the country’s faultlines and tried to sow chaos just to reinforce a sense of helplessness. Unfortunately, this is what opposition politics has been reduced to in Imo State.

As it happened, the people of Imo are prevailing against the elements of chaos. Hear Uzodinma again: “As a Government and a people, we have crushed them. Anybody who attempts to disrupt the peace of the State again may not live to tell the story. That is why it is important for parents and guardians to rein in their children and wards as the security agencies have our directive to deal decisively with those who may be tempted to foment trouble again. I have just inaugurated a judicial Commission of inquiry to investigate the security breaches in the state and come out with recommendations on what Government should do to ensure that there is no recurrence of such. I believe that both the perpetrators and their sponsors would be unmasked for Imo people to know their enemies. But all of us have a collective duty to protect our state against renegades. We should assist the security agencies and government with useful information to enable us take the war to the hideout of criminals and flush them out to face justice.”

This is the voice of hope, the spirit of possibility. The PDP wants to squeeze the air out of the people but Uzodinma has given Imo a new currency – Hope.

We will do everything to nurture it, resisting the wiles of those who wish to send us back to the dunghill.

Signed:

Collins Ughalaa KSC
(Convener).
October 4, 2021.