IPOB has no powers over Imo people, says Uzodinma

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, on Wednesday, reacted to the recent IPOB sit-at-home order, maintaining that the secessionist group had no influence on indigenes of the state.

The governor told reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House that only his government could give an order mandating people to stay away from their work or businesses and expect obedience.

He said this was the reason why normal activities had continued undisrupted in the state.

He said Imo State had become peaceful to the point that “football matches now take place at night without fear.%

Advertisement

He further advised Nigerians to not take laws into their hands even when aggrieved and protect the sanctity of the country.

Uzodinma spoke on a number of issues during the interaction with State House correspondents.

Read him:

▪︎On his mission

I came to meet the president. This is the opportunity to also brief him on the situation in my state, viz-a-viz operations and activities on insecurity. Imo is relatively very calm now? People are going about their businesses without any molestation. The security agencies have risen to the occasion. And the new Imo is bubbling.

▪︎Sit-at-home by IPOB

To the extent of what I know on the sit-at-home order, even the people on their own called off the sit-at-home order. In Imo State, it is not being observed. People are doing their businesses. Most people in Imo are business men and women who depend on their daily activities and income to feed their families. So, they cannot afford to sit at home idle and allow hunger to ravage the state.

▪︎His requests from Mr President

Yes, last time I spoke with you, I did tell you that part of my requests to Mr. President was to intervene on some ecological issues in the state. To the glory of God, Mr. President graciously approved it. As I speak to you, contracts for three erosion sites will be awarded any moment from now. And then Mr. President has also approved the release of funds for payment of the project to the contractors. So, it is a good one.

▪︎His position on the anti-grazing law

Anti-gracing law, I don’t have any law in Imo State for anti-grazing. But what we have done is that we are regulating grazing activities in Imo State under a partnership between our farmers and herders. They have signed an MOU in my office and agreed to work together. And both parties are going about their businesses without interfering or causing any grievance or anger to each other.

▪︎What to do to ensure preoperative disobey IPoB’s directives

South East has a pan-leadership organization, which is in charge of culture and social activities, Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So, I don’t want to speak for them. And I know in Imo State, there is only one Governor and only the governor can order, working with other members of the government, that people should sit at home and it will be obeyed. I don’t want to sit here and recognise that there is any order outside the government of Imo State because there is a government. IPOB is not a government in Imo State. Imo State government has not authorised anything at all. And like I did say few minutes ago, in Imo State, people are going about their businesses. Workers are going to work and normal business activities are ongoing. And for now, I told you that Imo State is relatively calm.

Before the end of last league period, we did have a football match between Heartland FC and Adamawa United Football Club in the night. And people witness this all over the world. That will tell you the extent of friendliness and good environment for businesses in Imo State that two big clubs like that played a football match in the night. Our people went to watch the match and got home without anybody molesting them.

The business of government is the protection of life and property. And we must act as a government and live up to the responsibilities of government. So, we try to maintain law and order and condemn illegal and criminal activities, and made those who were apprehended to face the law. So, I think that with the political will and cooperation of people, particularly our traditional leaders, we have been able to, a reasonable extent, manage to control criminality, and illegality in Imo State. At the height of this incident, the prison yard, the correctional centre facility in Owerri was broken, all the suspects and prisoners escaped. Some of them are still at the fringes doing what they know how to do, while government is working hard to do what they are supposed to do.

So, in no small time, I’m sure and almost certain that normalcy will return completely 100% to Imo State.

▪︎Anambra governorship campaign

You know our President. You know him (Mr President), he will only encourage you. He doesn’t interfere. We are in charge of the campaign. I’m the Chairman of the Council. And the good news is that the political leadership in Igbo land has resolved to be part of the federal government, to participate at the national level, to live the provincial championship to national championship. So, what we have decided to do is to ensure that we embrace the ruling party, the APC. And we are taking the message to Anambra. And by the grace of God, Anambra people will buy the message and Igbo land will be recovered.

▪︎Cut of fuel supply and missing NECO exams due to sit-at-home

In Imo State, students sat for all the exams. They were not affected. And I don’t think the sit-at-home works in Imo State. If you check your facts very well, they will tell you that our students sat for the exams and the exams went on.

On the petroleum tankers, it is a very simple thing. People have chosen to do things that are not proper. A road contractor, construction contractor, not even during my regime, destroyed some part of a gas filling station at Orlu. And the owner of the station took the contractor to court. Imo state government was just fourth defendant in the case. A judge ordered Imo state government will pay the contractor some money in excess of N100 million. In this case, Imo State government is not the main defendant. However, this judgement was given during my time. What we did was to issue a notice of appeal and apply for stay of execution. Then, the owner of the gas station, having been a tanker driver, took undue advantage of his relationship with the association and got the tanker drivers to embark on strike. How do you explain that if we continue in this manner? One day, cray fish sellers will come together and embark on strike. So, I know that since the man was wise enough to go to court, I think he should be patient enough to wait until the end of the litigation.