₦airaland Forum

Insecurity In Imo: Is Hon. Gerald Irona Carrying Out His Threats?

As at today, Imo State is recorded as one of the States in the South East that is battling with security breaches.
Imo State popularly known as the "Eastern Heartland" has been a peaceful State since it's creation on 3rd February, 1976 by the then Military administration of Murtala Mohammed. One then wonders why such a peaceful State is being ravaged by security challenges at the moment.

In my quest for answers as to why Imo State is facing these challenges in the area of security breach, I have always believed that considering the lifestyle, environment and tradition of Imo people, it will be difficult for an Imo son to pick up arms against his brother let alone going as far as killing security agents, burning police stations, prisons and even attacking and killing Traditional Rulers thereby desecrating all that we held sacred as far as our culture and tradition are concerned.

However, I have always found it difficult to believe that political leaders of Imo Extraction could raise such an army of young men against the State that has contributed in no small measure to bringing them to where they are at the moment. In the quest to find out the causes and possible solutions to these challenges so that our people can sleep with two eyes closed, I stumbled on an online publication of the Sun News online dated 9th February, 2020 published by one Stanley Uzoaru titled " Tension in Imo over alleged ex-dep gov's viral video to make state ungovernable."

One could easily recall that Imo State has remained calm and peaceful until the landmark judgement delivered on January 14th 2020 sacking Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Hon Gerald Ironna as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively, basing their judgement on the fact that results from 388 polling units were neither cancelled by INEC nor reflected in the result that produced Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha as Governor. Sen. Hope Uzodinma went to court demanding that he be declared governor because the places he won were excluded from the result sheet and were not cancelled.

The RT Hon Emeka Ihedioha's Legal Team could not provide evidence to counter the claims made by Sen Hope Uzodinma, hence, the judgement that removed him and returned Sen. Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected Governor of Imo State and he was sworn in on the 15th January, 2020.

Rt Hon Eka Ihedioha and his party the PDP went back to the Supreme Court asking them to reverse the judgement (a feat they pretended not to know is impossible), it was on this note that the Ex-Deputy Governor Hon. Gerald Ironna was quoted to have threatened to make Imo State a "secluded and ungovernable" State if Supreme Court failed to reverse the judgement. Did Supreme Court reverse the judgement? The answer is NO.

In less than two years of the alleged threats, Imo has not only become ungovernable but less habitable. Could this then mean that Hon. Gerald Ironna is actually carrying out his threats to ensure that the present government in Imo State finds no soft landing? Could it be that other opposition political leaders cashed in on the threats of the Ex-Deputy Governor to unleash mayhem on the State? Could it be that the external and/or internal enemies of Imo State has taken advantage of the threats issued by the Ex-Deputy Governor and are presently making the State ungovernable?

Above questions are left in the hands of the security agencies to do the needful, unravel the masquerades behind these notorious attacks and bring them to justice. Finally, I urge well meaning Imolites to continue praying for the government and people of Imo State so that God will restore our peace.

Imo must prevail.

Henry Emerekowe
Public/Political Affairs Analyst.

I Bear No Grudge Against Anyone, Gov Uzodimma Insists

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has reiterated that he has nothing against anyone in the State as it is not in his nature to bear a grudge.

The Governor stated this on Sunday when he hosted the newly elected members of the State executive of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Uzodimma said that certain decisions taken by his administration were to restore the confidence of the masses in government, insisting that a lot of people were undone by the government in the past, making them to distrust government.

He said: "I have nothing against anybody in Imo State no matter the action taken in the past against me. The reason and the truth is that some people were rapped to the extent that they lost their confidence in government.

"So what I am trying to do is to restore confidence. To make people believe again that government can be functional and efficient. If we are able to do that, we will relax, remove our seatbelts and enjoy the flight. We are going to strengthen the apparatus of government and I will make sure that we are all equal stakeholders in the government".

The Governor promised that his administration would continue to do its best to deliver quality governance and protect the lives and property of citizens.

"I thank the Almighty God for restoring back life to Owerri and Imo State. Few weeks ago, nobody had this appetite, or even thought of any social life. But today, I saw a new appetite. The mood of our people is gradually and incrementally changing. We give God the glory. I want to assure you that you've not seen anything yet.

"We will continue to do our best to rejuvenate and strengthen governance so that the people will bear ownership. All we are doing is to restore the state, make the state a place you can stay, do your business, without any iota of fear.

"When we started, many of us did not believe we will get to where we are now, and by my personal assessment of where we are now, given the circumstances of the time, we have not done too bad", he said.

Gov. Uzodimma Demands Return, Compensation For 43 Oil Wells Wrongly Ceded To Rivers State, Calls For Development Of Seaport In Oguta

*Calls For Devolution of Power To States And LGAs

By Collins Ughalaa KSC

Governor Hope Uzodimma today called for devolution of power to states and LGAs, noting that it would guide the taxing powers of the states and LGAs.

The Governor made the call while addressing the Southeast Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the Current Revenue Allocation Formula, which held in Owerri.

He said: "For Fiscal Federalism to truly thrive, which is based on fiscal decentralisation and financial autonomy, there has to be more devolution of power to the State and Local Governments, and this will guide their taxing power, allocation of funds, and expenditure."

He added: "Imo State has 43 oil wells that were wrongly attributed to Rivers State. While Rivers was receiving the benefits in increased allocation of funds, Imo State was grappling with the consequences of oil spillage, degradation of arable land and waterways, restiveness of the youth, insecurity, and unemployment among other ills".

The Governor also called on the Federal Government to refund the State funds expended on Federal Government projects. "We believe that the lost revenue be refunded to Imo State. In addition, a special fund should be made available to Imo State to help the state in recovering and remediating the environmental damage caused by these oil and gas explorations.

"The Imo State Government and its people have constructed and built Federal Infrastructures which subsequently were taken over by the Federal Government without compensation.

"The Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport was built by Imo State Government from its lean resources and taken over by the Federal Government that collects revenues from the Airport to date. We the people of Imo State demand compensation for infrastructural development".

The Governor noted that available records show that the State has the highest deposit of natural gas but regretted that it is being piped to Bonny NLNG.

"According to DPR records, Imo State has the highest deposit of natural gas and this is being piped to Bonny NLNG where it is exported. We recommend that a special metering system be put in place to identify the quantity of gas being piped to Bonny NLNG with consequent attribution to the revenue of the State", he said.

While calling on the Federal Government to harness the full potentials of the huge natural gas deposit in the State, the Governor recommend that the Federal Government establish a petrochemical plant whose raw material is natural gas, stressing that it could be used to develop fertilizer plants, synthetic resins, etc.

He further recommended that "Gas-powered industrial layout for multi-national industries with lower cost of operations due to the cheap power supply. This will contribute greatly to fast tracking a robost economic development of the country. This coupled with a functional seaport will make it easy for companies to also export their products to the world. The Imo State Government is willing to provide the land and the gas to make this a reality for the country.

"We the people of Imo State propose that a seaport be developed in Oguta to aid the rapid development of the State and the South East, as well as incresse the exploration and export potentials for the oil and gas resources for the state. Our proposition is due to the fact that the River Niger which should have attracted a seaport has a siltation problem making the development of a seaport impossible. However Oguta with its direct link to the Atlantic does not suffer from such a problem.

"We also propose that special consideration be given to Imo State which is a central point for vehicular traffic to the South South and South Eastern states, given the heavy toll this will have on the road infrastructure and traffic management of the state.

"We therefore propose that Imo State be given more intervention funds as well as more allocation in the Revenue Allocation Formula", he posited.

GOV. Uzodimma To Commence Project Reconstruct Izombe, Offer Compensation To Affected Homes

By Collins Ughalaa KSC

Governor Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday said he would soon commence Project Reconstruct Izombe, which would see to the reconstruction of buildings and livelihoods destroyed during the mayhem that rocked the community last Friday.

The Governor disclosed this on his timeline after his visit to Izombe and meeting with strategic stakeholders where he preached peace and promised to end hostilities, and commence reconstruction.

This is even as the Governor tasked the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) to quickly dispatch relief to the community.

Writing on his Facebook after the meeting, the Governor reiterated that he was saddened by the development, stressing that he would constitute a committee to commence the Project Reconstruct Izombe.

He said: "In few days to come, I shall constitute a bilateral committee that would comprise of Government Officials and the Leadership of the Community to fashion out modalities to commence a project 'reconstruct Izombe' and offer compensation to the affected homes".

The Governor added: "I am saddened at the gory sight of destroyed properties and the loss lives of innocent citizens of Izombe Community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, as a result of the recklessness of few bandits who have chosen to foment mayhem without recourse to morality.

"In the wake of this crisis, I called on the military to sheathe their sword and allow the innocents to enjoy their peace while the Government intervenes and today, during my interaction with the Traditional Rulers and the good people of Izombe Community, I admonished the Youths of Izombe from taking to arms as a means of livelihood let alone attacking constituted authorities.

"While it's quite disheartening that the innocents had to bear the consequences that arose from the actions of a few, I called on the Community Leaders to assist the Government in flushing out these hoodlums as we work towards the restoration of peace, law and order in the community".

*GLOBAL ASSOCIATION OF CONCERNED IMO YOUTHS (GACIY)*

*PRESS RELEASE*

Izome Violence: PDP Should Add No Insult To Injury, It's Not Time For Petty Politics

We are pained by the loss of lives and property flowing from an altercation between military operatives, suspected oil thieves, and irate youths in Izombe, Oguta LGA in Imo State, and offer our heartfelt condolences to families bereaved as a result.

Whereas a formal investigation is underway, eye witness accounts detail how things quickly escalated after a youth died as soldiers reportedly tried to bust an illegal oil bunkering syndicate in Izombe on Friday. Ostensibly, this sparked anger as irate youths took laws into their own hands lynching two soldiers and torching a patrol van in the process. The military is said to have reinforced and launched a counter attack in a bid to recover stolen arms and arrest perpetrators.

Besides categorically and unequivocally condemning this latest eruption of violence in our dear state, GACIY demands a comprehensive investigation with a view to bringing culpable parties to book.

Unfortunately, the PDP has no interest in truth, fact, or justice but in spreading a fabricated version of events just to turn the masses of Imo against Governor Hope Uzodinma.

In a tissue of lies titled "Uzodinma: the blood, the fire, the tears in Izombe", the PDP - a cyber terrorist organization infamous for cloning national tabloids, coalescing with non-state actors, raising false alarm, and the serial sabotage of Imo - tried miserably to indict Governor Uzodinma in the Izombe violence all to no avail. The party claims that Governor Uzodinma flagged off a "military campaign exactly like the infamous Operation Python Dance", and that "Uzodinma openly promised to personally reward the officers and men if they succeeded at the tasks for which they were called upon", adding that he called the army to settle a dispute between warring factions of oil thieves in Izombe when things got out of hand.

Obviously the devil has made work for the idle hands at the PDP Secretariat, but it should be noted that:

1) on Tuesday Oct 5, 2021, the Nigerian Army, in partnership with sister security agencies, launched 3 new field exercises namely Still Water, Enduring Peace and Golden Dawn to be conducted simultaneously in the South-West/South-South, North-Central, and South-East respectively for a period of 3 months.

2) in line with convention, governors in the catchment area performed flag-offs even as the Army Medical Corps offered and still offer free medical services to host communities. Governor Hope Uzodinma's was no exception.

3) it is unheard of, and underscores the PDP's cognitive deficit, that a governor will issue marching orders or any kind of order for that matter to the armed forces under what ever guise. Governor Uzodinma should rather be praised for incentivizing our troops to expel criminal elements terrorising Imo people in recent times.

4) in February 2020, Orluzurumee Youth Assembly cautioned the erstwhile deputy governor in the sacked PDP regime after he was allgedly caught on tape swearing that *"Imo would have no governor, and the people would enjoy no more governance",* if the Supreme Court failed to reinstate his illegal administration. The PDP, in all its self righteousness, has neither rebuked its belligerent leader nor distanced itself from his vile threat.

5) the PDP's resort to false alarm, threat, and blackmail whenever Governor Uzodinma moves to boost security confirms our position that it has a hand in the security challenges confronting the state, perhaps in keeping with its promised jihad against Imo people.

6) no where in the PDP's tissue of lies did the so-called opposition party offer succour to the affected. Clearly, its mission objective is to mock the dead, and inflame passion. Comforting the grieving is ruled out.

In the short term, GACIY urges government to immediately dispatch relief to Izombe and take every step to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the area even as it urges the military to strictly abide by rules of engagement.

In investigating the Izombe violence, we encourage the police and indeed the wider intelligence world to look beyond the facade of the PDP and seriously explore its connection to the pattern of recent violent crime in Imo, taking a cue from a flurry of living threats pronounced by its leaders who are out to repossess Imo by all means.

Signed:

Collins Ughalaa KSC
(Convener).
October 11, 2021.

Gov. Uzodimma Commiserates With Victims Of Izombe Violence, Pledges To Reconstruct Damaged Houses

Vows To Ensure Peace, Protection For The Innocent

By Collins Ughalaa KSC

Governor Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday described the crisis that rocked Izombe Community in Oguta LGA on Friday, October 8, 2021, when soldiers in response to distress call from community members clashed with hoodlums, leading to the loss of one of the hoodlums and two soldiers, as bad and condemnable.

The Governor said this during a peace parley with critical stakeholders of the community, including traditional rulers, political leaders, women leaders, youth leaders and others, in Izombe, stressing there was need for peace.

He said: "Unfortunately this has happened. It is so sad. Your Royal Highness, I want to condole with you. We are here on a condolence visit, to identify with my brothers and sisters. What happened is very bad. It is condemnable. I must be with you because when I was struggling you were with me - when I was challenged you were with me, so if you are challenged, I will also be with you".

The Governor who took time to inspect the level of damage done in the community assured that the damaged properties would be reconstructed by the State Government.

"All those whose properties were destroyed, the Committee with some leaders will go round and take inventory - so that we can work out a way to help them reconstruct their homes and move back in.

"The Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission ( ISOPADEC) will bring relief materials to victims. The promise I am making to you is that I will not as your Governor allow Izombe people to suffer", said the Governor.

The Governor further said he was not in support of the crisis, adding: "I will never support anybody to kill anybody in Imo state. I will set up a committee that will come and assess the damages. Where the government will assist the owners, we will asist.

"I shed tears with what I have seen. A calamity has befallen Izombe. The wealth created by my brothers and sisters are burnt. Only God knows that I regard Izombe the same way I regard Omuma my place of birth. Hope Uzodimma is your brother. Please your anger should not boil over. I have told the army that the innocent must have peace. There must be peace in Izombe, there must be peace in Imo State - there must be peace in Nigeria.

"Let us all rise in honour of the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives over this crisis. Let us give them a minute of silence. May their souls through the mercy of God rest in peace".

The Governor also tasked the community leaders to rise up and speak up against those fomenting trouble in the communities

"I am pained. Izombe community has stood by me throughout my political career. If there is any community in Imo State where civilization should be resident, it is in Izombe community. Izombe is a community where we have so many wise men.

"Where are our leaders. Why are you keeping quiet. These youths are our brothers. I am not going to kill them. I will want them to repent and tell us why they have taken to crime. We are wasting time with too many quarrels. Let us come together.

"Look at the homes belonging to our kinsmen who suffered to make a living - now burnt. As if it is not enough, they are even afraid to come back home. Must we continue to live this way? Is it not time for us to change? We just have to change because what is bad is bad and what is not acceptable in a society is not acceptable.

"I want to plead with all of us to interrogate our consciences and drop those things that are not helping the society - that will not help our community, and embrace those things that will bring unity, peace and order in the community so that development can come.

"If we don't have the good environment here, there will be no development. We need prayers - we need the intervention of God", he said.

Security information has it that 80 % of the planning of the attack on the correctional facility in Owerri,carried out early this year, was done and carried out by criminals from Agwa Izombe axis of the state. Most of the prisoners who escaped from the correctional centre consequently returned to the area and constituted themselves into a security nuisance. Therafter, there were repeated attacks on police stations in the area. Many police men were killed and their arms taken away in the process. In the last last seven months, there were three attacks on police stations in the area. The last was on August 14th and three Ak 47 rifles were carted away, with ammunition.

Against this background, Soldiers received a distress call on friday that criminals were harassing the area and that one of them was with an AK 47 rifle. The closest military patrol around there went in immediately to arrest the situation from potential escalation.It was learnt later that the man who had the Ak 47 was one chinonso Ihezue, alias Obele, an escapee from the correctional centre. However, when the soldiers confronted the youths at the scene , Obele allegedly refused to hand over the rifle but tried instead to shoot the soldiers,who in return then gunned him down.

The youths consequently mobilised and attacked the soldiers, captured two of them ,stripped them of their uniforms and clubbed them to death. They abandoned their corpses and took away their Ak 47 rifles containing 120 live ammunition. The two soldiers who managed to escape called for reinforcement. The reinforcement came and started searching the area for the rifles. They saw military uniforms in some buildings and burnt some houses when they couldn't find those who clubbed their men to death. Incidentally, one of the soldiers killed comes from Mbaise in Imo state. He was posted from maiduguri, where he battled with Boko Haram insurgents for four years and half.

Because the Imo state government promptly intervened, the situation was quickly put under control.On Saturday the State police commissioner,on the orders of the Governor of Imo State, led a team of police men to the scene and tried to calm the tensed situation. This led to the initiation of a peace meeting between the army and the community. An agreement was reached that the three stolen Ak 47 would be returned to the soldiers within 7 days. This made the soldiers to withdraw from the area.

Hon Declan Emelumba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy

The Project One Youth One Farm initiative of the Imo State government through the office of the Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to the Governor has progressed well.



On day 3 of the training sessions, over 600 participants were present at the Imo Youth Centre, Owerri, and were fed on poultry farming, poultry feed production, and pineapple crop production, beekeeping, and honey production.



The practical phase of the programme would see the participants do what they have learned.



The State Government had pursued the programme to assist youths tap into the opportunities in the agro sector for their economic well-being.

The sessions proved to be the most impactful as participants were glued to their seats and the facilitators zealously dishing out value and new knowledge to Imo Youths.

According to the Special Adviser on Youth Affairs the Governor, the participating youths would be assisted by the state government to secure loads and grants to invest on the agricultural sector.



✍️Lancelot Obiaku

(Chieftain)

By Austin Echefu

Former Governor of Imo State, and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, recently celebrated his 59th birthday lavishly. We really do not have a problem with how he celebrated his birthday. But during an evening event held in his honour in Abuja on Thursday and attended by serving and former governors, senators, ministers, Royal fathers, clergy, etcetera, Okorocha became characteristically dramatic and said he was extending the olive branch to the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State.

He said: "This is not the time to count right; wether you are right or wether you are wrong.... I want to appeal to Nigeria that: do me a favour and begin to embrace each other. And as we are seated here we can dramatise the peace of this country and unity of this country.

"I hereby declare: let the peace reign. From Sokoto to Imo, let peace reign. From Lagos to Kwara, let peace reign. From PDP to APC, let peace reign. From Governor Rochas Okorocha and Hope Uzodinma, let peace reign. It is a very difficult one, but for the sake of peace, we can make sacrifice (sic).”

Governor Hope Uzodimma had few months ago while addressing State House Correspondents after a visit to the President, said that he had nothing personal against the former Governor.

He said: "I have nothing personal against Okorocha. But you will recall that before I became the Governor, the Ihedioha administration set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into acquisitions of lands and conversion of government lands to personal property. The judicial panel of inquiry chaired by a judge met and they concluded their job. And a white paper has since been raised".

We commend Okorocha's realization of the overwhelming need for peace, but we consider his peace offer as Greek Gift. It is a plot to evade justice and frustrate the ongoing recovery efforts of the Governor Uzodimma administration.

Okorocha has been running from pillar to post seeking how to escape karma. He went to court on several occasions and lost. He ran to the President but that did not help him. He tried to take the law into his own hands by leading thugs to break into the Royal Spring Palm Apartments which was earlier sealed by the Government, but that too failed. Now, he wants to play to the gallery once more by preaching peace between himself and Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, to the point that he promised to make sacrifices for the peace to hold.

We believe Okorocha understood himself very well. We therefore urge him to march his words with action by beginning with making the sacrifices.

First, he should be penitent and apologise to Imo people on national television over his misrule of the State for the eight years he was Governor.

Second, be should voluntarily return all the gazetted public assets said to have been converted by him to his personal use.

It is only when this is done that we can rest assured that Okorocha was not deceiving his audience.

These modest demands are the wants of Imo masses. Moreover, we do not think that a bucket of tears from Okorocha would change Government's stand on recovering gazzetted public assets said to have been converted by Okorocha and co.

Indigenes of the oil communities in Imo State have registered their displeasure over the recent interim order by the Supreme Court restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria from returning the 17 oil wells cedded to the Rivers State back to Imo State Government.

Their displeasure was heightened on realizing that the said justice Mary Odili is from Mbaise in Imo state but married to the Odin's in River state and led the squad of questionable character of justices who granted the infamous ex- past order against against the federal government in such a contentious matter without recourse to elementary judicial principle of fair hearing, thus stalling the administrative process of returning the 17 oil wells and areas of income generated by these olu wells from 5he being created to Imo state government which expectedly will cescade to infrastructural and social development of the oil communities.

Further inquiries were made by the angry youth of the communities who made public their findings to the effect that the said justice Mary odili was employed in the Nigerian judiciary with slot from Imo state as an indegene and take the biblical Judas iscariot and sold the future of Imo state for a Porrage of yam and shackles from the tongue wagging government of River state NYESOM WIKE. Consideration for the peanut was enough to sway the mind of a high ranking judicial officer in the person of marry odili who ought to show that justice is not for sale by recasting herself of fair hearing, her origin and citizenship of River state by marriage are fact which have made the youth accept without any doubt that justice mary odili is compromised. The most honourable thing would have been her recuse from the panel but she prevailed in her evil against Imo state with her curruptale and biase demeanor/disposition murdered justice and fairness, the below was quite resounding against her state of origin. The wound and economic cost of this betrayal remains indelible to Imolites. It is appalling that such high ranking judicial officer could stoop so low as to allow such consideration from crumbs falling off wike's table to sway the course of justice. Justice indeed is for sale at the highest stage to the dirtiest player. This conduct of justice mary odili can be likened to the story of the washer man's donkey that lagged to allow her take a shade under the washer man canopy and ended up wrecking the canopy ingratitude and wickedness are responsible for such wicked acts

It is obvious that she is returning favour to the Rivers state government for crumbs her family receives as stipend from the governor of Rivers State to herself & larger family members.

The of justice Mary Odili in this regard is a ridicule to the Justice system and a shame. It shows that justice is for sale and that the concert is no longer the last hope of the common man, if the can manipulate the judicoil system of Nigeria at the highest point to rob the common Imo people of their economic, social & infrastructural development hopes.

These youths are weeping for the judicial system of our dear country. What a shame Odili! What a disgrace! What a daylight robbery.

Courtesy:
FORUM FOR OIL COMMUNITIES IN IMO STATE

HOW FALSE ALARM THREW OWERRI INTO PANIC MODE

By kizito Duru

On Monday, October 4, Imo's blogosphere was littered with posts and comments alleging that Unknown Gunmen had taken over the city once more and that people were scamppering for their safety. Typical of most users of social media platforms in Imo, and of course to the delight of the manufacturers of the false news, the story circulated like a wildfire and soon the peaceful city of Owerri was in panic. Panic for no reason, one would say.

Till this minute, none of those who were quick to alert the public via their posts on the social media has stated in clear terms what happened and their encounter with the supposed unknown gunmen. It was just a bandwagon effect, as if they were commissioned to create artificial tension in the city through the instrumentality of their posts and leveraging their social media reach. It appeared that they were opposed to the calmness that has been restored and enjoyed by the residents in the capital city, Owerri.

However, they weren't coordinated in the quest to disturb the peace of the city. While some of them claimed they heard gunshots around Irete, some others said the attack was at Orji and some posited that it was Douglas, Wetheral and Amakohia that were under attack. Funnily enough, there would always be one or two persons at the locations they mentioned who would comment on their posts that the area was calm and that there was no indication of any unrest.

Yours truly was at Wetheral when the news was flying and when I read one of them claiming that Wetheral Road was boiling, I looked around to confirm again that I was at Wetheral, as the place was very calm and people moving about freely. I had to put calls across to my friends and family members living in some other parts of the city to know the situation in their areas and most of them confirmed that there was no cause for alarm. Only one of them told me people were running at Douglas, she too had to run but like others, she had no idea of who/what was pursuing them nor how the race started.

Clearly, the panic wasn't the handiwork of the Unknown Gunmen but the reaction of people after reading in the social media that attacks were ongoing in the city. This is how fast fake news can travel and how quick people react to news without interrogating the bias of the news bearer and the authenticity of his news.

But of course, like every other thing that is fake, their intention was short lived as people countered and challenged them to produce videos and pictures of the gunmen as they are wont to do in cases as such, they went mute and cut the figures of frustration. Clearly their lies had hardly sold before it got squashed by brilliant minds who saw beyond their words.

Unsurprisingly, it was the supporters of the opposition party in Imo, the PDP that spearheaded the narrative of Unknown Gunmen. While it is to my knowledge the roles of the opposition party to the ruling party, being against the State in the guise of playing opposition is not one of the roles an opposition party should assume.

Wishing for the State to burn to ashes and for people's businesses to cripple is witchcraft and unpatriotism taken to a disasterous hieght. The energy and enthusiasm with which they went about spreading the fake news painted a picture of a people desirous to see the State attacked and dead bodies recorded. All these just to discredit the ruling government. Insanity has got no better definition!

One won't be wrong to accuse them of sponsoring the series of attacks on the State some months ago. Their activities on Monday gave them out as the purveyors of the many fake news against the government of Imo State. This is petty politics.

Nevertheless, Imo State police command has issued a statement on the asad development. The statement read in parts:

"The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini,psc, has enjoined Imo State indigenes and residents alike to be mindful of mischief makers who raise false alarm that are unfounded, as this could give room for hoodlums to vandalize properties and even endanger human lives. He attributed the fake news that made rounds today 04/10/2021, as a ploy by detractors of the state to cause pandemonium with the aim to destabilize the already achieved peace being enjoyed by Imolites.

"However, on the strength of the fake news, the Commissioner of Police in company of the Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of Operations, immediately mobilized patrol teams and went out on confidence building patrol of the metropolis and ordered the DPOs in their various divisions to replicate same. Fortunately, the metropolis was crime free and citizens were seen going about their legitimate businesses."

There is tension in the Southeast already and it should not be be escalated by anybody or a group of people just for political reasons. The economy in the Southeast has been on retrogression for some months and futher disruption of commercial activities by manufacturing and spreading false information is core insensitivity. Imo State is the only state we can proudly call ours and we should protect this peace we now enjoy in our dear state. Evil knows no political party. Any group that continues to give subtle or open support to evil will also be a victim of what they supported.

The panic mood in Owerri on Monday resulted from a false alarm by elements within the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY) has alleged.

There was a rumored presence of unknown gunmen in Owerri and news that gunshots were heard at some parts of the capital spread like wildfire between the hours of 11 and 12.

This caused residents to scamper for safety. Some businesses shut down while most public schools released their pupils and students.

But GACIY in a statement on Tuesday said the alarm was false and blamed the opposition party for spreading it, an action, according to the group, put both the young and the old in harm's way.

Part of the statement signed by the group's convener, Collins Ughalaa, read:

"We resolutely condemn the false alarm raised by elements of Imo PDP which threw Owerri into a stampede, mass hysteria, and panic around midday Monday Oct 4, 2021.

"By spreading fake news that unknown gunmen had staged an attack in Owerri, the PDP put our innocent mothers, sons, and daughters in harm's way as each one scampered for dear life. In the name of opposition, the PDP charged the atmosphere not minding the adverse effect on our people who are still healing from the trauma of recent security breaches in the state.

"We wonder why a party which, until recently, governed our dear state will openly display such ghoulish admiration for unknown gunmen, killers, and bandits. Obviously, this is politics taken too far.

"Although we are thankful that the Imo State Police Command and other security agencies promptly dispelled this rumour and reassured Imo people of security, we nonetheless urge the Police to fish out the masterminds and perpetrators of this new psychological warfare against our people.

"Further, we encourage our people to not be dismayed by the antics of our enemies, but continue to pray for enduring peace and prosperity in our dear state, Imo."

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has come under fire from The Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY) which has accused the party of not wanting peace to reign in the State.

GACIY said the party's interest in discord and crisis was evident in manner in which it rejected the Olive Branch extended to it by Governor Hope Uzodimma at the event in Owerri marking Nigeria's Independence Day Celebration on October 1, 2021.

This was contained in a statement signed by its convener, Collins Ughalaa, and released to the media.

The group insisted that the opposition party was only interested in sending a message of hopelessness to the people of Imo State.

It further accused the party in the State of always doing everything to advance its political course, even if it was to the detriment of the Imo masses.

Part of the statement read: "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."

*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.

Imo Govt empowers 500 Youths for agro business

All is set for the launch of an Agricultural Empowerment Initiative by the government of Imo State which would see youths empowered to start ago-based businesses.

The first batch of the programme tagged "Project 1 Youth 1 Farm" which is organized by the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs would commence on Monday October 4, 2021 and run through Saturday October 9, 2021.

It would see over five hundred (500) youths trained in various areas of agriculture, including crop protection, livestock farming, among others.

A release by the Governor's Special Adviser on Youth Affairs, Mr. Eric Uwakwe, said the initiative was in keeping with the Gov. Hope Uzodimma administration's determination to create a skill-based economy with special focus on youths.

#ProjectOneYouthOneFarm

Group accuses Imo PDP of sabotaging Uzodimma's efforts to recover oil wells

A sociopolitical group, the Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths, (GACIY) has accused the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of working with the Rivers State Government to frustrate the efforts being made by the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration in the state to recover 17 Imo oil wells erroneously ceded to Rivers.

The group made the allegation in a press release signed by its convener, Collins Ughalaa, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Monday, September 27th, 2021.

The government of Imo State had made a formal complaint over the attribution of 17 oil wells situated in communities within the state, particularly those of Oguta LGA, to Rivers State for 20 years.

This led the National Boundary Commission to conduct a boundary review cum demarcation that recently saw the oil wells returned Imo State.

But Rivers State swiftly secured an order from the Supreme Court stopping the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission from releasing to Imo the financial benefit of the decision to the tune of around eight billion Naira (8bn) per month, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

And GACIY claimed that the Imo PDP was threatened by the huge impact such money would make on the state and the public perception of the Uzodimma administration, hence its move to sabotage the state government by conniving with the Nyesom Wike led PDP administration in Rivers State.


Part of the statement read: "Unfortunately, as Imo came on the verge of reaping the fiscal dividend of these recovered wells, the Imo PDP took sides with our opponent, Rivers State, to truncate it.

"This organization understands that some of these wells are situated in communities within Imo such as communities in Oguta LGA, yet "Rivers State, in collaboration with some selfish elements from Imo State who are benefiting from the scam, are bent on turning the table against Imo State.

"Any half decent analyst knows "Selfish elements" to be the surname of Imo PDP. These elements want the wells to stay with Rivers State because in their estimation, entry to Douglas House is through Wike's wallet and not the will of Imo masses. We believe that Emeka Ihedioha is at liberty to submit to Nyesom Wike or any other PDP governor for that matter, but he will not service his masters with the future of Imo people.

"Emeka's PDP is also working to frustrate the recovery of these oil wells if only to stop Uzodimma from taking credit. A source of elation for our people, the recovery of these 17 wells is however the PDP's albatross. With this extra revenue of N8bn per month Imo people will experience rapid road expansions, universal healthcare, water tight security, social cover for the vulnerable, modernised schools, gratuities, zero youth unemployment, affordable housing for the masses, safely managed water for every home, low taxation - prosperity in short.

"The "selfish elements" believe a prosperous Imo will cure Emeka's Messianic complex and flatten his odds of ever winning any free election. This is why they retreated to Abuja to offer bribes, to roll on the floor, to smash their heads on the wall, to mortgage their souls or whatever it takes, to foil this recovery; to do whatever it takes to extinguish Imo's bright light (Onwa Oyoko). But their path is dark and slippery, they stumble and fall.

"We cannot query the Almighty who has permitted the PDP to slide from democratic opposition to a militia pursuing the anti-rehabilitation, anti-reconstruction, and anti-recovery of Imo; ranking the comfort of strangers above the welfare of its own people.

"We, however, implore the Government of Imo State under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma to pursue these bandits, overtake them, and recover our commonwealth."

ALERT: IMO PDP WANTS TO DESTROY IMO STATE

By Collins Ughalaa KSC

It appears we have not heard the last of Emeka Ihedioha's post-defeat stress disorder. Yesterday, the Emeka-nized Imo PDP released another cocktail of lies titled IMO ASSEMBLY: UZODINMA AND REIGN OF TYRANNY. In this propaganda, the deserted party tried to project Governor Hope Uzodinma as a tyrant. They tried to clothe him with every vice commonly known to have characterised Ihedioha's seven-and-a-half month misrule in Imo. Ever since this haughty Emeka was cast down from power, he has tried relentlessly to inflict Imo with his delusions to no avail, yet he continues to try. Although fully aware that the said write-up, as usual, was prepared for the diaspora, with a view to discouraging investment (the party is despised at home since it adopted Emeka as sole heir) we respond for the sake of posterity.

Did you know that despite posing as Governor for 231 days, Imo people never forced Emeka Ihedioha to return his illegitimate salaries and jumbo allowances? Terrible mistake. Actually, the thinking was that with all his talk of integrity "my word, my bond" and all sorts of borrowed mantras, Emeka would promptly reimburse the state, issue a tearful public apology and proceed on sabbatical. Emeka's illegal reign was nothing short of an insurgency, a rebellion against the voice of the people and the voice of God. In other climes, impostors like Emeka are stripped naked and hurled into exile. In transport parlance, riotous passengers like Emeka are immediately off-loaded. Here we continue to harbour him because of our good nature as a people and the magnanimity of the new Sheriff, Governor Hope Uzodinma.

How does Emeka repay this unmerited favour? Sabotage, blackmail, and hate preaching.

Not only has he bullied the PDP into zombie mode, that party now churns out barefaced lies, untruths, and hate sermons targeting the government and people of Imo State. All at Emeka's instance.

Desperation, and mass hysteria have become the defining features of the political opposition in Imo State.

In any case, the claims of the PDP are, as usual, patently false. The PDP does not even know the meaning of tyranny, otherwise it would have sensed that the ill fated Ihedioha regime was the epitome of tyranny. The facts speak for themselves. It was the Ihedioha regime that slapped the wife of Uche Nwosu, former governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), and invaded the private residence of former governor Rochas Okorocha, now Senator Representing Imo West. The PDP chased Okorocha out of the State and declared him persona non grata. As if that was not enough, the Ihedioha regime led thousands of thugs chanting warsongs to the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, to waylay Okorocha. The thugs, led by the former Secretary to the regime Barrister Uche Onyeagucha (we dislike to associate him with barristers) also stormed the IICC, blocking the ever busy Warehouse Junction in search of Okorocha.

This same Ihedioha slapped his security aides, (those who put their lives on the line for him) and ordered them to frog jump because "they did not salute him".

But in its hypocrisy, the PDP glosses over these acts of tyranny by its Messiah - Ihedioha - and chooses to describe a thorough democrat, consensus builder, a performing governor Hope Uzodinma, as a tyrant, when he has not displayed any act resembling tyranny.

On the contrary, it was Emeka who handled the House of Assembly like his bunch of keys. The moment he laid hands on the certificate of return in 2019, Emeka put up key positions in the House on sale. As so-called governor, he presided over the literal bargaining of principal posts of the legislature from one auction House to the next under the cover of darkness. At some of these meetings brave House Members rebuked him for daring to pollute the sanctity of the legislature and fights broke out.

In the end, Ihedioha single handedly selected the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and the entire leadership of the House. He was a regular visitor to the Officer of the Speaker and he pocketed the House. The House did his biddings so much so that the speaker at the time relocated to the Government House and was consequently dubbed Follow-Follow Speaker. Ihedioha whimsically removed elected Chairmen and councillors of the 27 Local Government Areas of the State. He also whimsically removed tenured appointees. If these were not acts of tyranny, what else are?

If not that the party has lost its conscience, it should leave the room when corruption is being discussed. The PDP is known as the 'share the money' party because of the callous manner in which the treasury is pillaged under its watch. True to form, Emeka epitomised this. In the seven and a half months that aberration endured, Emeka seized hectares from communities in the pretext of looking for contiguous land for state farms. His wasteful overseas trips (purportedly to secure foreign investment) yielded only promissory notes after gulping hundreds of millions of public money.

Emeka undertook an ambitious expansion of his mansion in new Owerri, ordered a brand new premium luxury Mercedes bus worth N280m at the time, and appropriated One Billion Naira to renovate his office, while pensioners starved. While he spoiled himself with brand new toys, he acquired second hand vehicles for the Imo State House of Assembly and re-sold at two times the market value to House Members. For almost five months of that regime, he subjected pensioners to a dubious verification exercise after which he declared that he would not pay any inherited arrears. Under him, the government ceased to be a continuum.

Under Emeka, the reporting of IGR was consistently padded apparently to impress lenders while he disbursed billions of state funds to prop up his flacid case at the tribunals. What about the billions spent chasing awards all in the pursuit of legitimacy? What about the mindless looting of the Local Government purse? When will Emeka show Imo people where he buried the N19.6bn siphoned through the Bureau of Local Governments under his watch?

When Imo people complained of bad roads under Ihedioha, the PDP either told them to wait for the next dry season, or referred them to Buhari. Ray Emeana, a member of that government and current Secretary of Emeka's PDP, went on the radio to chide Imo people for demanding good governance. He said Mr. President ought to come and fix the critical Owerri-Okigwe, Owerri-Orlu roads, etc. Imo wailed but Emeka hunted unicorns. PDP, the share the money party, cheered as Ihedioha began to share the money to cronies through a so-called 27 stadia project. Nothing could be more irresponsible. What says tyrant than feasting while the people starve.

Utterly engrossed in profanity, Emeka failed to see the handwriting on the wall. He had his shot. He blew it. Today, he wants to distract a performing governor. He wants to draw Imo into mourning. He wants his sorrow to be our song. God forbid! Emeka, and his circus, should know that as long as he continues to put his interest before Imo, as long as he seeks to eclipse the peoples' Hope, as long as he seeks the downfall of Governor Hope Uzodinma, God's universe will continue to resist him.

Prosperity has come to stay.

The Owerri Zonal Development Union has insisted that its resolution calling on Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha and Mbaise clan to jettison their 2024 gubernatorial ambition remains sacrosanct and irrevocable.

In a press statement by the group's Publicly Secretary Chief Stanley Onyechere, the Owerri Zonal Development Union insisted that other parts of Owerri Zone should be allowed opportunity to have a taste of the governorship seat, since Mbaise clan has taken their turn in Ihedioha. "We respect Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha as our son, but the truth must be made clear that other parts of Owerri Zone such as Owerri West, Owerri North, Ngor Okpala, and Owerri Municipal are yet to have a feel of the Imo governorship seat and should be supported to actualize their dreams, in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice".

The Owerri Zonal Development Union seriously frowned at a press release issued by one Martin Opara purportedly on behalf of a phantom group called Olu Owerri where he referred to the resolution of the Owerri Zonal Development Union as divisive. According to Owerri Zonal Development Union, "The said Martin Opara served as an Appointee in the Ihedioha administration and it is therefore understandable that he is desperate to return to power. However, the collective survival and interests of Owerri Zone must be put above personal interests or aspirations".

According to the Owerri Zonal Development Union, "it is laughable that the said Olu Owerri group is not even aware of the fact that the next Imo State Governor of Imo State will be sworn -in by January 2024 and not in 2023 as Martin Opara erroneously and ignorantly stated".

The Owerri Zonal Development Union stated that the Contact and Mobilization Committee set up by the zone has already commenced strategic consultations with critical stakeholders from other parts of Imo State towards the realization of the Owerri Zone agenda to produce the next governor in 2024, and called on all sons and daughters of the zone to come together in unity. The group therefore once again called on Guber aspirants from Mbaise clan in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice to jettison their ambitions and support aspirants from other parts of Owerri Zone yet to produce governor, noting that Owerri Zone parades hundreds of qualified aspirants who can successfully fly the flag of the zone.

The seamless way Governor Hope Uzodimma is going about recovery of Imo State's property in the possession of the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, is commendable and worthy of emulation. Little or no dust has been raised since the governor embarked on the recovery exercise.

It is noteworthy that since the recovery programme started government officials have abused no man's wife and broken into anybody's private home. Government has given the recovery programme a human face, and this endears the Governor to Imo people, who, in the first place, insist that government should recover property looted by former Governors.

The Eastern Palm university, now known as KO Mbadiwe University, built with state's resources but converted to personal property by Governor Okorocha at the time, has been recovered from him and is now the property of Imo State Government; it is now government institution, which is currently admitting students.

Truth is that anyone who succeeded Okorocha as Governor would embark on recovery exercise as the former Governor reportedly converted plenty of Imo's property to himself and family, but the strategy and process of the recovery should be tactful - and it has been tactful - so as it elicit less criticism from some quarters. A military-like approach would have painted the Governor as witch-hunting the former Governor. But Governor Uzodinma employed only the legal process to ensure he recovers some of the property. By doing this the Governor has proved that he has nothing personal against the former Governor.

This is a departure from the approach of the immediate past government, where an appointee called Jasper Ndubuaku, was beaten by 0thugs loyal to Senator Okorocha, as Ndubuaku, with his own thugs, with great gusto, had wanted to gain entrance into the residence of the former Governor in a futile bid to recovery some State's property in his possession.

The embarrassment meted on Ndubuaku was a slap on the Government of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. However, such has not happened under Uzodinma as he has allowed the law to take its course.

*WHAT DO LOYALTY, INTEGRITY MEAN TO YOU?*

By Collins Ughalaa KSC

There are two major trending political words in Imo State: integrity and loyalty. We have discussed loyalty in two two editions, but we feel there is the need to touch on integrity as it concerns politics. We are doing this because there is a lot of ignorance, misinformation and displacement in political circles. Some people do and talk about what they don't know much about. Therefore, when you hear someone tell another person: "you are not a man of intergrity", what does it mean to you ?. Or, when you hear someone tell another person: "you lack integrity ", what strikes your mind?

The dictionary says integrity means steadfastness, adherence to a strict moral code; the state of being wholesome and unimpaired; the quality or condition of being complete, pure. Integrity has synonyms such as honesty, uprightness, rectitude, unity, wholeness, purity, goodness, probity, sincerity, virtue and decency.

Strictly speaking, integrity is a moral code, not a political code. Some people deploy it as a political tool to blackmail others. But since the term is gaining traction in our political lexicon, it is fitting to determine what it is and what it is not.

For example, a man is elected Senator, Member of the House of either the house of Representatives or State Assembly, or Governor; he diverts/steals money meant for constituency projects or community development, yet he remains in one political party. Is he a man of integrity?

A man is elected Senator, Member of the House of Representatives or State Assembly and he agrees with his constituents to do only one term and allow the office rotate to another part of his constituency. This man violates the agreement and returns to the House twice, yet he remains in one party. Is he a man of integrity?

Some guys stay abroad without a meaningful work yet they make alot of money. They post pictures of their shopping at supermarkets and, beautiful hotel rooms (apologies to my friends abroad). You can never see them post pictures showing them working in one office, factory or shop. Yet they mouth integrity. But another guy stays in Nigeria, changes parties and bosses but engages in no criminal activities to make ends meet. Between the two who is a man of integrity?

In case you didn't get it, consider a man who stays in one political party but he is sabotaging his party. Another guy leaves the party and joins another. Between the two who is a man of integrity?

Ok. Consider a man who claims to stay in one party. He is a member of the PDP in the day but at night he meets the other party and cuts his "deal". Is he a man of integrity?

There are many companies in Imo State. Many of them are into consultancy, supplies, services, construction, etcetera. These companies are owned by individuals who belong to political parties. They use their companies to seek for contracts from governments irrespective of the party in power. Can we say the owners of these companies are lacking in integrity? What of lawyers, maybe of the PDP, who serve as lawyers to APC governments or officials? Are they not men of integrity?

Integrity is keeping to a set of moral codes, not political codes. Politically, it is our culture to switch camps and bosses. That is to say that switching camps and bosses is part of our political code. There are no regulations or sanctions against it. When you do switch camps and bosses and remain faithful to your new boss, are you not a man of integrity?

Recently we read a story on some Senators who are very popular but have only one or no bill at all in the national assembly to their credit. We do not want to mention their names, but these lawmakers make comments in the media that resonate with the people. They fail to do the job for which they were elected. Because they say things some people like, they conclude they are men of integrity, even when they divert monies meant for constituency development to their personal bank accounts.

On the other hand, loyalty is variously described as faithfulness, devotion, allegiance, trustworthiness, constancy, reliability, fidelity and dependability. With these definitions and descriptions of loyalty, we need to create scenarios in order to properly situate and understand what loyalty actually means.

Take for example, Mr. Johnson Uche works for Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd and after sometime his job ends. He finds another job with Waltersmith, another oil company. The two companies are bidding for oil wells and Mr. Johnson Uche is representing his new company. Who should he be faithful, loyal, dependable, trustworthy to? Should he allow his former company win the bid because he was once their staff?

Take another example. Mr. Johnson Uche was given extra-governmental appointment with clear cut responsibilities by a certain government. For whatever reason, that government is ousted. Mr. Johnson Uche gets another appointment in a new government with similar job descriptions. Who should he be loyal to? The former government or the new one?

We may take another example. A group of people are working on the media team of a certain politician with the promise that the politician would reward them when he becomes Governor again. Another person is working for another politician or government and he is getting some reward or promise of reward. What is the difference between the two groups?

Having laid out the scenarios, let me State that I believe in loyalty. People can be loyal to a person or a cause. When you are employed in a grocery store, you would be loyal to your employer. Your employer can ask you to come to work earlier or close work later than you should and you would gladly do so. But when you leave his grocery store he would not make those demands of you any more. If out of drunkenness he makes those demands after you have left his grocery store, you are not under obligation to oblige him. Your loyalty to him ends.

Moreover, when a man is loyal to a cause he gives his loyalty to the cause no matter who is the face of that cause. If Mr. Johnson Uche believes in good governance he would be loyal or supportive of any governor or president whom he believes is providing good governance.

I am usually committed to a cause I believe in. I am usually loyal to my bosses. If you employ me I can work 24 hours, even on empty stomach, to make sure the job is done. I go beyond the call of duty to deliver. When I am loyal to a cause, I can support that cause even from my sick bed.

Now, let's bring it home.

I got extra-governmental appointment during the Ihedioha administration as SA Media to the ISOPADEC MD. Thanks to both HE Engr. Gerald Irona, and Engr. Anthony Owuoma Okwuosha. That government was ousted by the Supreme Court. The gladiators moved on. The former Governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, moved on as well, setting up a private media team. I am not part of the media team. One way or the other, I got something to do with the Uzodimma administration. Or, because I believe in good governance and survival and development of Imo State I now lend my support to the government. Who should I be loyal to? Emeka Ihedioha or Governor Hope Uzodimma?

In my earlier article titled "Political Odyssey", I made the point that "I am not a career politician. I am a communications professional, using my career to contribute my quota to how the society is governed and developed". I added that "I believe that by so doing I would be contributing to building the nation".

I also said: "My concept of developmental journalism is that I should not join in pulling down a performing Government. Some other appointees of the Ihedioha government have since left and now giving support to the current government. Why singling me out? Was I the star boy?"

Imo State is bigger than the interest of one man.

I hope that with these few points of mine I was able to tell you what integrity and loyalty mean.

A socio-cultural group, the Owerri Zone Development Union (OZDU), has reprimanded the Olu Owerri, another group in the Zone over its recent comments about OZDU and former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha.

The group insists that Ihedioha should bury his governorship ambition and give way for other sons and daughters of Owerri Zone to try their luck at the coveted seat.

OZDU in a meeting on September 8, 2021, in Owerri, was reported to have reached a resolution to support their sons from other parts of the state outside the Mbaise block, where Ihedioha hails from, for the governorship of the State in 2023 in line with equity and fairness.

But Olu Owerri in a response on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, described described OZDU as a faceless group and sung the praise of Ihedioha.

In its response, the group hit out at the claims that it is faceless, insisting that Olu Owerri has become "Ihedioha's lapdog"

OZDU stated this in a release on Tuesday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Stanley Onyechere.

The statement read: "We have noticed the front page story planted by Emeka Ihedioha through his former aide Martins Opara whom he retained as President of Olu Owerri.

"Much as it delights us to hear from Mr Opara after his ordeal at the hands of Emeka (a story for another day), we must not allow him get away with deception. We will not allow him commoditize the sensibilities of Ndi Owerri under whatever guise. Those days are over.

"In that hurried press release, Olu Owerri, or more appropriately Martins Opara, forgot to identify what was chasing him, so he fired at the wind."

The group argued that it was never against Ihedioha running for Governorship in 2023 but opposed to what they described as his "autocracy" and "Emeka-or-nothing-syndrome"

The statement further read: "Who told him that Owerri Zone Development Union (OZDU) is against any serial guber aspirant reprising their ambition in 2023? Emeka is free to try till kingdom come. OZDU only opposed, and will continue to oppose, the autocracy, the Emeka-or-nothing syndrome in Imo PDP. OZDU insists that the PDP must host the ambition of other worthy sons and daughters of Owerri in the same room as Emeka's, not in the boys quarters. This Union will continue to insist until the Imo PDP stops frying the ambition of worthy sons and daughters of Owerri as breakfast for Emeka.

"Denying the existence of OZDU is a waste of time. OZDU has come to stay.
Whereas Mr Opara stands to gain from the constant renting of newspaper covers to counter OZDU on Emeka's behalf, he should still have the guts to tell the man the home truth: Imo PDP, Owerri Zone for that matter, is not his personal estate.


"Further, unless it has repurposed into an instrument for the PDP, Olu Owerri should disown that press release and retrieve its stationery from Martins Opara. We further advice that Olu Owerri reprimands Mr Opara for profiteering with its platform and immediately embark on image redemption."

The Commissioner for Works, Ralph Nwosu, has revealed that the reconstruction of MCC Road and Ohi/Orogwe Road will commence soon.

Ralph Nwosu stated this in a brief chat with newsmen on Sunday. He maintained that Government is not ignorant of the critical state of these two roads,

Continuing, Ralph Nwosu stressed that His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma is eager to complete all the ongoing road projects in the state but being hampered by some logistics problems which have been addressed.

The Commissioner hinted that the Ohi/Orogwe road remains a veritable and strategic bypass which measures 4.2km and cannot be abandoned, contrary to apparent misinformation by a few uninformed elements.

He Further stated that the road has had it drainage of about 3.95km and will in the coming days start receiving immediate construction in line with 3R mantra of Governor Hope Uzodimma's administration.

Speaking on MCC road, the Commissioner sympathized with the residents and road-users of MCC road maintaining that the operational problems in MCC have been resolved and consequently, serious construction will soon commence accordingly.

In his words: "I want to particularly appeal to residents and Road users of MCC and Ohi Orogwe Road that it is not the making of the Government to see her citizens suffer due to bad roads, but I can assure you people now, that our prayers are answered and certainly, in the coming days, earth moving equipments will arrive these two construction sites for immediate construction, also the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze Road is still on course".

He explained that the phased maintenance of existing roads had commenced.

Ralph Nwosu used the opportunity to call on Imolites to give more support to the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma in the realization of a new and prosperous Imo Agenda.

The Commissioner therefore charged Journalists in the state on investigative journalism while calling for synergy between the Media and the Government on dissemination of informations on Government policies and programs, he added.


Governor Hope Uzodimma Sends 40 Imo Youths To Shell For Gas Project Training

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has commenced a one-year professional and vocational training for 40 youths from the SPDC Joint Venture host communities of the Assa North and Ohaji South gas project in Imo State.

“The aim is to ready these youths, not only for opportunities in the operations of the Assa North and Ohaji South gas development project but also in the entire Nigerian gas development value chain,” SPDC’s Country Head, Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, said.

The training is supervised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and is taking place at the Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State.

Weli said: “The training is part of SPDC JV’s contribution to building the capacity of the people of our host communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state and is the outcome of a recommendation by the NCDMB to boost the capacity of communities where oil projects are situated.”

Represented at the induction ceremony by SPDC Manager, Projects and Opportunities, Adebanji Adekoya, said the trainees were selected from the host community cluster development boards comprising Assa, Ochia, Awarra and Obile in Assa North, and Avu, Obosima, Obuomadike, Umunwaku, Ohoba, Obitti and Umuapu in Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State.

He said the trainees will specialise in project management, welding, fitting, scaffolding, rigging and lifting, electrical installations, electrical engineering, carpentry, building technology, drafting, ICT, surveys, quality and safety training.

Speaking at the induction, Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Simbi Wabote commended the training and described it as “part of the country’s aspiration to achieve 70 percent local content retention in the oil and gas sector.”

Wabote, who was represented by the NCDMB Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mrs. Angela Okoro, said, “The agency is passionate about the project and would continue to strengthen human capability development in the sector.”

The training is one of the opportunities offered by the project to the host communities where 60 percent of skilled and semi-skilled workers are from the communities and more than 10 percent of equipment operators are also locals.

Recall that the Governor had few months ago empowered 15,000 Imo youths with N250,000.

Government sources say there are other youth empowerment programmes soon to be unveiled by the Governor, noting that Governor Hope Uzodimma is youth friendly.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has commenced a one-year professional and vocational training for 40 youths from the SPDC Joint Venture host communities of the Assa North and Ohaji South gas project in Imo State.

“The aim is to ready these youths, not only for opportunities in the operations of the Assa North and Ohaji South gas development project but also in the entire Nigerian gas development value chain,” SPDC’s Country Head, Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, said.

The training is supervised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and is taking place at the Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State.

Weli said: “The training is part of SPDC JV’s contribution to building the capacity of the people of our host communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state and is the outcome of a recommendation by the NCDMB to boost the capacity of communities where oil projects are situated.”

Represented at the induction ceremony by SPDC Manager, Projects and Opportunities, Adebanji Adekoya, said the trainees were selected from the host community cluster development boards comprising Assa, Ochia, Awarra and Obile in Assa North, and Avu, Obosima, Obuomadike, Umunwaku, Ohoba, Obitti and Umuapu in Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State.

He said the trainees will specialise in project management, welding, fitting, scaffolding, rigging and lifting, electrical installations, electrical engineering, carpentry, building technology, drafting, ICT, surveys, quality and safety training.

Speaking at the induction, Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Simbi Wabote commended the training and described it as “part of the country’s aspiration to achieve 70 percent local content retention in the oil and gas sector.”

Wabote, who was represented by the NCDMB Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mrs. Angela Okoro, said, “The agency is passionate about the project and would continue to strengthen human capability development in the sector.”

The training is one of the opportunities offered by the project to the host communities where 60 percent of skilled and semi-skilled workers are from the communities and more than 10 percent of equipment operators are also locals.

Recall that the Governor had few months ago empowered 15,000 Imo youths with N250,000.

Government sources say there are other youth empowerment programmes soon to be unveiled by the Governor, noting that Governor Hope Uzodimma is youth friendly.

Reading a piece from one Afam Echi entitled "Day Buhari redefined integrity in Imo," I looked forward to reading a piece filled with objectivity and facts in keeping to his training as a journalist but I was utterly disappointed. His piece was not only laughable but lacking in substance.

Of all the issues worth discussing, Echi decided to drag us back to an already foreclosed issue - Buhari's visit to Imo State. Obviously he either ran out of what to discuss, or most likely, he was commissioned by the enemies of the state government to say ill of Governor Hope Uzodinma. If not, why would he leave a trending issue of artificial fuel scarcity which Governor Hope Uzodinma resolved few days ago, or the statement from the Government that Imo people who earn less than N70,000 should cease paying tax. These wonderful decisions are the topics of the day. But, people like Afam Echi, who are on a mission to needlessly criticise the state government, will not reason to give credit to the Governor, even when they are glaring.

Echi was particularly worried about Mr. Persident's description of Governor Uzodimma as a man of integrity. He frowned at that yet succeeded in failing to tell his reading audience why he felt the President was wrong. He clearly had a difficult time trying to coin English words just to write something, even if it was not making any sense to him.

Echi assumed the position of a mind reader by arguing that the President meant the reverse. To clearly understand Echi's illogic, he implied that a President would leave his base in Abuja and abandoned other engagements of his to come to Owerri only to say things that he didn't mean? Is Governor Uzodimma's close relation with the president a secret?

As a journalist, Echi should have known that he owes the public the truth always and there is no basis whatsoever to misinform his readers.

Alluding to Governor Uzodimma's invitation to the EFCC years ago as meaning that the Governor is lacking in integrity is hogwash. It makes mockery of Echi as a journalist who should have known that one is innocent until proven guilty by the courts. No court, bar the one set up in the imagination of Echi, has pronounced Governor Uzodimma guilty of any financial crime. And by the way, what has Echi to say about leaders from the opposition parties who have been convicted of crimes, or those who still keep date with the court, the EFCC and the police?

Echi and his likes should understand that the development and interest of Imo supersedes any other parochial and partisan interest. Mr. President is not known for visiting states for fun. He rarely does that as he has visited only 6 states since his reelection. Now that Governor Uzodimma has leveraged his closeness with the President to convince him on the need to visit and interact with leaders of Ndigbo, Echi should keep his bitterness aside for a moment and allow the Igbo interest to prevail.

It is disturbing when a journalist involves himself in mischief and infantile argument. Journalism is about accurate information, objectivity backed with verifiable facts and figure. One could elect to write for a group of politicians who obviously want to discredit the government but doing that at the detriment of the core values of journalism is worrisome and speaks lowly of the writer.

Reading a piece from one Afam Echi entitled "Day Buhari redefined integrity in Imo," I looked forward to reading a piece filled with objectivity and facts in keeping to his training as a journalist but I was utterly disappointed. His piece was not only laughable but lacking in substance.

Of all the issues worth discussing, Echi decided to drag us back to an already foreclosed issue - Buhari's visit to Imo State. Obviously he either ran out of what to discuss, or most likely, he was commissioned by the enemies of the state government to say ill of Governor Hope Uzodinma. If not, why would he leave a trending issue of artificial fuel scarcity which Governor Hope Uzodinma resolved few days ago, or the statement from the Government that Imo people who earn less than N70,000 should cease paying tax. These wonderful decisions are the topics of the day. But, people like Afam Echi, who are on a mission to needlessly criticise the state government, will not reason to give credit to the Governor, even when they are glaring.

Echi was particularly worried about Mr. Persident's description of Governor Uzodimma as a man of integrity. He frowned at that yet succeeded in failing to tell his reading audience why he felt the President was wrong. He clearly had a difficult time trying to coin English words just to write something, even if it was not making any sense to him.

Echi assumed the position of a mind reader by arguing that the President meant the reverse. To clearly understand Echi's illogic, he implied that a President would leave his base in Abuja and abandoned other engagements of his to come to Owerri only to say things that he didn't mean? Is Governor Uzodimma's close relation with the president a secret?

As a journalist, Echi should have known that he owes the public the truth always and there is no basis whatsoever to misinform his readers.

Alluding to Governor Uzodimma's invitation to the EFCC years ago as meaning that the Governor is lacking in integrity is hogwash. It makes mockery of Echi as a journalist who should have known that one is innocent until proven guilty by the courts. No court, bar the one set up in the imagination of Echi, has pronounced Governor Uzodimma guilty of any financial crime. And by the way, what has Echi to say about leaders from the opposition parties who have been convicted of crimes, or those who still keep date with the court, the EFCC and the police?

Echi and his likes should understand that the development and interest of Imo supersedes any other parochial and partisan interest. Mr. President is not known for visiting states for fun. He rarely does that as he has visited only 6 states since his reelection. Now that Governor Uzodimma has leveraged his closeness with the President to convince him on the need to visit and interact with leaders of Ndigbo, Echi should keep his bitterness aside for a moment and allow the Igbo interest to prevail.

It is disturbing when a journalist involves himself in mischief and infantile argument. Journalism is about accurate information, objectivity backed with verifiable facts and figure. One could elect to write for a group of politicians who obviously want to discredit the government but doing that at the detriment of the core values of journalism is worrisome and speaks lowly of the writer.

Strong indications emerged on Friday that the Secretary of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nze Ray Emeana, is set to dump the party for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was revealed by a sociopolitical group in Owerri Zone, known as Owerri Zone Development Union (OZDU). According to the Publicity Secretary of the OZDU, Stanley Onyechere, there is ongoing internal battle in the PDP and Ray Emeana is one of those who want to leave the party.

The group noted that Emeana claims that the Ihedioha administration did not treat him right, regretting that since his ouster, the former Governor has used him as his attack dog against Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Similarly, a highly placed source within the PDP confided in our correspondent that apart from Emeana, other big wigs are also planning their exit following major conflict of interest.

"The truth is there is too much bad blood in Imo PDP at the moment and it's all because of 2023 especially in Owerri Zone," the source said.

"The former governor (Ihedioha) wants to return and it is causing a lot of friction. Stakeholders like Nze Ray Emeana who are quite vocal about the need for an open and fair contest have been marginalized. So if you see people like him in the APC tommorow, don't be surprised. Politics is all about personal interest.

Asked wether such exit was imminent, he said:

"Well, they have been meeting. But I think someone like Ray Emeana will want to receive certain assurances before he officially defects. It all depends on what compromise they reach and how soon they reach it" he said.

Meanwhile, members of the APC caretaker committee would neither confirm nor deny whether Nze Ray Emeana was being expected in the APC.

But a text message from a member of Hope's camp who pleaded anonymity, because he was not authorized to speak to the press, simply said: "Not only Ray Emeana, please. Discussions are ongoing."

Recall that the Publicity Secretary of the Imo PDP recently joined the APC citing "personal reasons". Political observers believe that there will be more defections especially before the APC state congress in October.

Report by Lancelot Obiaku

Petroleum marketers in Imo State had recently embarked on a protest strike over a judgment debt inherited by the Gov. Hope Uzodimma administration from its predecessors, leading to the artificial scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol in the state.

Expectedly, there were grumblings, groans, and murmurs. And while some people had pointed accusing fingers at the Uzodimma administration for a problem it did not create, others who reasoned deeper held the view that the petroleum marketers had not approached the issue with a human face. Some said there was politics to it.

For the Governor, how the people conceived the issue does not matter, really. Being a father [the father of Imo State], what was important to him was to figure out a solution to the imbroglio so that frayed nerves could be placated and the people could be happy once again. It was on this premise that Gov. Hope Uzodimma met with the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021. The meeting birthed a 15-man committee saddled with bringing a lasting solution to the problem. And PMS is now available all over the state, and at the normal pump price.

Imo people are delighted to have the burden of the grueling petrol crisis that brought hardship upon them relieved. The Governor's action has attracted plaudits to him. His meeting with IPMAN also had him reveal that he had instructed that Imolites whose monthly incomes are below Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) be exempted from tax. By this, many believe that he has proved himself empathetic to the plights of the masses, as a father would do his children's.

"I do not also believe in the over-taxation of the people", Gov. Uzodimma said.

"Last week, I signed an instruction that those whose incomes are less than seventy thousand Naira in a month should no longer pay tax in Imo State."

In the meeting, the Governor acknowledged that the petroleum marketers may not have handled their agitation in the best possible way but extended his hands of cooperation. His words were soothing, to the admiration of the lmo public.

"I want to thank the Almighty God that this opportunity of meeting with you presented itself today and sincerely welcome you to Imo State. All we want is peace in our state. It's impossible that I will hear that tanker drivers and petroleum marketers in our state are not happy and refuse to invite them," the Governor added.

"But it is also of you to give me my first right which is to hear you out. You did not allow me to hear you out. You made no effort to meet with your Governor. It is only when you meet with your Governor and he is not able to keep agreements that you can begin to take action. Fair hearing is necessary and it is a right for all of us. So whatever are the grievances, we would set up a committee of government officials and members of the union. This is how it is done even at the national level. Any issues you are not able to resolve, you can bring to my attention. I would either overrule you or the government team and make sure that everybody is happy and that progress is made.

"Let us not take part in the destruction of this house [the office I occupy] which you all contributed to the building. So you must continue the partnership that would make your businesses grow, and also make our government work. Feel free at any time to call on me. When people are buying from the black market and there is trouble everywhere, it does not make me happy. If the people are not happy, I cannot be happy. And the people cannot be happy by my efforts alone. It would take mine and your efforts to make the people happy", he said.

Imo people are knowledgeable of the fact that there were many judgment orders obtained by citizens against the State Government under the watch of former Governor, Rochas Okorocha, whose administration did nothing about them.

Gov. Hope Uzodimma, being kind-hearted and in obedience to the rule of law went a long way to settle the debts. He explained: "When we assumed office, to be honest, we met a lot of court judgments, garnishee orders here and there, that if we had to pay all of them, we may not have been able to pay salaries. What we did was to call the affected person and listen to them. For most of them, we returned their lands and other affected properties so that government can move forward. So if we could do that, what about you that are strategic stakeholders very necessary for development in Imo State. Why can't I seat down and discuss this with you?

"I want to thank you for coming. Let's not begin to dot the Is and cross the Ts. But you need to understand that I am not your enemy. I am cooperating with you so that we can move forward. We have to work out something implementable and affordable. Please bring back your tanker drivers to supply our people with fuel because they are suffering. I plead with you to join my government in serving the people and making them happy. I would not disappoint you," he promised.

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has been described as a "listening Governor" following the resolution of the dispute between the state government and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Wednesday.

This was contained in a statement by the Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY) signed by its convener, Collins Ughalaa, captioned "The Siege is Over: Imo is Winning" and made available to newsmen on Friday, September 17th, 2021.

The group also reserved commendation for the Governor for exempting people whose monthly earnings are below seventy thousand Naira (N70 000) from taxes in the state.

GACIY said that the Governor's interventions, including the rolling out of a plan to review the levies on fuel stations, would rejig the state's economy and ease the livelihood of the masses.

The petroleum marketers had recently embarked on a protest strike over a judgment dept inherited by the Uzodimma administration from its predecessors, leading to grueling artificial fuel scarcity in the state.

But the Governor on Wednesday met the union and resolved the issue. He also set up a 15-man Committee to find lasting solutions to the problems.

Part of the statement read: "We congratulate the Governor on taking pragmatic steps to remove blockers from the path of hardworking Imo people and resolving the age long judgement debt crisis as well. Keep on, Mr. Governor. The economy can now exhale. More Imolites will find work. The average Joe will feel Government's tender touch on his shoulder.

"Let posterity note that on Wednesday September 15, 2021 he defused an artificial but lethal fuel crisis in Imo State; that he announced tax exemption for persons who earn under Seventy Thousand Naira monthly; that he rolled out a plan to review business levies on fuel stations in Imo, etc. Similarly, the Governor has removed the burden of judgement debt he inherited upon assumption of office by settling with all those concerned. What a listening Governor! Imo can now breathe. All in addition to myriad employment/entrepreneurial/empowerment schemes.

"We also commend the Governor for resolving the contrived fuel crisis with economy of resources. He solved this crisis through empathetic listening, not by throwing money at it.

"While we recommend Uzodinma's style to administrators nationwide, we meanwhile, demand that the Imo petrol dealers prevail on their membership to revert to status quo ante. We reject speculation. We refuse to normalise multiple prices of petrol in Imo.

"The price of petrol in Owerri should be same as in Mgbidi, or Amaraku, or Okwe. It is time to put service above self. We also urge the 15-man Committee set up after the Governor's meeting with the unions to find lasting solutions to the problems, to do a thorough job, bearing in mind that when Imo wins we all win. It is time to contribute to the Governor's effort to put smiles on faces in Imo. The siege is over. Imo is winning; may she continue to win."

A group, the Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY) has alleged that politicians in Imo State were behind recent attacks in the state, especially during Monday's cancelled sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The group said the aim was to frustrate the Hope Uzodimma administration in the state and sell the notion that Imo people have rejected the state government.

The group, in a statement signed by its convener, Collins Ughalaa, cited police report following a recent raid on hoodlums hideout in Mgbuka Orlu, in the Orlu local government area of the state, in which the gunmen confessed to receiving directives from certain politicians from the state.

Part of the statement read: "On Sunday Sept 12, 2021 security agents, acting on credible intelligence, neutralised 3 gunmen and arrested 2 others in Ngbuka, Orlu LGA, Imo State.

"We note that of the five actors, 3 are aliens who journeyed from their home state of Ebonyi to unleash mayhem in Imo.

"This is troubling enough, but what follows is much more distressing. While these hoodlums presented as ESN members, GACIY understands that the two living suspects confessed upon interrogation to being members of a cult group.

"What is their goal? The suspects told police they simply receive and execute directives from a group of prominent persons in Imo whose aim is to achieve state-failure if only to frustrate Governor Hope Uzodimma. These politicians live in Abuja from where they carry out their nefarious and dastardly actions against Imolites.

"By using cult boys disguised as ESN agents, the sponsors project the narrative that violent separatism is welcome in Imo because the people have rejected government.

"Based on the advice of security sources, GACIY will withhold named sponsors of attacks in Imo State (for now) in oder to not compromise ongoing police investigations.

"Interestingly, the IPOB restated its cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home protest and distanced itself from these gangs of armed enforcers. But it should not have launched it in the first place. Sensing the fluid security situation, we cautioned against emotional reactions like the sit-at-home mandate. As predicted, the idea turned out a handy tool for the mafia; an exercise in self-defeat: fruitless, pointless, and bloody."

The group further urged Imo people to be weary of wicked politicians who want to destabilize the state having in mind to advance their political fortunes.

It commended the state government for standing up against insecurity and urged it to intensify its efforts at flushing out criminal elements from the state.


"Imolites should know that the politicians soaking the land in blood do not mean well for Imo. We raised the alarm a few weeks ago when we discovered that the PDP perfomed the nauseating cloning of ThisDay Newspaper just to promote lies against the person of Governor Hope Uzodimma. While some saw humour in that callous act, we saw a dangerous slide into anarchy. Today, evidence suggests politicians are cloning the ESN and God knows what else.

"We therefore call on the Imo State Government to.
1) sustain the offensive against criminals no matter their persuasion.
2) thoroughly investigate the coordination of these attacks with a view to bringing masterminds to justice.
3) continue to compensate and assuage victims of these attacks in order to restore their faith in government.

"GACIY meanwhile commends the Government and people of Imo for winning the war against insecurity. Unfortunately the battles are not yet over. Until those waging this assault against their fatherland are fully unmasked and prosecuted, let perpetual vigilance be the price for safety."

The chances that former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, to become governor again may now be slim after the Owerri Zonal Development Union (OZDU), on Monday advised all intending aspirants from Mbaise clan, where Ihedioha hail from, to drop their ambitions and instead support people from other parts of Owerri zone.

Ihedioha was Imo State Governor between May 2019 and January 2020 when the Supreme Court ruled that he was not the duly elected Governor of the state.

The Owerri Zonal Development Union (OZDU) argued that other parts of the state are are yet to produce a Governor.

In a press release signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Chief Stanley Onyechere, the group stated in clear terms that although the people of Owerri Zone are determined to ensure the emergence of an Owerri Zone candidate as the next Governor of Imo State, it is very important that such Governor should emerge from other parts of the Zone who are yet to taste the position.

According to Chief Onyechere, the decision was taken at the General Meeting of the group held in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Wednesday 8th September 2021.

"We resolved that the next Governor of Imo State should come from Owerri Zone, in the interest of equity and justice. However, Mbaise should be honourable enough to stay out of the contest as the immediate past governor Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha has taken the turn of Mbaise", said the group.

The group insisted that other parts of the zone such as Mbaitoli, Owerri West, Owerri North, Owerri Municipal and Ngor Okpala should be supported in the next election. "If we will support any aspirant from Mbaise, it could be from Ahiazu or Ezinihite, but definitely not from Aboh where Ihedioha comes from". They noted that there are hundreds of qualified aspirants who can be Governor from Owerri Zone and wondered why Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha should even think of contesting again after carelessly losing the mandate at the Supreme Court.

The highpoint of the General Meeting was the constitution of a Contact and Mobilization Committee to commence consultation with stakeholders from other Zones in Imo State and leadership of various political parties towards the realization of the Owerri zone agenda.

The Owerri Zonal Development Union also instituted a scholarship scheme which will cater for the university education of indigent orphans from the Zone.

Following President Muhammadu Buhari's visit to Imo last Thursday, a group, the Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY), has stated that the president has by the visit dispelled the notion that he nursed a bias against the Igbo race.

GACIY insisted that the President's remarks during and after the visit, if matched with actions, will temper the agitations which have rocked the peace of the Southeastern region in recent times.

These are contained in a statement signed by the group's convener, Collins Ughalaa, released on Saturday, September 11, 2021.

It blamed the opposition in the state for trivializing the occasion by making jest of the Nigerian President's trousers, instead of appreciating the gains of his august visit.

Part of the statement read: "1. After rubbing minds with Igbo stakeholders in Owerri, the President has refined his rhetoric on separatism. Compared to previous utterances which heated the polity, this new tone, if matched with action, will temper these agitations which have rocked the peace of the Southeast in recent times.

"2. The visit has frustrated the notion that the President harbours a bias against Ndigbo. Instead it showcased the President's appreciation of the immense contribution of Ndigbo to the economy and stability of the country.

"3. There is political will to complete all key Federal projects in the Southeast including the crucial 2nd Niger bridge.

"4. Imo State is now after the President's heart and he will do everything within the Constitution to help the State.

"This is why the President's visit matters. This is the outcome of having an empathetic listener, in the person of Hope Uzodimma, as Governor. Sadly, we operate in an age where good news isn't news, where virtue doesn't trend. Where, in the name of opposition, some elements will take a shovel and dig night and day to bury this truth.


"The visit is a success. Enemies of the state are red in the face and out of comeback. They can't understand why good things should happen in Imo despite their relentless assault on the government and masses of Imo.


"So they turn to the President's wind-blown trousers at the airport.
They want to sell it as a wardrobe malfunction. They want the world to fix its gaze on the hem of the President's trousers while security returns to Imo, while infrastructure expands, while floods disappear, while Governor Hope Uzodimma takes Imo mainstream.


"They want you to look at wind-blown pants while investors storm Imo, while jobs pour in, while Federal programmes are attracted to the masses. They want you to look at wind-blown pants while they feast on the spoils of their profligate 7months excursion in Government House. But we will keep our gaze on what matters: how to consolidate the gains of this historic visit."

My elder brother, Barr. Kissinger Ikeokwu yesterday compared the projects done and commissioned in Oyo State by Gov. Seyi Makinde and those the Hope Uzodimma administration has managed in Imo in a manner that, unsurprisingly, discredits the latter and paints a picture of inferiority to what his Oyo State counterpart has achieved. The Imo PDP Legal Adviser made a good effort. He has been giving his best to the opposition, but I like to strongly disagree with him on this subject matter.

The projects which the legal luminary sampled for Oyo are mainly structures and edifices, and roads. While judging from media reports, Makinde could be said to be doing his level best as Oyo governor, in my thinking, the priorities of Oyo and Imo States are not exactly the same. Whereas Oyo people may embrace edifices, Imolites would not as the Rochas Okorocha administration erected a lot of them, most of which we tagged white elephants.

Should the Imo State government do another Ahiajoku Convention Center, Bongo Square, Police Command Headquarters, State Court Complex, Treasury House, Imo International Convention Center (IICC), 27 General Hospital Blocks, Pensioners Square, and other structures, some of which are useful and a lot of others lying waste and dilapidating due to poor project conception? Should the government build more stadiums in addition to Dan Anyiam, Orlu, and Okigwe stadiums, not forgetting Heroes Square and Freedom Square? If the present administration does these, would the opposition not also criticize it as an avenue to embezzle funds? Already, we have had the Imo opposition discredit the remodeling, reconstruction, and modernization of the Executive Chamber inside the government house without considering the enormous importance of the facility. The difference between Makinde's structures as showcased by Barr. Kissinger and those installed by Okorocha in Imo is likely to be quality. But Imo has enough of them today.

Imo faces road infrastructure problem and the government is working to solve it. By comparison, while the Governor of Oyo State is doing road projects, his Imo counterpart is not also folding his arms. He would be insensitive not to see improving our road infrastructure as one of the challenges his administration would have to confront and overcome. While all the bad roads in the state have not been fixed, the government is doing something about them. Some of the projects commissioned on Thursday are roads, and others are being worked on, including Owerri-Okigwe and Owerri-Orlu, arguably the two most important roads in the state.

Again, there has been the challenge of flooding in Owerri for some years now, and most times when it rains, we complain. Putting this menace into consideration, the state government conceived the Balloon Technology flood control project to serve some parts of Owerri which was commissioned on Thursday. Should the Governor have jettisoned the idea and opted for an unneeded colossal structure that appeals to the eye somewhere in the town while flooding ravages the city? How good is it that a project to control flooding that is claiming lives in the USA be tagged petty? The fact that Makinde's administration is 7 to 8 months older than Uzodimma's is a story for another day. But I, for one, think that Barr. Kissinger's comparison is a wrong choice and not done in good faith.

✍️ Lancelot Obiaku
(Chieftain)