Some critical stakeholders in Imo state have reacted to the recent peace meeting convened by Governor Hope Uzodimma to address a number of nagging issues, especially the security challenges confronting the state.

Isaac Chigozie Udeh, National chairman of the National Democratic Mandate Group, who hailed from the Oru West council area of the state in an interview with Sunday Independent, stated that the absence of the two political heavy weights at the meeting was not unexpected.

“Okorocha and Ihedioha are political arch rivals of Uzodimma. Do you honour an invitation for a meeting from your foe?
“Their action boils down to the 2023 elections in the state which is not going to be easy as usual because their diverse interests will have a role to play,” he added.

Ihedioha, it would be recalled was in powe for only seven months, when suddenly, he was ousted by the Supreme Court and Uzodimma took over.
Udeh added: “He (Ihedioha) is still fighting to come back in 2023 but governor Hope Uzodinma will like to go for a second term which is his constitutional right“I think, before the meeting, the duo of Okorocha, Ihedioha versus Uzodimma had not been in good terms and you cannot invite someone who is not close to you to such a meeting.”
According to Udeh, it was illogical and unreasonable to beckon on someone to a security meeting when the fellow in question would not be sure of his safety.

The politician, however, hailed Uzodimma for taking the bull by the horn to bring the security challenges in the state under manageable control.
He also commended the governor for massive provision of infrastructure, road construction, rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially in the Work BankAreaof theOwerricapital city, but insisted that this should be extended to the rural areas which usually provide over 80% of votes that determine who should govern the state.

Okechkwu Dike, former deputy governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and also ex-Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, said that if the duo of Okorocha and Ihedioha were formally invited to the meeting, but only chose to shun it, then they should explain to the people what informed their action.
“They are among the critical stakeholders in this state and I believe that, that was why the governor invited them to that meetingIt has been the practice to invite major stakeholders to a meeting by the governor of the state whenever the need arises and so, we expect them to tell us why they stayed away from that meeting.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an elder statesman and Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigo Council of Elders, in his reaction, regretted the absence of the both Okoroacha and Ihedioha.
“The governor was right to have organised the meeting because of the security challenges we have in this state and it would have afforded them the opportunity to speak their minds on any issue agitating their mind.
“I do not know why they failed to honour the invitation and so let me stop at this”.

Concerned Nigerians Call For Peaceful Resolution
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam, has charged the people of Imo State to embrace dialogue as a peaceful approach towards resolving crisis in the state.

Rev. Pam gave the charge at the weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during the Imo Unity Prayer and Praise Convention held at the Heroes’ Square, Concorde Avenue.
Pam explained that it was the responsibility of the Church to embrace peace and not violence, stressing, “we will not have development if we continue in violence.”

According to him, Nigeria and the church were marching forward, even as he admonished that through the Church, Nigeria would come out of its current situation.
“If Plateau State can overcome its crisis, Imo State will overcome theirs too,” he added.

Pam called on the people of Imo State to cheer up, even in the face of challenges as, according to him, “God has rolled off your stone”.
On his part, Governor Hope Uzodimma stated that peace was the only instrument for development in this nation.
Uzodimma maintained that the state had faced serious crisis in the last few weeks, but assured that the people had prayed to God and he had answered them.

Uzodinma added that as the state governor, he had pledged to develop the state and move it to the next level.
In his words, “I will not relent but will do everything humanly possible to return peace back to the state and also provide enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”
He urged the citizens of his State to support his administration and seek peace with everyone.
According to him, “I urge you to be sincere and support our crusade of restoration because together we will move this State forward.”

In his message, the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Samson Ayokunle, charged Christians to always seek God in the face of challenges and obey His instructions.
He sharged: “Do not be led by anger and emotions during challenges but be led by the spirit of God,” even as he urged Christians not to be weary, but should hold onto their faith even in the midst of their problems.

Uzodimma’s Useful Support For Security Agencies
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has declared that peace has returned to Imo State after weeks of security breaches that resulted in the death of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force working in the state.

The IGP spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, at the weekend, when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Hope Uzodimma shortly after commissioning the headquarters of ‘Operation Search and Flush’ located on Owerri-Aba road.

Baba said that Imo State had been in the news for the wrong reason, noting that Uzodimma’s support to the police not only helped to restore the confidence of the officers and men, but went a long way in aiding the quick return of peace to the state.
He thanked the governor for keying into the ‘Operation Restore Peace’ by recognising that policing is not all about manpower alone, but about tools, equipment and strategic planning.

The IGP commended the governor for procuring critical tools for ‘Operation Search and Flush’ such as Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), pick-up vans and also equipping the office with state-of-the-art communication gadgets that would help the arms bearing security agencies involved in the exercise to discharge their duties confidently.

“With the conducive atmosphere like the one I just commissioned as office space, the tools available to the operatives and the cooperation of all security agencies, I am not surprised that the narrative has changed in Imo State,” Baba explained, even as he lauded Uzodimma for making the jobs of his personnel easy.

The IGP, who also joined Uzodimma to hand over cheques to the next-of-kin of 21 officers and men of the Imo State Police Command, who died while fighting the bandits recently, said the N5million given to each of the deceased family would go a long way in assisting the families they left behind.

Welcoming Baba to Imo State, Uzodimma thanked the police boss for supporting the state government in its efforts to bring peace back to the state.
The governor specifically thanked Baba for eliminating the initial rivalry between security agencies, saying that his regime had witnessed collaborations between the security agencies that had been yielding positive results.

Uzodimma assured the police chief of the preparedness of his government to continue to support all the security agencies in Imo State so that they could play the role of keeping the peace already achieved in addition to securing the people and maintaining law and order.

He also announced that the government would give all the police divisions in the state some amount to enable the leadership rise to the occasion of deepening the peace that had been achieved in Imo State.

The IGP was accompanied on the visit by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Police Commissioners and other principal officers in his office. (Sunday Independent)

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