Imo State Government on Sunday warned the opposition against engaging in acts capable of setting the state on fire.

It also warned that it will unleash the law on anyone who for selfish and political reasons engages in seditious acts that would trigger security crisis in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, gave the warning while reacting to the cloning of a THISDAY publication alleging that Governor Hope Uzodinma plans to marry out Imo daughters to the Fulani herders.

Describing the act as criminal and the height of desperation by the opposition, Emelumba vowed that the perpetrators of the forgery and perjury would not go unpunished.

He noted that but for the timely intervention of the management of THISDAY newspaper which disowned the publication, Imo State would have been on fire by now.

The commissioner said the despicable act was intended by the opposition to ignite crisis between Imo people and a section of the country such that the collateral damage would have been unimaginable.

“I have never in my life witnessed this kind of rascality and desperation for power by a people ready to sacrifice innocent lives to achieve their selfish interest,” Emelumba submitted.

He expressed appreciation to the management of THISDAY newspaper for handling the matter swiftly and referring it to the security agencies for proper investigations.

The commissioner said the Government would support every effort aimed at unmasking the criminals with a view to ensuring that they faced the law.

He regretted that the opposition is yet to heal from their loss of power with the result that they are behaving like a bull in a china shop.

“But this time, they have crossed the red line. This singular act of faking a national newspaper to blackmail the Governor and the government will forever stand as strong witness of your inglorious signpost as those who are ready to destroy their state for selfish gains. History will judge you, just as you will not escape the long arm of the law,” the

commissioner assured.

He noted that whereas Governor Uzodinma had been ignoring the insults and blackmail from the opposition, this act of cloning a newspaper to precipitate security breaches would not be tolerated.

Emelumba warned those who have been heating up the polity in the state to be prepared for the consequences as Government would no longer fold its hands watching renegades destroy the state.

•PHOTO: L-R: Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Olive Ikeazor (Celebrant) and Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Governor Imo State, at the 60th birthday ceremony of Chief Sharon Olive Ikeazor at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja . . . weekend.

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