Imo Peoples’ Assembly (IPA), a pressure group advocating for good governance in Imo state in particular and Igbo land in general has commended the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, for shunning the endorsement ceremony which was organised by discredited Imo state indigenes living in Lagos State.

Some people had printed and circulated invitation cards which read thus: “Imo Like Minds Cordially Invites you to the endorsement rally of Distinguish Senator Hope Uzodinma for his re-election as the executive governor of Imo state.”

The purported endorsement rally was billed to take place last Saturday, September16, in Lagos but Governor Hope Uzodinma deliberately stayed away from the event.

Speaking while reacting to the development, the President General of Imo Peoples Assembly, Chief Chijioke Anyanwu, said that the Imo governor did well by not attending the event.

He alleged that the same group had some time ago organized the same endorsement rally for another party’s governorship candidate for the forth-coming Imo State governorship election and collected money from him.

He said that Investigation even revealed that most of the eminent personalities that they put on the invitation cards like the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other guests were not aware of the purported rally.

According to him, Igbo people in Lagos should always ask questions before honouring invitations so as not to be used by desperate individuals to fend their own nests.

His words: “I, Chief Chijioke Anyanwu, on behalf of Imo Peoples’ Assembly heartily commend the able governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, for shunning the invitation from a group of conmen whose stock in trade is going about and organizing endorsement rallies/ceremonies for candidates of different political parties for the same election. Before the group circulated the information that they want to organize a rally to endorse Governor Hope Uzodinma for his re-election, they had earlier did the same endorsement for a candidate of another political party for the same November Imo governorship election. That is to show that these people have no shame and credibility. Ndi-Imo in particular and Ndigbo in general should always watch out for this people because their quest for peanuts is the main reason why Igbos who are living in Lagos are not being given their due respect upon their monumental developmental efforts in Lagos.”