Imo security crisis: What I told Buhari —Uzodimma

IMO State governor, Hope Uzodimma, coming out of a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, said that his government had done a lot to tackle the security issue in the state. 

Briefing newsmen after an emergency meeting at the instance of the president, Uzodimma recalled how he initiated quarterly stakeholders’ meeting on security. 

President Buhari had earlier summoned Uzodimma to apprise him of the situation and factors militating against the return to peace in the area. 

Also summoned alongside the Imo State governor, were the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, and the Chief Economic Adviser, Professor Doyin Salami. 

The summon of the minister and the chief economic adviser was connected with the president’s concern over the frequent power outages for which he has already apologised to Nigerians and assuring a quick relief to the situation. 

Uzodimma was summoned following the latest armed attack in Imo targeting the home of George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and some police assets. 

He said, “Generally, it is the subject of insecurity in the South East and what is required to ensure that it is properly controlled. 

“We discussed that and he took seriously my recommendations and indeed I tell you, he immediately gave approval to all that which include increase in manpower of security agencies and then logistics support ranging from additional arms and ammunitions.” 

He explained that his administration had continued to reach out to aggrieved politicians in the state in a bid to carry them along so that they could contribute their quota to the growth and development of Imo State. 

Recalling the efforts he has put in this direction, he said: “Since January 2020, when I came to office, one of the things I initiated was quarterly stakeholders’ meeting. As a matter of fact, I have had six stakeholders’ engagements. And the purpose of that engagement is to create a platform where the stakeholders will meet and will also act as an opinion poll to involve people in governance and that has yielded a lot of positive results. 

“Arising from that, we have also done one-on-one engagement with some critical stakeholders. 

“For those who are aggrieved, I don’t know if those grievances are against government or individuals. 

“But those who think they are part of the political system that are not contributing positively to the current administration, we’re also reaching out to them. Of course, I know if anything is to go by, some of the reasonable minds have started coming back. 

“If you have been following the politics of Imo State of late, given the evolution we have just deployed to rescue the infrastructure that was almost absent and our achievements so far, it has attracted a lot of support from our people. 

“Leaders from Imo state are together and united in commending our efforts. And if you can go to Imo State and be on ground, apart from some dissenting voices that are on your social media, I think the state is almost recovered and we’re doing very, very well. 

“So, there’s no need at this point in time for people to be aggrieved over what is not in existence. All I urge people to do is to be part of the growing concern, contribute your quota towards the development of the state and support the government of the day to deliver democratic dividends to our people. 

“All these grievances here and there, what is the origin of the grievances? Why are people not able to look at the reality on ground. And I know that at this point in time, globally speaking, that we must not be left behind as a country, we must also not be left behind as a state. “We need to unite ourselves, we need to be realistic with ourselves, we need to be proactive in making sure that our tomorrow is better.” 

The governor also denied culpability in the insecurity in the state, arguing that his administration does not engage non-state actors in its attempt to keep peace. 

In responding to the question, he said: “Well, thank God that you called us government. And I don’t know how a government with the paraphernalia of office, the Air Force, the Navy, the DSS, the Civil Defense will not now go for non-actors to be used for governance. 

“So, as civilised people you also represent the elites, so you should be able to advise such minds to reason well and think well. Because the only person that officially has power of cohesion is government. 

“If anything is to go by, we are a God fearing government. That is why we have not used force as the only way of controlling the violence in Imo State. 

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“I just told you that we initiated the involvement of vigilante, where community leaders will get involved. As a governor, I sit there in Owerri looking at things and doing my work, but at the remote villages, where most of these things are happening, every community has been modelled in a manner that if they are together, they will defend their land. 

“So’ community by community, leadership by leadership, they will be able to defend themselves together, even before this time. 

“We’re known from that part of the world, we come from East, we believe in the town union system. This town union apart from the traditional institutions, leaders comes together, set up a town union and the purpose of this union is to attract development to the community. 

“It is not to allow only government to be the one providing developmental projects. Through community efforts, a lot of projects have been completed in the southeast, ranging from town halls, rural roads, electricity health centres. 

“So, it will not stop now. All we can do is to modify and encourage such partnerships to be able to have an optimised result. So, those people who are of that thinking, they need to renew their thinking and think right.”