As killings and arrest of innocent persons worsen in Imo State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on governor Hope Uzodimma to resign immediately.
The party made the call during a press conference held at its state office in Owerri on Thursday by its state chairman, Engr. Charles Ugwu.
The party while accusing Uzodimma for failing to protect his citizens and their properties as the chief security officer of the state, asked Uzodimma to resign immediately for peace and tranquility to reign in the state.
“We state that Uzodimma resigns from office. In civilized climes, Uzodimma ought to have resigned by now. The current violent approach by Uzodimma has failed and will not work. It will not lead to peace. PDP therefore called on Imo people to take their destiny in their hands by convoking an all inclusive security summit immediately. The shooting at sight order is not working and will not bring peace”, the party stated.
PDP said it is “alarmed and worried at the continued escalation of the militarization of Imo State, mass arrest and the killing of Imo youths, ongoing intimidation and harassment of Imo people and the attendant reciprocal and retaliatory attacks, burning down of police stations and offices of the independent national electoral commission.
No doubt, security has completely collapsed in Imo
State. Our party finds it too worrisome that daily innocent civilians are mowed down; security personnel are wantonly killed, arson, murder and carnage have become the lot of the hitherto most peaceful state. The climax is the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak, the former aide to the then president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.
Ugwu regretted that the current national security crisis has exposed the incompetence of the APC led government to provide safety and security to lives and property in the country, frowning that the ugly situation has been allowed to creep into Imo State, following the invitation of the military by Uzodinma.
However, “PDP strongly agree that the heightened insecurity in Imo has everything to do with such provocative policy decisions that have sustained the injustices, marginalization of Ndigbo, giving ample impetus to the avoidable emergence of such self- determination groups as: IPOB, MASSOB and an army of enraged youths”.
“These, coupled with the uncanny imposition of Uzodinma as governor of Imo State by the Supreme Court, must have contributed to the current insecurity in the state. We cannot discount the roles of the total failure of governance in Imo under the watch of Uzodinma; his failure to pay workers and pensioners, his resort to the blame falsehood, propaganda and blackmail, high rate of youth unemployment, intractable internal crisis in Imo APC.
Recall that APC has been having intractable internal crisis since Uzodinma joined the party. This crisis has degenerated into major confrontations within the APC leadership in Imo State. The internal wrangling led to the invitation of the military into Imo by the state government”.
