Imo: Lies, Propaganda Reign As, Again, Supreme Court Breaks Hearts

By Charles Igbo

Imo State is in a state of helplessness. Everything is at a standstill. Tension is so high and dense that a knife could caught it.

Nobody knows what to believe, or who to believe, again.

Politicians are in an over-drive mode.  Lies and propaganda reign. And the people are just tired.

Their prayer: “God, please take this cup bitter away from us. We want our lives back. Let a decision be reached quick”

Indeed, that cup, filled with anxiety, and nightmare, which has been their lot since January 13, when  the Supreme Court ousted The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as Governor, was going to be taken away from the people on Tuesday, February, the 18th.

They had steeled themselves to whatever the verdict from the Supreme Court would be. Will the apex court uphold the verdict  which swept Ihedioha out of office, as Governor, and installed Senator Hope Uzodinma, or will the Court reverse itself, and restore Ihedioha’s mandate? The PDP and Ihedioha had gone back to the Court for a review.

Since the day Ihedioha was removed, nothing has been the same in the PDP – both at the state and national level. Protests and counter protests have been the order of the day. Even the international community has been dragged into it.

The PDP had gone to foreign embassies to protest Ihedioha’s ouster. And a lot of  propaganda and misinformation have been spewing from both sides, thus worsening the situation.

A couple of days to February 18, the day fixed for the hearing of the review of the verdict,  many had also gone to town with the fake news that the Justices of the apex court who decided  the case on February, 13th, had,bowing to pressure from the American government,  recused themselves. Afterall, the National Chairman of the PDP had, in a letter to the Chief Justice, Mohamed Tanko, asked them to do so.

On Monday, a Whatsaap message, obviously from a PDP sympathiser went viral to the effect that APC sympathisers in the Imo Government House, were on a looting spree; that they were carting away government properties , including cars and anything in cite.  So the message  called on  the people to storm the government house and stop the looting.

The point being made is: “The APC knows Uzodinma  would lose the next day, so the members are looting”

Of course it was a lie. Nothing was being looted. But, not a few people, especially the masses took the message seriously.

Entitled BREAKING NEWS , with a sub-title;

*…APC has started massive looting of government properties in Government House now*, it reads;

“While Imo people are earnestly awaiting the final pronouncement of the Supreme Court review of the 14 January, 2020 error Judgement, there is confirmed reports and unpalatable news that All Progressive Congress (APC) appointmentees are carting away government properties, like the new cars bought by His Excellency, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, air-conditioners, office  and house hold equipments  in government house to unknown destinations.

“Imo people should rise up and mobilize now to stop this brazen looting of our collective economic resources by Uzodinma and his gang of thieves (419) all over the place.

“Please share this to stop the thieves now!”

Indeed, the Imo State Government, also took the faje news seriously.  In a statement, signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachukwu, it was forced to respond and deny that any looting was going on.

Following is the response:

Uzodinma’s Government is not made up of looters

“The government of Imo State under Senator Hope Uzodinma is made up of credible Imo sons and daughters who have zero tolerance for criminality.

“The government is proud of such personnel who have the fear of God and are solely committed to the service of the good people of Imo State.

“The rumour, therefore, making the sounds on alleged looting in Imo State Government House is nothing but a lie from the pit of hell.

“The rumour is engineered by members of the previous administration and their agents who are experts in assets stripping. They are yet to come to terms with the fact that the era of looting of government property is gone forever with their ouster from government.

“Because criminals will always be criminals, they are seeing in the planned review of the case the sacked Emeka Ihedioha’s administration took before the Supreme Court and the adjournment as another window of opportunity to cause disaffection.

“Unfortunately, they did not know that they were only reminding Imo people of what they are noted for i.e. looting of public funds and assets stripping of government property.

“Under the government of Senator Uzodinma Imo people are happy that the looters they saw yesterday they will not see again today.

“Governor Uzodinma does not only have confidence in the staff he has assembled to work with him, he also has implicit confidence in the entire Imo State work force and together they are working to ensure that Imo people are made prosperous.

“Those who are alleging looting of government property should therefore have their heads examined or better still have a rethink in their own interest.”

So were the goings-on in the state.

On Tuesday, the 18th, therefore, everybody looked forward to the end of the ordeal and anguish in the state. Many people stayed home from their work and business places for fear of the unknown. They shouldn’t have bothered.

For, it turned out an anti-climax. The hearing ended before it even began. It was over before 10.00am.

Here’s how it went.

The hallowed chambers of the Supreme Court was filled to the brim. Some of those sitted had already taken selfies, and posted out, to show they were there. Tension, as usual, was high. And so was anxiety.

Then, their Lordships, led by Tanko filed out.

The hearing started. But, it was the PDP that “spoilt” the show, and denied Imolites an end to their nightmare.

After the usual introductions, the party’s lead Counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, sought for an adjournment.

Reason: Agabi said he needed more time to file some more papers.

The Counsels to the APC and Uzodinma did not object.

And the Justices adjourned the hearing of the review of the case they had decided on, since January the 13th, to March, the 2nd.

Until then, the waiting game continues. And so will the anxiety, tension, lies, propaganda and, helplessness.

But just for the records, the PDP and its army of sympathisers have since claimed the acceptance by the Supreme Court to review the case, and now, to adjourn it on their request, as a sign of victory. They are already celebrating those. And the APC and its own sympathisers are keeping their fingers crossed.