By Macdonald Ebere
Today, we have invited you to witness our response to the recent malicious and mischievous allegations levelled against our Governor, HE, Senator Hope Uzodimma by one habitual and notorious blackmailer and merchant of falsehood, popularly known as Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, who is currently plying his trade of mischief under the platform of the ineffectual, unimpressive, and tactless Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP.
Just as you are aware, Ugochinyere, as usual with his character, recently stage-managed what he claimed to be “a world press conference” in Abuja wherein he made so much frivolous and misleading allegations only targeted at discrediting and undermining the reputation and integrity of our indefatigable and peace-loving Governor.
Ordinarily, we would not have bothered to dignify a character like Ugochinyere, an agent provocateur, with a response because his antecedent is an open book.
However, for the purpose of dissecting his claims to expose the real intentions of that disreputable cruise in Abuja called press conference, we are constrained to join issues with him. Our intention is to save the public from being misled by a transactional activist, through the deliberate fabrication and dissemination of unwholesome tales.
Ugochinyere in Abuja, had mobilized the media for what he tagged “a world press conference” following the recent unfortunate attack by unknown gunmen that took place at his Akokwa country home, that allegedly left three persons dead and many others injured. We have continued to condemn in its entirety such despicable, unconscionable, and horrendous act, regardless of the victim, as it is wicked and not in sync with the true nature of Imo people because, we are peace – loving and civilized people. We are also our brother’s keeper.
However, it is to say the least childish, pedestrian, and illogical, as it is inconsistent with good conscience, for Ugochinyere to accuse Governor Uzodimma as the architect of his predicaments.
To every discerning Imolite, Governor Hope Uzodimma is more of a victim than a villain in this ugly issue of insecurity. It is on record, that prominent cabinet members of this administration have suffered various forms of attacks at different times.
As usual, Ugochinyere, like his co-travellers and sponsors in the opposition PDP, in his 15-page-address was not able to convince anyone that Governor Uzodimma was behind his predicaments. We rather saw someone who was making desperate efforts to remain relevant and in the public glare through the bright light of Governor Uzodimma – the Onwa Oyoko – in Imo State. That’s why Ugochinyere finds it convenient and comfortable to constantly drag Governor Uzodimma’s name into his malicious utterances. How else can one describe cheap popularity?
However, the truth is that some aggrieved political actors in the state, who swore to make the state ungovernable for the governor after their failed judicial assault called Supreme Court review, quickly mobilized non state actors to kill innocent citizens, especially members of APC in Imo State, particularly in Orlu senatorial zone in order to depopulate our party in the area, create tension and panic in the State, demoralise our members, and undermine the government.
Those behind the business of insecurity in our state, have one objective in mind; to portray the Uzodimma’s led administration as unpopular, ineffective, and incapable of managing a State like Imo.
Having failed in all attempts to overwhelm the government with sponsored insecurity, they went ahead to the utter dismay of our people to call for the declaration of state of emergency in the State. They are political desperadoes driven by an inordinate quest for power!
We were shocked, however, that three years after the inauguration of Senator Uzodimma as duly elected governor of Imo State following the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court, which brought the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s illegal and fraudulent occupation of Douglas House to deservedly end, Imo PDP speaking through their hired undertaker, Ugochinyere, still disparages the integrity of the highest court in Nigeria.
Nonetheless, why Ugochinyere and the PDP will never stop their prolonged wailing over the victory of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma at the 2019 Imo gubernatorial polls is now clear. They are not happy that Gov Uzodimma has within three years proven that visionary, altruistic and transparent leadership that has transformed the once despoiled and abandoned Imo State through the construction of world-class infrastructure, wealth creation and expansion, rehabilitation of over 200 roads, recovery of stolen Imo State assets including the Standard Shoe Factory, K.O. Mbadiwe University, Ogboko, over 800 stolen hectares of land by past administrations, now returned to the real owners et cetera. These successes only speak to the veracity and authenticity of the Governor’s 3R Agenda of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Recovery, which he has continued to live up to against all odds!
Ikenga Ugochinyere, has once again exposed his shallowness of mind and characteristic idiosyncrasy as a provocative demagogue whose stock in trade is sensationalizing falsehood to appear as truth. The so-called “Omuma magic,” which according to Ugochinyere, is an attempt to rig the 2023 election, claiming that the National Voters register has been riddled with 10 million fake registrations done by one of the political parties, has been clearly debunked by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as an empty and malicious claim with the following declaration:
‘For the avoidance of doubt, we restate the main components of these activities. First, the Commission is conducting a comprehensive Automated Biometric Identification System cleanup of the registration data by scrutinizing every record’
‘Based on the Electoral Act 2022, any record that does not meet all the criteria for inclusion as stipulated in Section 10, including the appearance in person by the registrant at the registration venue with proof of identity, age and nationality and our business rules requirements of an adequate number of fingerprints and clear pictures will be invalidated’
- The whole world can see that Ugochinyere and the PDP are determined to cause confusion and incite violence by promoting pure falsehood as truth and should be totally disregarded by Imo people.
If the APC-led Government of Gov. Uzodimma is the mastermind of all political killings in the State as claimed by Ugochinyere, how come the victims numbering over 35 are all members of the APC and from Orlu Zone including the recent brutal butchering of the Sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Area and a frontline supporter of the governor, which was never condemned by Ugochinyere and his PDP partners in peddling of falsehood?
Is Ugochinyere not aware that since the attack on Nigeria Correctional Centre facility in Owerri and the release of over I,840 hardened and condemned criminals, the Imo State Government has been put under untold pressures to maintain peace and security? It can as well be claimed that Ugochinyere and his PDP partners are responsible for that jailbreak.
However, it is strange and a clear demonstration of witchcraft that Ugochinyere has without any clear proof continued to accuse the peace-loving Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, as the mastermind of the attack – that is nasty, and a joke taken too far.
For the avoidance of doubt, Gov. Uzodimma is saddled with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of all Imo people irrespective of party affiliation and this he has been doing creditably with maturity and candour. Nonetheless, his peaceful disposition should not be taken for granted as Gov. Uzodimma reserves the right to push for the arrest of Ugochinyere for clear gross defamation and assassination of character.
Freedom of speech is not freedom to be stupid, peddle falsehood and incite the people against the government. We warn Ugochinyere to desist from such inglorious path as the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on any further unfounded and intentional provocation by Ugochinyere.
While we use this opportunity to extend once again our heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the affected families, we pray God to grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.
Hon. Ebere, Ph.D, is the Imo State Chairman of the APC
