The Imo Awareness Coalition, IAC, has said it will adopt a reach out mechanism to appeal to opposition forces in the State to sheath their sword and reciprocate Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s olive branch.
Governor Ihedioha had after the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed his election as Governor of the State, urged his political opponents to close ranks with him and rebuild the State.
He had re echoed the gesture after a church service last Sunday at Assumpta Cathedral where he called on the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, Archbishop Obinna, to persuade those with different political leanings to sheath their sword and join in the task of rebuilding the State.
IAC President, Emmanuel Okwu, who spoke to this newspaper from the United States, urged the opposition not to go further in their litigations against the Governor and close ranks with him to develop the State.
It would be recalled that governorship candidates of the Action Alliance, AA, All Progressive Congress, APC, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Uche Nwosu, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume respectively had gone to the Appeal Court to challenge the ruling of the Tribunal
Mr.Okwu said “I understand how they feel losing the governorship election. But it does not make them losers.
“In every political contest, there will be a winner and a loser. Having challenged their loss at the elections in the courts and lost, we appeal to them to bury the hatchet, not to go further and join hands with Governor Ihedioha to build Imo State.
“Governor Ihedioha has demonstrated maturity by extending a hand of reconciliation to them, as great Imo sons, they should recipricate and drop their grievances and support the government of the day.
“I understand the fact that they have the right to seek legal redress especially when they are not convinced that they lost, but they ought to understand the fact that it is God that entrusts power on individuals and not man.
“For now, our State must move forward. If we truly know the depth of decadence in the State, we should pity Ihedioha. And the only way to do that is convince the opposition forces to forget the past and align with the future.
“We will go beyond making our appeal on the pages of newspapers. We will seek of ways of opening talks with them. Imo belongs to us all
Mr.Okwu said that the leadership of the IAC, intends to reach out to the opposition leaders and appeal to them to support the government of the day.
” These are great leaders in Imo State irrespective of political leanings. We cannot afford to ignore them. The IAC intends to reach out to them and appeal to them to let go.
“Litigations against the Governor will do the State no good. It can be a huge distraction not only to the Governor but to the people of the State.
” We remain confident they will see reasons with us and sheath their sword” Okwu stated.