BY RALPH EJIMKONYE, ADA ONWUKWE
Two major political parties in Imo State, the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Thursday, engaged in a war of words over rising insecurity in the State.
Imo State, has lately witnessed surge in insecurity which has led to loss of lives and destruction of public properties.
The PDP however blamed the APC led administration in the State for insecurity in the State,calling on Governor Hope Uzodimma to resign.
Imo PDP Chairman, Charles Ugwu, at a press conference in Owerri said “the uncanny imposition of Senator Hope Uzodimma as governor of Imo State by the Supreme Court, must have contributed to the current insecurity in the State”
The party said it is evident that the ruling APC lack the capacity “to guarantee safety and security of lives and property of Imo people’
“Governor Hope Uzodimma, in his capacity and responsibility as the Chief Security officer of the State, has failed to protect the lives and property of Imo people
According to Ugwu, he said the party in the State “is alarmed and worried at the continued militarization of Imo State, mass arrest and 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, INEC.
The party Chairman further stated that “It is worrisome that the ugly situation has been allowed to creep into Imo State, following the invitation of the military into the State by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
He also fingered the internal wrangling in the APC in the State as part of reasons for the current state of insecurity.
“Recall that APC has been having intractable internal crisis since Senator Hope Uzodimma 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 State by the State government
*APC Fires Back, Says PDP’s Call On Uzodimma To Resign Delusional*
The APC in the State, fired back at the PDP over the allegations, accusing the opposition party of vindicating “the Governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Uzodimma, in his position that the current insecurity in the State is politically motivated”
In a statement signed by the Imo State APC Chairman, Marcel Nlemigbo, he said ” as a party, we have always stood by the governor, who by his privileged position as the Chief Security Officer of the State, with unhindered access to sensitive details, that the escalating cases of insecurity in our hitherto peaceful State is politically sponsored.
“What we do not know before the PDP’s conference was the identity of those behind the sponsorship of these reckless killings of innocent citizens, security personnel and wanton destruction of public assets. We strongly hold now, that the mask has been unveiled.
The APC said “the call for the governor’s resignation by PDP is not only frivolous, laughable and delusional but a further demonstration of acute desperation to sneak back to Douglas House through the backdoor, even at the detriment of lives and properties of ndi Imo’
“One had expected the PDP as the main opposition party in the State to come up with possible alternative solution to the situation, but that will be seeking for a virgin in a brothel. We want to reassure PDP that no amount of incitement of the public against the Government and or criminal sponsorship of insecurity in the State will deter the State government in it’s commitment to recover, rehabilitate and reconstruct Imo State in line with 3R mantra.
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