Gov. Uzodimma Applauds Buhari, Igbos Demand Justice and Fairness

Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State, claimed on Tuesday that hoodlums and bandits would have taken control of her state if it hadn’t been for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick action.

“Your prompt intervention helped to restore peace and order in our state. But for your timely, prompt and fatherly intervention through the security agencies, Imo State would have been overrun by bandits and hoodlums. For this, I also say thank you, Mr President,” Uzodimma said during the President’s visit to Owerri, the state capital.

The 36 km dual-lane Owerri-Orlu road in Imo had been opened earlier by Buhari. He then hosted the South-East leaders. But there were glaring absences from other South East governors.

Recently, “unknown gunmen” have been responsible for murders and kidnappings in Imo State. Although Ebubeagu, a South-East Asian security organisation, had its state branch inaugurated by Uzodimma, media coverage of the attacks has not diminished.

Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has reiterated the commitment of the Igbo people to the Nigerian project.

Igbo people, according to the apex body, demand justice and fairness as well as a platform where they may make their fair share of contributions to Nigeria’s growth.

“I wish to reiterate and speak on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, both at home and in the diaspora, that our people are committed to the Nigerian project, and we desire a country that provides a platform and an opportunity to contribute our utmost best to the growth of our fatherland.

“We seek justice, equity, fairness, and going by our antecedents, we are in every part of Nigeria and therefore claim to be the most federating of all Nigerian,” the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, told President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday when he was hosted in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The timing of Obiozor’s remarks coincides with the Igbos’ desire for the geographical separation of the South-East from the Nigerian State. Nnamdi Kanu, a member of the banned Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, is accused of engaging in acts of terrorism and has been one of the leaders of the secessionist movement.