Chief Innocent Sunday Okeke, the National Vice Chairman, South East of the Labour Party (LP), has categorically stated that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma will not be reelected in the November 11 election due to his failure in addressing insecurity in the state.
Chief Okeke in an exclusive interview with Overtnews while lamenting on the spate of insecurity in Imo State said since the destruction of some of the police stations during the #EndSARS protest in Imo particularly in Orlu zone, the state governor has not deemed it fit to rehabilitate the facilities.
This, according to the Labour Party chieftain has led to the porosity of security in Orlu and other areas in the state.
Prior to the assumption of office by Governor Uzodimma, Imo used to be a tourist destination but since he took over in 2019, the state has become a den of criminals.
The November 11 governorship election is about eight weeks away, Chief Okeke said no Imo indigene is oblivious to the current situation in the state regarding insecurity which has become a burden in the minds of everyone.
“Every Imolite knows what is happening in Imo. Sons and daughters of Imo are yearning for a secured environment,” Chief Okeke said.
“For the past years before Uzodinma assumed the leadership of the state, Imo State used to be a tourist destination but in the last three and a half years it has been a different story. Imo State is just like a graveyard as at today.
“You wake up everyday you don’t know if you’re coming back home. And it is affecting every sons and daughters of Imo.”
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When asked what is going to be the determining factor in the election between the three major political parties – APC, LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Chief Okeke said the will of the people will prevail in the November 11 governorship election adding that gone are the days when the power of incumbency would override the will of the people.
He said inasmuch as there is yearning for a change in Imo State the level of backwardness in the state is enough evidence to vote out Governor Uzodimma.
“It is no longer the issue of power of incumbency, it is now going to be determined by the will of the people, a will to make a positive change, the change that will usher in a new lifestyle again to recover the lost glory of Imolites,” he said.
On the party’s level of assurance that it will get the peoples mandate, Chief Okeke said, “The assurance coming from me is that the people will troop out enmass no matter the level of intimidation, harassment, you can intimidate them on physical but they know this is not road to thread on.
“The Imolites are going to troop out in numbers and make the needed change.
“Some people can argue he (Gov Uzodimma) fixed the Orlu – Owerri road is that the only thing in governance? If you fix a road and you do policy and the whole population were killed, who will pass on the road.
“The primary duty of any government is to secure lives and property of its citizenry. The moment you secure a better environment for the people to live and thrive and do their businesses without any molestation is number one.”
When asked if Governor Uzodimma has failed in securing the lives of the people he responded saying, “Has he win in that area? Don’t you see the level of insecurity in Imo State? The whole Orlu Zone – the 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs), you cannot walk freely, insecurity has been the order of the day. No single police presence. No matter the opposition a government faces the number one thing they will put in place is the policing of the environment.”
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