Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, a group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which is based on the Progressives League of Youth Voters (PLYV) platform, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution Abia State governor Alex Otti against inciting comments.
The group also warned the governor to discard the idea that the Labour Party governorship candidate in Imo state will succeed Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The APC group was reacting to a comment made by Governor Alex Otti during a flag-off campaign of his party in Imo state where he asked Governor Hope Uzodimma “to write his handover note.”
Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the APC group, Amb. Audu Usman Shuaibu, urged Governor Uzodimma not to be distracted, even as he commended the administration for the courage he has demonstrated in defending his people.
According to Shuaibu, Governor Otti’s statement during the Party’s gubernatorial campaign flag-off in Imo state shows that the neighbouring Governor was set for war.
While calling for a peaceful election in the state, the APC group said: “How can a newly elected Governor who is yet to acclimatise himself with the doings of the office openly declare that the workaholic Governor of Imo State should prepare his handover note? Here is a man whose victory is facing a serious legal battle at the governorship election petition tribunal, instead of facing his challenges, Otti decided to stir up the polity by indirectly calling non-state actors to invade Imo State.
“We are using this medium to tell Governor Alex Otti that Governor Hope will only hand over to himself and not the Labour Party.
“We are citizens of Nigeria first before becoming members of political parties, as members of formidable support groups whose interest is the development of Nigeria, we are aware that the future of Imo State is being toyed with by highly placed politicians who want to use the influence of their offices just like Governor Otti of Abia State to force a regime change in the South East State.
“We feel concerned because Governor Otti’s home state is the International Headquarters of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and that of the dreaded Eastern Security Network, ESN.”
Shuaibu expressed confidence that if the election is free and fair, Governor Hope Uzodinma will cruise to victory, adding that Uzodimma’s works are there to speak for him.
“The APC-led Government of Imo State has shown clearly the difference between good governance and maladministration; it would be wrong to fold our arms and watch a Governor from another State cause chaos in Imo State.
“It is only in Abia State under the current Governor that already dualised road is being dualised, Sea Port is being built where there is no river, Lake or dam instead of executing peoples oriented projects that will better the lots of Abia people, Governor Otti is middlesome interloper in Imo State Governorship elections.
“Mr President must remember his statement that he won’t interfere in any democratic process anywhere in the county. Therefore, the President must caution the irate Governor of Abia State against statements that are capable of causing crisis and not to meddle in the affairs of other states. It is not enough for the President as an individual to simply pledge non-interference. He should take a step further to warn the Governor to follow the example of a statesman.
“We maintain that the good people of Imo State should be allowed to choose their Governor in the coming elections. Our people must not be intimidated or coerced into accepting a governorship candidate imposed on them by enemies of imolites. We will resist any imposition or plot to cause political instability in Imo state. We would resist with equal vigor, any attempt to influence the gubernatorial elections to favour the Labour Party.
“We assure the people of Imo State that we are on alert monitoring activities of their enemies and the people aligning with them. We shall address Nigerians at the appropriate time and expose those colluding with killers of the South East people to effect a change of leadership in Imo state.
“For Governor Otti and his co-travellers, the plan to change the political leadership in Imo State come November 11th 2023 will fail just like the plan to surrender South East to unknown gunmen also failed. Governor Hope Uzodinma has stood firm with his people in ensuring that security is provided by the Federal Government, his effort is commendable and he deserves re-election.”
