Some National Assembly members are behind a plot to destabilise Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma alleged yesterday. The lawmakers and those working with them plan to pave the way for the declaration of an emergency rule in the state, the governor said.
According to him, some National Assembly members are behind the “inglorious campaign” Uzodimma, who made the allegation yesterday at a news briefing at the Government, Owerri, said those behind the campaign have raised N5 billion for the project.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, he said government has uncovered a plan to galvanise the support of some members of the National Assembly and prominent Imo citizens based in Abuja to raise a false alarm on the security situation in the state.
He said: “We are aware that as we speak, a member of the National Assembly is leading this unholy campaign against his own state. A hefty budget of N5 billion is at their disposal. A serving senator and a perennial governorship aspirant in the state are planning for a courtesy call on the Inspector-General of Police to serve him the poisoned chalice that Imo State is ungovernable.
“This new plot was kick started recently with one of them, a member of the House of Representatives, fatuously claiming in a recent press interview in Abuja that ‘Imo State is now the epicenter of insecurity in the Southeast’.
“This fallacious outburst by a National Assembly member is part of the new campaign to raise a petition to the Inspector-General of Police that security has collapsed in the state and that the government has been overwhelmed by the challenges. They are going to use the recent unfortunate fate of our two royal fathers from Njaba to anchor their campaign.”
“Thereafter, they plan to sponsor a sundry protest and violence in the state to make believe that their position is real. This is desperation taken too far and height of felonious rascality. This is why we believe that the sheer audacity of this villainous enterprise must be condemned by all men of goodwill.
“It is truly alarming that greed and vaulting ambition could drive people to such villainous levels as to desperately seek to sacrifice the lives of their fellow citizens and the progress of the state just to get back at someone.”
The governor warned that the government will not fold its hands and watch desperate politicians cause any further confusion in the state.
“We shall do everything within the law to deal decisively with anyone who tries to disturb the hard won peace in our state,” Uzodimma said
