The Immediate past Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha has postponed his planned visit to Owerri schedule to take place today, Thursday, after the State Government accused him and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to use the event to unleash mayhem in the state.
Ihehioha who was scheduled to make his first return to the state since after he was sacked by the Supreme court on 14 January, 2020, released a personally signed statement, on Thursday morning, saying the visit has to be postponed to prevent the government from taking advantage of his return to arrest his supporters and members of the PDP.
Imo government had released a statement yesterday which read in part:
“The Imo State Government is aware of plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to stage protests tomorrow, Thursday during which they will again pour insults on the Supreme Court Judges for refusing to reverse their earlier judgment on the Imo governorship case.
“The government is fully aware of the plan by the PDP to hide under the guise of welcoming ousted Governor Emeka Ihedioha back to Imo to stage the protests. Their plan is to make it look like Imo people trooped out to welcome him and hide under that cover to display placards condemning the Supreme Court Justices for refusing to reverse their judgment in favour of Ihedioha and the PDP.
“From the airport they plan to proceed to Owerri, the state capital to continue with the protests.
“Government is also aware that they have imported thugs from neighboring states for this purpose because the few members left in their ranks cannot make the impact they crave for.
“Government therefore calls on the security agencies to take note of this devilish plot by Ihedioha and the PDP and take necessary steps to ensure that there is no breach of peace in the state.“
In response to the allegations from the government, Ihedioha stated that he had postpone the visit because, according to him, ‘My visit is not worth the life of any Imo citizen.”
Read the full statement from Ihedioha below.
It has come to my attention that the Imo State government, yesterday issued a statement on my planned visit to Owerri this morning. As most people are well aware, I haven’t visited the state since the Supreme Court judgement of 14th January 2020 and was planning to come in to participate in the ongoing Congresses being conducted by my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While I have in recent weeks elected to stay away from family and friends in Imo, I am not aware that I have been exiled out of the state.
Unfortunately, the statement by the Imo State government, made several spurious allegations, including that I plan to lead violent protests as well as import thugs to perpetrate violence. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not, and have never been, a violent person. My reputation is that of peace and fair play. I have never propagated or tolerated violence. And I never will.
On the contrary, I have been informed that the government of Imo State, acting in concert with some rogue elements within the security apparatus, is planning the arrest and detention of many of our supporters and to visit mayhem on the expected large crowd which they anticipate will come out to welcome me back home. By judging me by their own character, their scheme is to stigmatize and garb us in the toga of violence. These are the tendencies of unpopular and illegitimate regimes.
It is therefore for the foregoing reasons that I have decided to postpone my trip to Owerrri so as to frustrate their evil plans and machinations. My visit is not worth the life of any Imo citizen. However, the massive deployment of security personnel by the government as well as thugs cannot deter us and the majority of our people from pursuing our collective vision for a better Imo State.
The constitutional rights, including the right to free speech and to freedom of movement, are inalienable. And nobody can take that away from me. I will certainly, by the grace of God, be visiting the state very soon.
Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON.
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