The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has described the 10-day protest being planned by some individuals across the country as a ploy by those who lost the 2023 elections to destabilise the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Gov. Uzodimma who is also the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum made this statement in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital during the APC South East Stakeholders’ meeting that took place on Sunday.
The Governor said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was just one year, and wondered why there should be a protest when he has been working hard to fix all the problems of the country.
“People engineering protests are people who lost elections. We will not let them to incite our people. Nobody should incite us. We can never honour any crisis in Nigeria. We don’t want any crisis and war. I have no regrets for what we have passed through, because it has made us stronger”, he stated.
“Our enemies are trying to disorganise the national government. They will come to you, they want us to protest. Ask them if you want us to protest, where are your children? Why must you even protest? To protest against what?
“This government is our government. The government of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu is our government. So, nobody from the South East will protest, we are not aggrieved. We have hope. Whatever they say, this government is barely one year old.
“We are aware there is hardship. We are aware things are hard, but I bet you, the president is working so hard to release money to the people, release infrastructure to the people, and increase food security to the people. Follow your leaders, work with your leaders.
“Igbos have been at the forefront of national development in academia, in the private sector, in business. We must have something to show for the contributions of our forefathers, and those who really founded Nigeria, those who paid the price for Nigeria to be. This is our common heritage, this is our patrimony”, Gov. Hope Uzodimma added.
The Governor also stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level has acknowledged that the South East geopolitical zone is marginalized in the scheme of things and revealed that the party has initiated the process of de-marginalization of the zone.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Addulahi Umar Ganduje, on his stated that the task before the Party was the conversion of Abia, Enugu and Anambra to become APC-controlled States. He urged APC stakeholders within the region to work in a united front for the overall interest of the Party and eventual takeover of the three remaining States of South East for APC.
He affirmed that the APC as a Party has began the implementation of its blueprint on the de-marginalization of the South East zone, as it will enable the people of the region to benefit maximally from the present administration and gain access to the mainstream of national politics.