The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party and the state government have cashed over the invitation extended to the immediate past governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha, his ex deputy, Gerald Irona and the spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties, Ugochinyere Imo, by the police in the state over murder, kidnapping and arson case.
While the PDP in the state alleged that the state government was behind the allegations against the trio, the state government said that the main opposition party in the state had exposed themselves as aiding insecurity in the state.
A statement issued in Owerri, the state capital on Thursday by the PDP’s spokesperson in the state, Collins Opurozor, said that the fear of Ihedioha, Irona and Imo would consume governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration.
PDP demanded the immediate redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde.
The statement read “the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has said in clear terms that the resort to use of police to harass, arrest and incarcerate PDP leaders in Imo State by Senator Hope Uzodinma shows a man who can no longer handle the phobia of his imminent loss of state power.
“Our Party notes that this fear which comes from Uzodinma’s unpopularity, cowardice and shame to participate in any fair electoral contest is common with all despots, and it invariably consumes their regimes. The renewed onslaughts against former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona and Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere is therefore the end of the road for the ill-fated reign of Hope Uzodinma in Imo State.
“The former Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona, had his residence invaded last week by armed security operatives on the orders of Uzodinma. Since then, he has been in detention, persecuted for doing no wrong.
“This week, a letter from the Imo State Police Command came to our Party, requesting the State Chairman, Engr. Charles Ugwuh, to bring former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, already-detained former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona, and Member-elect for Ideato Federal Constituency, Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, for questioning over completely insane, puerile and nonexistent cases of kidnapping, murder and arson.
“This is a calculated attempt by Senator Uzodinma to arrest and keep these prominent leaders of our Party out of circulation during the House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 18th, to enable the terrified Uzodinma rig the polls and reestablish a weak and malleable APC-dominated House of Assembly in Imo which can only sing his praises. Imo people must now rise and defend democracy in the State!
“Further, the plot by Uzodinma to arrest and detain former Governor Ihedioha, Rt. Hon. Irona, Barr. Ikenga Ugochinyere and nine (9) other leaders of Imo PDP is also targeted at destabilizing the PDP governorship primary election in the State which barely one month away. The jittery Uzodinma is aware that his sack at the polls by PDP is a decided issue. Falling back on police brutality can only worsen his fate.
“Our Party, however, regrets that the police in Imo State has abdicated its duty of protecting lives and property, and has instead allowed itself to be so debased and abused by Senator Uzodinma, and deployed as tool for political vendetta. This is extremely dangerous.
“What Imo PDP really considers mind-boggling is that this same police which has failed to investigate three consecutive armed attacks on Ikenga Ugochinyere, in which human lives were lost and assets valued in billions destroyed, has now turned around to invite Ikenga over frivolous allegations brought by Imo’s rampaging dictator. This is exactly what policing should never be!
“Our Party calls on the Inspector General of Police to quickly step into this matter to create a more responsible and responsive Police Command in Imo State by overhauling the highly politicized police structure in the State and removing the current Commissioner of Police. This will rekindle faith in the fairness and credibility of the Police and its capacity to secure Imo people.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Communications, Collins Ughalaa, said that the PDP was jittery because the police in the state had seen the skeleton in their cupboard.
He said “The Peoples Democratic Party is jittery because the police in the state have seen the skeletons in their cupboard and seen them for what they are.
“The police have since written to the State Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Charles Ugwu, to produce the trio of Emeka Ihedioha, Gerald Irona, and Ugochinyere Imo, over a case of murder and kidnapping, which the police are investigating.
“But rather than surrender themselves to the police, the suspects are hiding under political sentiments to try to armtwist the police. The PDP has the penchnat to frustrate police operations by mentioning the name of the governor. They do this thinking that they can whip up political sentiments against the governor, but the police do not pander to political sentiments. So, the PDP should surrender their leaders to the police and allow the police to do their job.
“How did the PDP know that the police invited their leaders “over completely insane, puerile, and nonexistent cases of kidnapping, murder and arson” when they have not heard from the police? Is it not obvious that the PDP knows why their leaders were invited and that they should provide genuine answers to the police over the matter under investigation? As for the November 11 governorship election, the PDP should wait and meet us at the polls. All their claims about political relevance will be resolved once and for all at the polls in favour of the governor.”
