The All Progressives Congress-led administration of Hope Uzodinma has pointed accusing fingers at its major political rival, the People Democratic Party, PDP, alleging that the party is plotting means to discredit the present government.
Uzodinma’s Government made the allegation by insinuating that the PDP is planning a way of instigating violence in the state over the just concluded local government elections.
Making the position of the State Government known, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba disclosed that credible information at its disposal indicated that the PDP wants to borrow a leaf from the recent violence in Rivers State against newly sworn in local government chairmen and councillors.
Emelumba said that it was surprisingly unbelievable that just barely 24 hours after the Rivers violence broke out following the outcome of the local government elections in that State, the PDP Imo State in a statement on Tuesday allegedly warned elected local government chairmen in the state to steer clear of the council secretariats in the 27 LGAs.
The Commissioner argued that such a warning was ominous and portends danger, and demanded that the security agencies should pay adequate attention to the statement allegedly credited to the PDP.
“While PDP was free to rant and accuse the State of all unimaginable and unsubstantiated financial crimes, the threat of violence was not going to be tolerated,” he warned.
The Information Commissioner noted that it has been a while since the local government chairmen were sworn in after a successful election and wondered why the PDP was threatening them just 24 hours after the violence in Rivers State.
“If you went through their incoherent and contradictory statement of Tuesday, October 8, 2024, you will come out with the impression that they want to employ self help in addressing their colossal loss during the local government elections.
“They said their candidates ought to be declared winners and in the same breath, they alleged there was no election,” the commissioner pointed out.
He used the opportunity to debunk the allegation by the PDP that the elected chairmen were forced to submit resignation letters in case they fail to do the biddings of the governor
He also faulted PDP for claiming that Uzodinma had taken 50 percent of local government funds to finance the State electricity project, noting that all transactions regarding the project were transparent.
Describing PDP as a sore loser that never prepared for the election, Emelumba urged the party to approach the court for whatever redress it may seek as advised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He warned them against resorting to any kind of violence against the chairmen and the councilors who he said were democratically elected by their people in their respective local government areas.