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Why I Invited Military To Orlu – Uzodinma

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Gulak's Murder Was Political Assassination Not Caused By IPOB - Uzodinma

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma today defended his invitation of the military to Orlu . He said he gave the invitation as the situation was beyond the capacity of the local security operatives.

Uzodinma, who spoke after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was the responsibility of government to protect lives.

He told State House correspondents after meeting with the president, that his decision to invite the military was to douse the uprising in Orlu district, adding that his action was precautionary especially with the experience and the destruction that followed the #EndSARS protests.

He said that the situation in Orlu region of the state had gone beyond what could be handled locally, hence his invitation to the military.
“Well, the issue of bringing the military to Imo state? You recall, during the #EndSARS protests, a lot of properties were damaged in Imo state, police stations were burnt down, soldiers were killed, their rifles removed from them.

“And immediately after the #EndSARS, we thought it was over. Then, issues of kidnapping, where you know, a Catholic bishop was kidnapped, who was killed. And this militants came out and begin to shoot. We’ve lost lives, market women were killed, old women were raped in Orlu area of Imo state and they visited this serious terror on the citizenry.

“And then I came here (presidential villa), pleaded with Mr. President for his support and he sent additional support by sending in police and the military also came in. And that is where we are.

“It was on my invitation that the military came. And I did that because I know the situation was beyond the local arrangement, we needed help. And the help was given to us.

“And as I speak to you the situation has come down to normal, people are now going about their businesses. And those caught will soon be charged to court. And all those military riffles from the army, the police, AK-47, and so on, were recovered by the people that came.

“We are a government, it is our responsibility to protect lives. And we have the Nigerian Army, Nigerian police. We had security challenges, we invited them to go to work.”

Uzodinma has been under serious attacks for bringing the military to crush the people he was supposed to protect, unlike some of his governor colleagues who are negotiating with bandits to solve their security problems.

But he denied the insinuation, rather saying that he used the security personnel he invited to restore peace and normalcy. He said,

READ ALSO: Ogun Signs Over $300m Agreements For Three Projects

“Well, I don’t know what you mean. I told you about our initial intelligence and the efforts to control the sporadic shootings in Orlu that led to many dead, innocent women in the market, people selling food foodstuffs dead by a group of people that we were not able to identify.

“Preliminary intelligence reviewed where they were in a bush. Our local police and local military went there and confronted them, but they were repelled.

“So, we discovered that the people had serious fire power. And that, of course, Nigeria, is a federation, Imo State is a federating unit, and all over the world, you have provincial police, you have federal police. So, there was a need for me to report the situation and that I did and we were supported to deal with the situation.

“It is not about crushing anybody and those that came didn’t do any crushing. Those that came through their intelligence identified where these people were and I can tell you, all the people arrested, all the rifles recovered are intact. The people are under interrogation, not even one, not even one soldier, or one of those militants died in the process.

“I must commend DCP Abba Kyari for a brilliant job he did. So, let anybody politicize it. But I have a responsibility to protect the lives of my people.”
On his meeting with the president, he said he informed Buhari about the progress on the effort to tackle insecurity.

He said : “Well, of course, I informed Mr. president that we were already making progress. And of course, you know, the president is a very peaceful man.

“The federal government maybe negotiating with the Boko Haram, that God knows if I have the opportunity to see any man who is taking lives. I will confront the person head-on. That is why we are a government.”

On his recent confrontation with his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, the governor denied that there was an assassination attempt.

“Who will assassinate him? I don’t know about any attempt to assassinated Okorocha. Rather, what I know is that I have no personal issues with Okorocha.

READ ALSO: Okorocha Camp Vows To Fight Back Over Attack

“You will recall that before I became the governor, the Ihedioha administration set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into acquisitions and allegations of lands, converting government lands to personal property, and then removing private lands from individuals and giving them to other individuals.

“The judicial panel of inquiry chaired by a judge met and they concluded our job and a white paper has since been raised.

“You know institutions and agencies that are involved with implementation are doing their job.

“And the only thing I know is that few days ago, one of the properties sealed by government, the former governor, went with his thugs. You people saw it, it was was live. He went there with thugs himself physically, wounded the policemen there, wounded the Civil Defence Civil people, the Civil Defence officer is currently still in the hospital and then broke in and entered.

“Of course, you must have heard him say that he is richer than government and that he is above the law. I am not directly involved. It is a position taken by government.

There is a difference between governor and government.
“The government of Imo State sealed a property. And I think that if there is anything anybody considers that is not right, the person should go to court to address the issue. Not to take to self-help.

“I remember that under Ihedioha, there was a recovery committee, chaired by one Jasper Ndubaku. When they tried to visit Okorocha’s house, they were beaten to a stupor. And the same man who did that is now also doing the same thing and almost killed the man who did it during his time.

“So, I don’t want to go into that matter, because government is a serious business, and I’m very serious. I don’t have enough time to run the affairs of the state.

“But people should know the difference between being a governor and the government decisions and policies.

“And, you know, we took oath to protect the rule of law, to protect our laws, and we shouldn’t be part of any arrangement to violate our laws”, he said.

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BREAKING: Guber Campaigns Begin June 14 As INEC Releases Final Candidates’ List For Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi

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BREAKING: Court Orders INEC To Resume Continuous Voter's Registration
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu

Gubernatorial  campaigns  are billed to begin on June 14 as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the November 11 elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

Those listed for Bayelsa poll included Gov. Diri Duoye (PDP),Chief Sylva Timipre (APC), Mr Eradiri Udengmobofa (LP), Mr Osuluku Binalatefa (SDP) and Mrs Ogege Mercy (APP).

The candidates for Kogi were Mr Leke Abejide (ADC), Mr Dino Melaye (PDP), Malam Ahmed Ododo (APC) and Mrs Suleiman Fati (ZLP).

Those listed for Imo poll included Gov. Hope Uzodinmma (APC), Mr Ayanwu Samuel (PDP), Mr Odunzeh Ben(NNPP) and Mr Achony Nneji (LP).

Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Information and Voter Education Committee, said in a statement in Abuja the list was approved by the commission at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Okoye said that the decision was in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

He said that the section required the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day i.e. Friday June 9, following the period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

“The same will be published in our State and Local Government offices in the affected States on Thursday June 8 ahead of the statutory deadline of June 9, “ Okoye said.

The list showed that all 18 political parties fielded candidates for Kogi poll, while 17 parties fielded candidates for Imo and 16 parties in Bayelsa.

The list also showed that two political parties fielded female candidates for Bayelsa poll, while only one party fielded a female candidate for Kogi poll.

Okoye reminded political parties and their candidates that in line with timetable and schedule of activities for the election, campaign in public would officially commence on Wednesday, June 14 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on Nov. 9 i.e. 24 hours prior to election day.

“We urge parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election.

“Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension, ahead of the election,” Okoye said.

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BREAKING: Tinubu, Shettima Know Fate On Disqualification From Presidency On Friday

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Tinubu and Shettima

Whether the Supreme Court will nullify the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over alleged double nomination or not will be decided on Friday May 26, 2023.

The apex court on Monday, adjourned to the above date to deliver its judgment in the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly after taking submissions from the counsel representing parties in the suit.

Specifically, the PDP is seeking the disqualification of the President-elect, Tinubu and the Vice-President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, over alleged double nomination; an act which they say violates the electoral laws.

The appellant anchored its appeal on the claims that the appellate court erred in law when it dismissed its appeal and affirmed the judgment of a trial court which held that the suit was incompetent and lacking in merit.

PDP is claiming that the APC breached the law when it nominated Shettima as the senatorial candidate for Borno Central and as vice-presidential candidate.

At Monday’s proceedings, while APC’s lawyer, Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), asked the court to strike out the case on the grounds that it has become statute barred, because the 180 days stipulated by law to hear the suit has elapsed, PDP’s lawyer, Mr Joe Agi (SAN), disagreed.

It is Agi’s position that the issue of 180 days does not apply in respect of double nomination, adding that since the act is purely an illegality, the court has the right to entertain the appeal.

“They have done that before, they did it in the case of Nwosu and APC and they will do it again,” Agim added.

The appellant accordingly urged the apex court to grant the appeal, set aside the concurrent decision of the two lower courts and nullify the election of Tinubu and the vice-president-elect for alleged double nomination.

The PDP had by their appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/108/2023, urged the appellate court to reverse the January 13 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja which dismissed its suit on the grounds that the PDP lacked locus standi to have instituted the suit.

The three-member panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, in the lead judgment held that the PDP failed to establish its locus standi in the case.

Justice James Abundaga, who delivered the judgment of the appellate court, had agreed with the respondents that the PDP is a busy body, which dabbled in issues that are internal affairs of the APC.

“The appellant, having failed to disclose its locus standi, this appeal fails and it is hereby dismissed,” he said and proceeded to affirm the judgment of the Federal High Court.

Justice Abundaga awarded N5 million cost against the appellant’s lawyer, J. O. Olotu.

The PDP had, in the suit filed on July 28, 2022, challenged the validity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for the 2023 presidential election, arguing that Shettima’s nomination as the running mate was in breach of the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84{1)}(2)} of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).

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BREAKING: Court Disqualifies Alex Otti As Governor-elect,  Others In Abia, Kano

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Alex Otti

The Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti and all the candidates of the Labour Party in Abia and Kano States have been disqualified.

The disqualification came from a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, presided over by Justice M N Yunusa.

The court ruled that their emergence was not in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

A copy of the judgement delivered by the court was made available to newsmen on Friday.

The Court in Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 filed by Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries renders the process invalid.

“The party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have a candidate in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election; this being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant are a wasted vote,” the judge ruled.

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