Governor Uzodinma Explains Why He Met President Buhari Behind Closed Doors

Posted by African Examiner African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, says he met with President Muhammadu Buhari to talk about progress made on the issue of insecurity in Imo State.

Afrcian Examiner writes that Buhari received Uzodinma at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Uzodinma stated that he invited the military to prevent the recent crisis in Orlu to become like another #EndSARS protests.

According to him, the situation in Orlu had gone beyond local control, so he invited the military.

He said: “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 these militants came out and begin to shoot. We’ve lost lives, market women were killed, old women were raped in the 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.

”I informed Mr. President that we are already making progress. And of course, you know, the President is a very peaceful man.

“The federal government may be negotiating with 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 the government.”

He stated that things in Orlu have now returned to normal as people can now go about their businesses.

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

Photo credit: @sundayaghaeze