By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As Imolites (Ndi Imo) and by extention Nigerians are waiting anxiously for Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to name and shame alleged sponsors of insecurity and terrorism in his state on Tuesday, indigenes of the state are indifferent about the much-publicized exercise.
This is even as some people have already described the naming of some individuals by the governor as just a political gimmick to divert the attention of Imo indigenes while others have dubbed it a political witch-hunt following the running battle between the incumbent governor and his immediate predecessors.
According to an Owerri-based Political Scientist, Comrade Innocent Agunanne, the governor naming names is neither here nor there, saying that the right thing would have been keeping the names secret while the relevant government agencies investigate, arrest and prosecute the offenders in the court of law.
“If you ask me I will say its unnecessary to go public with the names of the alleged sponsors of insecurity in Imo state. If government know them why not turn their names to the government security agents who are empowered to arrest and prosecute and if they are found guilty, the court will then pronounce them guilty”.
“Let it be noted, that releasing such names might jeopardize investigations and as such the idea should be suspended for now”, Agunanne stated.
For Chief Fabian Obiechi, Lagos-based businessman, there is need for the handlers of Governor Uzodinma to advise him to ensure he has his facts on the culpability of those to be so named because those whose names will be mentioned will be heading to the law court to clear their names.
Said he: “l believe the list of sponsors of insecurity in Imo state is not response to ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha’s allegations against the government
The governor should do well to tell the world the source or sources of his information on the so-called “Sponsors of Insecurity in Imo state” since he came to power”.
A woman leader in Imo state who pleaded anonymity said that she will be very disappointed should the governor’s list of sponsors of insecurity in Imo state contains only political opponents, pointing out that he (Uzodinma) should have used the millions of naira he will pay to four or five national television stations to air the event live tomorrow to pay civil servants who have not been paid for months.
But Uzodinma will now make public names of those behind the spate of insecurity in the state on Tuesday, January 4, instead of Monday, January 3, as earlier promised.
This much was disclosed by his Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba via a press statement made available to journalists.
The Governor had on December 19, 2021, promised to release the names of those sponsoring the “unwarranted killings, kidnapping, and all forms of insecurity in Imo State will be made public on January 3, 2022,” during his the planned stakeholders meeting with leaders of thoughts and elders of the South-East state.
According to him: “All the people that were hired to kill our people, we have started picking all of them. As of now, we’ve picked 18 suspects. Some of them have confessed those who are paying them.
“We have gotten the bank account from where they have been transferring money to them and we have the evidence. When I will address Imo stakeholders on January 3, I will call their names one by one,” he had said.
However, in a statement in Owerri at the weekend by the state Commissioner for Information (Declan Emelumba), Uzodinma will now make the disclosure on Tuesday.
In the statement, Emelumba said the governor will “use the occasion of the 6th edition of Imo Stakeholders Forum to name those who are sponsors and financiers of insecurity in the state.”
“The stakeholders meeting/luncheon will now hold at the Government House, and no longer at the Ahiajoku Convention Center, Owerri, by 12noon on Tuesday, January 4, 2022.
Sadly, the Governor would have budgeted hundreds of millions of state fund to pay for several hours of airtime to some notable natinal television stations he will invite to cover the “Stakeholders Meeting”.
