The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has knocked Governor Hope Uzodimma for expending a staggering N2.1 billion on sponsoring Muslim pilgrims.
The PDP described the expenditure and the party hosted by the governor in celebration of the airlifting of the pilgrims, as “wasteful” at a time when the state is grappling with worsening insecurity and deepening poverty.
The party called for the immediate resignation of Gov. Uzodimma for gross incompetence, describing his action as an endorsement of the recent arson, kidnappings, and killings in the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the state Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, the PDP stated that it is not opposed to religious inclusion, but sees no justification for the government to squander N2.1 billion of taxpayers’ money on such a programme for 315 individuals, let alone organize an extravagant party and host the vice president merely for the airlifting of the pilgrims going for hajj.
The party said the “more worrying is that the event took place just a day after armed assailants laid siege to the road between Umuna and Okigwe in Onuimo Local Government Area, killing at least 20 people, kidnapping others, and setting over 22 vehicles, including trucks ablaze.
“The party views this wasteful and insensitive action as a tacit endorsement of the recurrent arson, kidnappings, and killings plaguing the state.
“We, therefore, emphatically call for the resignation of Governor Hope Uzodimma over his gross incompetence.
“Before the Friday jamboree, at least 26 travelers were abducted and one killed in Ngor Okpala by suspected Fulani terrorists.
“These incidents, alongside daily reports of killings, kidnappings, and organ harvesting, have cast a pall over the state, leaving communities gripped by fear and uncertainty.
“These atrocities masterminded in most cases by suspected Fulani bandits cannot be going on and the government’s response is to roll out the red carpet to celebrate Muslim pilgrims.
“Further, Imo State is predominantly Christian, and while the governor has the right to support religious diversity, such gestures should be modest and without fanfare,” the PDP said..
It expressed dismay that the governor’s response to the dire security situation in the state, has ranged from deafening silence to organizing frivolous ceremonies and embarking on costly nationwide tours.
These actions, the PDP said, reflect the insensitivity and irresponsibility that have characterized Gov. Uzodimma’s administration since its inception in 2020.
Furthermore, the party argued that the funds spent on the pilgrimage and associated festivities could have been used to repair the many impassable roads across the state, clear the backlog of pensions and gratuities, or even build a technology hub to empower the teeming youth of the state.
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“While other governors are commissioning meaningful projects, Governor Uzodimma is investing in fruitless ventures.
“We completely condemn the fact that Governor Uzodimma often acts as though he is not an Imolite, consistently reluctant to offer leadership or express empathy over the harrowing challenges of insecurity, poverty, and lack of basic amenities confronting the people of Imo State.
“The menace of suspected Fulani terrorists in Ngor Okpala should ordinarily have spurred the governor into swift action, as the bloodthirsty criminals have turned the area into their stronghold.
“This adds to the grim narratives emerging from Okigwe, Orsu, Njaba, Onuimo, Oru West, and Orlu Local Government Areas, where criminal elements have taken control of communities and continue to unleash terror on innocent citizens.
“Imo cannot continue to endure an incompetent governor and a detached government that show no concern for the plight of its citizens.
“The Imo PDP therefore calls on ndi Imo to unite in holding this administration fully accountable during this critical period in our state’s history,” the PDP added.