Gov Hope Uzodimma 


From Tony Icheku in Owerri


The EndBadGovernanceProtest which started nation-wide Thursday was observed as sit-at-home protest by indigenes and residents of Owerri, capital of Imo State.


In Owerri and its suburbs were completely deserted without any form of movement as people refused to step outdoors 


However heavy security presence either as patrol teams or check points were observed in and around the State capital.


All business premises including markets, commercial banks, filling stations, motor parks, hotels, and  shops in the streets of Owerri were closed down. There was no vehicular movement either of private or commercial types


However a combined police/army security patrol teams were either on patrol or were at mounted road blocks at different points in the city


Since Monday, a kind of cat and mouse game had been playing on between the police and unknown gunmen with five  persons including four police officers and a woman losing their lives when dare devil gun- runners struck at a police check point on the ever busy   Owerri – Onitsha Road.


Another person was also shot dead and a vehicle set ablaze in another part of the State at Umuelemai junction at Isiala Mbano LGA 


On Tuesday  three persons lost their lives and one  kidnapped when another set of  gunmen attacked Orji, Akabo and Nworieubu communities, all suburbs of Owerri


On Wednesday, Owerri was literally shut down early in the day as sporadic gunshots were heard in several parts of Owerri metropolis which sent people scampering for safety 


In an interaction with stakeholders comprising APC  youths and leaders , traditional rulers, faith groups,  Labour leaders, market men and women, academics among others on the eve of the protest  Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma declared that no State in the South East subscribed to the planned protest, and  urged  Imo indigenes and residents to ignore the protest and go about their normal businesses.


 “No South East State has yet enlisted in the application of States going for protest," he said.


In a subtle reference to the November 2023 governorship election where the APC swept the polls Uzodimma reminded the stakeholders that the political struggle for leadership in Imo State ought to have been a  settled matter by now, going by the outcome of the last election, but regretted that those who lost in the last election have refused to tow the line of democracy "because they think if it is not them, there will not be government."


He  bemoaned the resurgence of blood letting of innocent souls which he said is not acceptable by “God and even Satan,” emphasising that the "principles of democracy demand that you wait for the next election to make changes as the killing of human beings is not the culture of an Igbo man and should not be allowed."



credit: THISDAY