Gov Uzodinma not attacked at Ohaji/Egbema

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Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State was not attacked at
Ohaji/Egbema on Sunday contrary to a devilish propaganda being peddled by the
opposition.

The Governor was at Mmahu area of Ohaji/Egbema to sympathise
with the community that lost three of their kinsmen on Friday following an
accident that involved a truck belonging to an oil firm operating in the area.

The killing enraged the youths in Mmahu, causing their
leaders to reach out to the governor to visit the community to call the oil
firm to order.

Straight from church, Governor Uzodinma, in the company of
the Brigade Commander at Obinze, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of
State Security Services and Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps visited the area to reassure the community of his willingness to
secure their lives and property and to draw a programme for the families of the
deceased.

Governor Uzodinma who was sober condoled with the families
who lost their loved ones, as he addressed the leaders of the community at the
Eze’s Palace.

While the Governor was addressing the families, some boys
among the aggrieved youths were heard making noise outside, accusing the
security operatives of supporting the Oil companies and demanding that Governor
Uzodinma should address them too.

While the security operatives tried to calm them down and
control the noise, one of them allegedly hid behind others and threw a stone at
one of the official vehicles of the Governor where they were parked and in the
process smashed the back glass.

He was promptly arrested by the security present. While this
drama was playing out, Governor Uzodinma was still inside the hall addressing
the traditional ruler, community leaders and the bereaved families.

Contrary to the claims that he was attacked, there is no
truth in it as the meeting Governor Uzodinma had with the leaders of the
community was fruitful while the families of the deceased were happy he came.

 Meanwhile, one  Mr. Uzochukwu Chukuwukere who is the Vice
Chairman of Egbema Youth wing said to have thrown a stone  that damaged the windscreen of one of the
vehicles has been arrested and has made useful statement to the security
operatives.

Addressing the leaders and families of the deceased,
Governor Uzodinma called for calm and peace while promising to deal with the
situation that led to the killings.

The governor called on the people to remain peaceful and not
to take laws into their hands.

His words: “I will not be party to anything that will be
against my people, I will enjoin all of you to remain calm as government will
take all necessary steps to ensure that such thing doesn’t happen again.

“You must help me to help you, if you try to take laws into
your hands for self-help, then I will not be with you. I can only be with you
if you challenge me to solve the problem, in which case you must follow my
rules and I will assure you of results.”

The governor expressed worries over the hazardous method
used by the oil company in trucking crude instead of the conventional method of
laying pipes and promised that he will tackle the issue head on with the
company to forestall future re-occurrence.

He noted: “There is nowhere in the world that they truck
crude oil, oil exploration is given to capable companies because of the belief
that they have the facilities, technical strength and financial muscle to do a
community-friendly operations, that is why the thing is given to them as
professionals, we have seen that this is not the case here with this company.
No government,  neither the federal
government nor ministry of petroleum will send anybody to come and truck crude
oil and use the vehicle to start killing indigenes of the place,” the Governor
said.

 While assuring the
people that under his watch the problems of Ohaji/Egbema will be solved,
Governor Uzodinma reiterated that he will ensure that money meant for the
development of the area will be put to good use.

He stated that the era of sharing money to thugs are over.
“If you kill 200 people, hoping that I will pay you money to stop, I will not;
rather I will pursue you till I bring you down, I will never succumb to such
threats,” he warned.

Advising the leaders of the area, the governor cautioned
them against using the youths of the area as thugs and turning them into drug
addicts.

He warned that his government will deal decisively with
anyone caught doing that no matter how highly placed. “We cannot continue like
this, if we cannot get peace, we force peace from the people as a government,
the governor said.

Earlier, the traditional ruler of the Mmahu,Eze A.I. Iwuogu
explained that his community has lost so many lives through accident from the
trucks used by Sterling Global, an oil company operating in the area to lift
crude to Ndoni.

Eze Iwuogu pleaded with the governor to ensure that Sterling
Global operates like other oil companies, pointing out that they are tired of
burying their loved ones.

The member representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta and Oru West
Federal constituency, Engr. Kingsley Uju stated that what his people want is
for Sterling Global to stop trucking crude oil with tankers, and that they
should lay their pipes like other oil companies are doing.

The Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chiji
Collins, the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opiah, businessman, Chief
Charles Orieh, among other prominent sons and daughters of the community were
in attendance.

The Commander, 34 Field Artelary Brigade, Obinze, Brig-Gen.
Yusuf Tukura, Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Olaniyi Fafowora; State
Commandant of NSCDC, Rayi Ibrahim, and State Director of SSS accompanied the
governor on the trip.