A group known as Imo Patriotic Youths, IPY has called on the governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma to support Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and other persons who may not share in his political ideology to succeed, adding that as democrats, people must not agree with his political belief.
The group which made it’s position known to the media on Monday, December 27,2021 through the national president, Comrade Ifeanyi Agbodike said they have followed the turn of events in Imo and how Federal appointments allocated to Imo state are frustrated by those who should celebrate the beneficiaries of such appointments, just to score political points, at the expense of the Imo people.
They bemoaned the marginalization of South East but averred that with the body language of Senator Hope Uzodinma, they are tempted to believe that part of the margnalization is caused by political leaders who are only concerned about what comes to them.
The Group accused Uzodinma and his supporters of fighting senator Araraume and others who should have been sworn in to assume duties in their various offices before now. They challenged Uzodinma to prove them wrong by openly congratulating Araraume and supporting him to succeed in his new position.
Araraume was recently appointed Chairman of the Board of Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC. As gathered, actors at the Imo state government are allegedly fighting so hard to ensure he is not sworn in as his emergence may pose serious threat to the re-election of Senator Hope Uzodinma as governor.
A close source to Araraume who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity was quoted as saying, “we have it on good authority that huge sum of money was paid to some APC leaders and confidants of Buhari to stop the inauguration of Araraume.In fact, one of Uzodinma’s appointees bragged to me that his principal said he would rather spend one month allocation of Imo to stop Araraume instead of allowing him scuttle his re-election bid”.
The source further stated that Barr Emma Nwosu who was also appointed as Commssioner in charge of South East in the Revenue Allocation ,Mobilization and Fiscal commission is yet to be inaugurated.
He said, Nwosu was to be inaugurated alongside his colleagues from other zones but because the government never wanted him, they sent series of baseless petitions against him which led to standing down inauguration of Emma Nwosu.” Till date, the governor who knows that such position is for the interest of Imo and South East in general is yet to make any statement or find out why his brother was not inaugurated alongside others”.
When contacted on phone, Barr Emma Nwosu confirmed there were petitions against his appointment.According to him, the petitions were from those loyal to Uzodinma and the governor used his friendship with the Deputy Senate president to stop his confirmation at the floor of the senate even after DSS and other relevant agencies had cleared him.
Speaking further, Nwosu averred that his colleagues from the other six zones have long assumed office,”more than a year now, yet south East has no representative simply because governor Hope Uzodinma doesn’t want me”.
