– Condemns Gov’s Insensitivity To Sorrowful Plight Of Citizens
A socio-political pressure group,beyond Platform that claims passionate commitment to the enhanced welfare of the people, has expressed dismay over the continued absence of the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma from the state despite several tragic incidents that should under normal circumstances, attract his attention and empathy.
The group, in a release signed by the Convener, Chibundu Uchegbu, who accused the Governor of insensitivity and unresponsiveness to the victims and family members of recent tragic incidents in the state that claimed the lives of many and inflicted various degrees of injuries on others, gave instances of sensitive, responsive and people-oriented leaders who either cut short their engagements or cancelled them outrightly and rushed back to their respective countries and states to address sudden emergency situations that arose in the absence.
The release dated May, 22, 2024, reads in part, “We don’t need the words of the wise to tell us that the ugly incidents that happened at IMSU junction, Okigwe road and at Christina junction, Egbu road all in Owerri last Saturday brought untold griefs to some families in the state (Imo). Although messages of condolences have been sent to the affected families and prayers of healing offered to those who sustained various degree of injuries, we admire the courage and endurance of citizens who assumed the role of rescue-workers and took other people’s griefs as theirs. We praise them!
But, where is Imo State governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma? We have severally expressed concern over the continued absence of the governor and his lukewarm attitudes in the affairs of the state, the acts that have become a norm.
But be it as it may, shouldn’t this time of tragedies serve as a period of sober reflection and change of attitude for the governor? In the next four weeks or less (June 12), Gov Uzodinma will be delivering a state-wide broadcast to mark 2024 Democracy Day. Most likely in his speech, the governor would urge Ndi Imo to reflect on the Day and emulate the virtues of heros of democracy in the country and perhaps, in the world. Before the arrival of June 12, civil society community in the state urges Gov Uzodinma to reflect on well-rounded leadership and emulate the virtues of his fellow leaders who demonstrated distinguished leadership and stood with their people in the moment of griefs.
Few hours for President Hamid Karzai to deliver a speech in a World Economic Forum held in Lisbon in 2012, news was brought to him that tragedy has struck in Afghanistan, which tool the lives of his citizens. President Karzai immediately left the forum with his speech undelivered and went back to his country to commisarate with his people. Again, when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in a meeting with President George Bush in Whitehouse in 2005, a message was sent to him that attack has happened in Israel and lives were lost. Mr Sharon quickly discontinued with the meeting and traveled back home to mourn with the citizenry. Also again, while President Uhuru Kenyatta was on his was to Jomo Kenyatta international airport to participate in UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September 2013, news broke out that tragedy has hit Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi and citizens’ lives were at stake. Mr Kenyatta aborted the journey and went straight to the scene of the incident and was supervising rescued operation himself, thereafter visited the families of the victims separately and together to commisarate with them. These are leaders like Gov Uzodinma”!
Continuing, the group said, “it is not only callous but also inhuman, that 4 days after the fatal accident at the Imo State University IMSU junction and the one that happened at Christiana Hospital junction, at Egbu, in Owerri North Local Government Area on the same day, Imolites are yet to know the where-about of their Governor whether he is in the country or outside the country. All he did was to send civil servant-behaved delegation whose speech would not go beyond “I am directed”!
The group, also wondered what has happened to the several probe panels which the Hope Uzodinma administration inherited and promised to pursue to logical conclusions. They described the Governor’s initial statements and promises about the probe panels and his determination to ensure that justice is done as “mere impressionist statement”
“We are slow to applaud the probe directives ordered by the governor whereas there is no seriousness attached to it. It is more of impressional statement. Buttressing this, what has happened to the report of ENDSARS Panel on police brutalities submitted to the governor on 21st June 2021? 3 years gone, no sign of implementation whereas the governor promised to implement the recommendations therein.
“We are slow to applaud the probe directives ordered by the governor whereas there is no seriousness attached to it. It is more of impressional statement. Buttressing this, what has happened to the report of ENDSARS Panel on police brutalities submitted to the governor on 21st June 2021? 3 years gone, no sign of implementation whereas the governor promised to implement the recommendations therein.
We appeal to Gov Hope Uzodinma to show responsiveness to the situational needs and challenges of the state and people of Imo State. This is the true test of governance.
We mourn with the families of the dead and bear with the wounded”.
