Sequel to the recent verbal attacks on Governor Uzodinma by Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in the Hope Uzodinma 3R administration, the leaders of Okigwe zone have dissociated themselves from Ihekweme, who they declared personae non grata.
The leaders at a meeting held at the official residence of the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon Chike Olemgbe, condemned what they referred to as Ihekweme’s unguarded utterances which, according to them, amounts to disrespect to the exalted office of the Governor. Aside from condemning the ex-Commissioner’s verbal attacks, the leaders unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor Uzodinma, who they said, has done very well, despite distractions from several quarters.
They commended the Governor for appointing Okigwe sons and daughters into key positions in his government in addition to ensuring infrastructural development of the area.
In attendance at the meeting were current and former National and State Assembly members, the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu, business mogul, Chief Tony Chukwu, former INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, foremost traditional rulers, among others.
They were unhappy with Ihekweme’s show of disrespect to the Governor to the extent of attacking him in the media.
They noted that such an irreverent act was capable of portraying the people of the zone as ingrates, especially given Governor Uzodimma’s generous gestures to them.
In passing a vote of confidence on the Governor, the Okigwe Apex leaders reeled out the developmental initiatives for the zone by the Governor, arguing that they needed to encourage him to do more for them.
They commended the Governor for the juicy appointments he gave to them, the reconstruction of Owerri-Okigwe and Owerri-Obowo-Umuahia road and other projects.
They set up a committee to invite Ihekweme to hear his own side of the story just as Okigwe Sons and Daughters were cautioned to refrain from maligning government officials in the media.
Among the more than 30 delegates to the meeting were the Speaker, the Senator representing the zone, Patrick Ndubueze and two members of the National Assembly from the zone, Rt. Hon Chike Okafor and Rt. Hon. Miriam Onuoha”.
Responding to the decision of the leaders of Okigwe zone to disown and excommunicate him, Ihekweme in a post on his social media platform berated the leaders of Okigwe zone, including Hon Chike Okafor, Hon Miriam Onuoha. Senator Patrick Ndubueze and others not to kill him because of a pot of porridge.
He wondered why the leaders who claim to be representatives of the people shied away from addressing the core issues he raised in the publications they chose to descried as verbal attacks, threw caution to the wind and called for his head.
He maintained that the motion moved by Chike Okafor and seconded by Hon Princess Onuoha excommunicate and ridicule him may result in unpleasant circumstances not only for the families of the conspirators but for the entire Okigwe zone.
“After going public against me, these leaders still shamelessly, have the temerity to set up a six man Committee to meet with me. If these leaders were genuinely interested in resolving the ensuing problems, meeting with me would have been their first point of call. Why didn’t they wait for the Committee’s report before going public? This shows that they were so desperate and in hurry to impress their god in Douglas House who has no single respect for any of them.
“Now that they have decided to hand me over to be slaughtered like a cow for stating the obvious which none of them have attempted to provide answers to, I therefore, wish to make it clear to all of them that even if they succeed in killing me, the political favours and financial assistance they are seeking from Hope Uzodinma will still not be attained and realized. Remember that when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ, the proceeds of that betrayal became useless to him and he committed suicide. All that am saying is that the Governor should come back home and provide leadership to our state”.
