HOW GOVERNOR UZODIMMA SET THE PACE FOR IPOB’S DEFEAT IN THE SOUTHEAST

Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, PhD

Since the times of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Michael Okpara, Dee Sam Mbakwe, etc, Igbo land has not had a political leader who loves Alaigbo and is committed to its growth and healing as the current Governor of Imo State. Great leaders are not always understood or even appreciated at the onset, but, their legacies outlive them, and engrave their memories, not just in the sands of time, but in the hearts of generations born after they have departed. It is in time or great challenges that we know true leaders. Those who dance to the gallery or crave for applause may not be true leaders, but those who stick out their necks and take decisions that benefit the people and the State, even though these decisions might not be popular at the time, are the best of leaders.

His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, set the pace for what is happening today in the Southeast. When other politicians, including his fellow governors chose to handle the IPOB menace with carefulness, lest, they anger what they believe was their huge following, the Imo State governor took the bulls by the horns and confronted the hooligans heads on.

As a result, Imo State became the first State in the Southeast to abolish the Sit-at-home madness, as most people went about their businesses, unhindered, every Monday, and on other days, when the terrorist group unilaterally declared several days of sitting at home. Governor Uzodimma did not also spare the hooligans, he unleashed fire on them, because, he wasn’t confused about the reality that they were the enemies of Igbo land, and he is not the man to play Russian roulette with the fate of the fatherland. At the risk of his own political future, my governor put everything in motion towards ensuring the elimination of the menace of the IPOB.

It must be pointed out that it wasn’t all bullets and cudgels, but he also offered bread, butter and sweet carrots to those of them who were willing to drop their guns and embrace peace. Today, without much noise, we have hundreds, if not thousands of former IPOB fighters and terrorists enjoying the governor’s amnesty. Some of them were empowered with skills, while many others got a boost in their businesses. There are others who have joined the Nigerian public service, including, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Today, thanks to a large extent, to the sacrifices of the Imo State governor, the cancer called IPOB, which invaded the entire body and cells of Alaigbo and nearly caused a total collapse of the zone, is being eliminated. Their enforcers have been pushed to extremest fringes and their commanders have largely been eliminated. Their attempts at regrouping are being closely monitored and with what I know, those planning to take up the cloaks and names of their late commanders shall meet very speedy trip to unmarked graves.

May Alaigbo Heal!