IDEATO YOUTHS THANK IMO POLICE COMMAND FOR AVERTING BREAKDOWN OF LAW

WARN UGOCHINYERE TO STOP INCITING VIOLENCE AND LAWLESSNESS IN IDEATO

Uche Adikosi

Ideato youths under the aegis of Ideato Youths for Truth have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Imo State Police Command and other security agencies for their swift actions that averted what they described as “possible breakdown and law of order in the area, due to the provocative actions of Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu”.

The group while addressing the press at their headquarters in Akokwa, Ideato North LGA of the State observed that the member representing Ideato Federal Constituency has; “a habit of inciting violence and disobedience to lawful directives as a strategy for attracting attention to himself and shoring up his dwindling popularity in the area”.

“We thank the Imo State Police Command for their prompt response which averted what could have led to a major breakdown of law and order in our constituency. When we got information that some youths were angry and spoiling for war as a result of Ugochinyere’s unwarranted importation or strange youths into Ntueke, we had to alert the security agencies to intervene. We are grateful to the Commissioner of Police and other heads of security agencies in the State for their prompt response.”

They warned Ugochinyere against replaying his old script of inciting violence and playing the victim as a strategy to win sympathy votes from the people and advised security agencies and the government to be at alert in order to stop another avoidable deaths and destruction.

” Ugochinyere must be warned to resist from heating up the polity, inciting violence and playing to the gallery as his major political strategies. He must respect the sanctity of human life and stop the idea of swimming in human blood to political relevance. The incident of yesterday is a pointer to his desperation for power, and we urge him, as well as other political players in Ideato to prioritise the security and safety of our people ahead of their selfish political interests.”

The group promised to use any legal means within their reach to ensure that Ideato nation is not turned to a war theatre, just like Ugochinyere had threatened in his series of lamentations.

“We take note of Ugochinyere’s direct threat to replicate “Operation Wetie” in Ideato. Operation Wetie is a violent political riot that took place in Western Nigeria around 1962, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, including, politicians and their supporters and destruction of public and private properties by opposing political factions in the area. It is worthy of note that Operation Wetie is blamed by scholars as contributing significantly to the dismantling of our nation’s fledgling democratic institutions by the military in 1966 by the Nigerian. It is regrettable and also telling that one of the biggest beneficiaries of democracy in present day Nigeria is directly calling for the destruction of democracy rule out of desperation to salvage his waning political influence. We shall write a formal petition to the appropriate authorities and institutions to put them on notice over this statement.”

The group speaking through its coordinator, Comrade Chijioke Emenike, also called on the youths and women of Ideato nation to be calm and law-abiding and not to allow anyone to use them as canon folders for their own selfish political interests.

” Ideato citizens, especially, the youths must be on guard, not to allow anyone, no matter how highly placed and notwithstanding the enticements, to lure them into lending themselves as tools for the destruction of our land. We must be law-abiding, and conscious of our heritage as progenies of some of the most respected and greatest political leaders in Nigeria and West Africa. The Truth must prevail.”