Uzodinma Speaks After Visiting Buhari, Hints On Dialogue With IPOB

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has hinted that government is having talks with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to rectify the problem of insecurity in the southeast region.

Uzodinma also revealed that the sit-at-home order was currently been weaponized by the opposition party.

The governor stated this while speaking to a state house correspondent after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa.

He revealed that the reason for visiting the president was to thank him for commissioning some project in Imo state during his administration.

When asked why the South-East was not taking a page from the Northerner’s playbook by negotiating with IPOB just the way the Northern governors were negotiating with Boko haram and bandits.

The governor hinted that they were having behind the scenes discussions

He said: “The management of crime can be likened to the relationship between husband and wife. It’s not everything they do to keep peace that are discussed at the sitting room.

“Discussion in the bedroom produces better result than the one in the living room. Take it. I think I’ve spoken.

“The sit-at-home order is also being politicized because those issuing the order are faceless. We’ve not seen either through newspapers or through broadcast order directing people to sit at home.

“Rather, what we know that is happening is this paparazzi mentality of trying to put fear into our people and make innocent people vulnerable.

“As I speak to you, the sit-at-home order is not being obeyed in Imo state.

“So, I think we need to support the uninformed so that they don’t out of fear commit suicide.

“So, the truth of the matter is that we have security challenges, we had misunderstanding, disagreement, but we are able to also do a lot to bring these things to barest minimum.

“So, the security situation in Imo state is relatively ok and people are going about their businesses.

“The only regret is that we have invested a lot of money trying to manage insecurity which of course was not expected.”