Ihedioha shelves planned return home

From Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

Ousted Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has cancelled his planned return to the state.

Ihedioha accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of using his return to cause mayhem and arrest his supporters.

All Progressive Congress (APC), on Wednesday, accused Ihedioha and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting to use his return to protest the Supreme Court judgment review, and cause problems for the state.

Police Commissioner Bolaji Fafowora issued a statement warning against any gathering.

He said the ban on protests and rallies was yet to be lifted.

Ihedioha, in a statement yesterday, said contrary to what Uzodinma wanted the public to believe, the government was planning to arrest and detain his supporters coming to welcome him home.

The former governor said his postponed return was in line with his non-violence stance because his visit was not worth the life of anybody.

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He said: “While I have elected to stay away from family and friends in Imo, I am not aware that I have been exiled from the state. I plan to participate in the ongoing PDP congresses tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the government’s statement has accused me of planning to lead violent protests and import thugs to perpetrate violence.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not, and have never been, a violent person. My reputation is that of peace and fair play. I have never propagated or tolerated violence and I never will.

“On the contrary, I have been informed that the government, acting in concert with some rogues within the security apparatus, is planning the arrest and detention of many of our supporters, and to visit mayhem on the crowd expected to come welcome me.

By judging me by their own character, their scheme is to stigmatise and garb us in the toga of violence. These are the tendencies of unpopular and illegitimate regimes.

“I have, therefore, postponed my trip to Owerri to frustrate their plans and machinations. My visit is not worth the life of any Imo person. However, deploying security personnel and thugs cannot deter us from pursuing our collective vision for a better Imo.”