By Chris Anucha
Imo State governor, Distinquished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called for dialogue, instead of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest
The governor, in an interview he grated to Arise TV and monitored in Owerri, Imo State Capital yesterday, appealed for a halt to the violent protest witnessed in some parts of country, as disobedience could result to anarchy. The governor stressed the need for government to sit down with the protesters to resolve the problems currently faced by the country.
“This fighting, violence must stop” he said. According to him, in South East, there are cultural and traditional ways of resolving issues, without resorting to violence.
The Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum urged the protesters to Sheath their swords and embrace dialogue, and be obedient to the government of the day, as violent protest has the capacity to cause anarchy.
Uzodimma expressed surprise that those behind the protest were at one time or the other, Governors, National Assembly members, Ministers, among others. According to him, President Tinubu has not done anything wrong to deserve the current protest, having been one year in office.
Instead, he said the governor should be commended for initiating some policies programme, and has taking some steps to revive the further said country’s economy. For instance, Uzodimma explained that for the first time, crude oil will be sold in local currency. “What we need now is to address electicity, rail, others”.
He therefore called on the political class, especially, those in the legislateivearm and those holding political positions, to open Constituency offices, where they could interact with the people and tell them the real situation of things.
“The state and national governal governments have a role to play here.
We must sheath the sword, it is a collective participation, it is about Nigeria and patriotism”. Governor Uzodimma, who acknowledged that there are hunger and sufferings in the land, maintained that the problems would not be solved through violence and destruction of lives and properties.
He accused those he described as cabals of being responsible for the protest.
“We must confront the cabals, bad dealers in the oil sector. The President is trying to dismantle the cabals, Nigerians will rise to fight the cabals”, he said.
Meanwhile, reports from the five Southeastern states indicated that the residents shuned the hunger protest.
In Imo State for instance, people stayed indoors or limited their movements to their various areas and compounds. A visit to some areas in Owerri, Imo State Capital revealed that business activities were halted in places like, the ever-busy Douglas Road.
Douglas Road was deserted while pockets of security men were seen on ground, to ensure that miscreants did not take advantage of the situation to loot people’s shops.
It was also the same situation in areas like, Wethedral Road, Bank Road, Tetlow, Control Post, among others.
According to reports from Anambra, Enugu, Abia andEbonyi, residents of the states also shunned the protest
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