Imo State Governor, Sen Hope Uzodimma has urged all community leaders in the state to take appropriate measures to secure their areas against the activities of criminal intruders masquerading as gunmen.
Governor Uzodimma gave the directives when he had a meeting with all the traditional rulers, town Union Presidents and youth leaders of the 655 communities in the state at the Eze Imo Palace in Owerri, weekend.
Worried about the state of security including the incessant killings of traditional rulers, Governor Uzodimma also urged them not to obey the sit at home order anymore, but rather resist it by working collaboratively with the government in efforts to adequately secure their lives and property.
The Governor said, "Go and restore honour and dignity to your palace. Traditional rulers are part of government. Don't obey the sit at home order, rather you should synergize with your people and government to fight the order. Don't allow evil men to thrive."
"The Government cannot allow non state actors like Simon Ikpa and his group to dictate when to come out and not to come out. We are not going to allow it to continue."
Speaking on behalf of the community leaders, the Chairman Imo State Elders Council, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and the Traditional Ruler of Isu Njaba autonomous Community, HRH Eze Osuala expressed their support to the Governor’s policies and programmes.
They also promised to assist in realizing the Charter of Equity to ensure peaceful transition of political power from one zone to the other in the state.
