By Christian AkpunonuSince the inception of the incumbent Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Odidika Uzodinma of the laudable 3R Agenda Government, it’s been all gloom and despondency.It’s been a mixed grill of smiles and sorrows.The smiles go for those things in this life that impact us positively (i.e the public nay common masses) . Such things include enhanced bureaucratic system, restoration of decorum in the system of governance and administration;revamped moribund infrastructure and improvement of the infrastructural facilities.As we all could testify,there are more solid road construction and contracts awarded to only qualified and capable contractors,respecting due process.This explains the resultant visible quality roads like the ongoing Orlu to Owerri and Okigwe to Owerri highway corridors.Even in the streets of the three Urban centres,the road infrastructure is more solid and qualitative .The Urban renewal projects are now more meaningful and succinctly appreciated. Almost all the key sectors of the economy are receiving priority attention.
Conversely, the negative impact refers to the virtual collapse in the national security and economy, particularly in Imo State. The ruling APC (All Progressive Congress) ensured these changes as the promise kept unfortunately, negative changes have been unleashed .
In Nigeria, generally all is not well in many regards .I stand to be corrected.Things are no longer at ease . Things have indeed fallen apart and the center cannot hold. The upsurge in social upheaval and rampant Civil strife will substantiate better the assertion in the fore. There are agitations here and there across the entire nation.
But,for the topic of the day, the focus is on the parlous security situations in Imo, the Heartland state of the South-East.
Therefore, the little digression in the scope should be pardoned and condoned for the purposes of clarity.
The Imo State Governor, unarguably has done well in ensuring that the moribund infrastructure and deficiency are addressed . Only the blind and fastidious cynics will deny these facts.
The expected sanity in the Civil Service is being equally approximately restored, and enhanced. And the workers salary and wages cum pensions averagely addressed to the near comfortable perspective of regular and prompt payment of the unencumbered persons .Of course, many of the suspected but not proven ghost workers are still grumbling, nashing teeth, groaning in pains of
many years of unpaid arrears still counting .This is too bad.
Unfortunately, all the above donor really call for much worry. The greatest minus from the myriads of efforts is the apparent breakdown in security affecting lives and property in the State. Honestly, it is very condemnable, sheer perturbing and serves as a great source of worry. Appallingly, people ,both innocent and suspects die each day ,extra-judicially. The ugly situation is better captured by the gloating street refrain; ‘the excessive bloodshed is overwhelming’;with wanton killings rampaging the state.
The rate of human Carnage and material destructions is alarming, and there is no war which is formally declared but it’s has been killings and maimings everywhere, everytime, especially in the erstwhile peaceful state . What’s going on? Acknowledged, the entire SouthEast may be the target, but the precarious case of the Imo security situations is not only profound,but, outstandingly worrisome.
The human casualty in the State alone, with the other parts of the SouthEast not in view is by far outweighing or out numbering that of the Civil war times.
The way the virus of violent criminality, extra judicial killings, rampages, arsons, massacre kidnapping and general insecurity is ravaging the State has never been so before now. This is fast degenerating to an ugly scenario in terms of wanton reprisal killings. The volatile trepidation evoked in the atmosphere is assuming a pandemic dimension. Nothing in this life has overridden the evils of retaliatory violent criminality .It is very infectious and spreads like fire and brimstone from one flash point to another.And the vicious circle goes on and on. That is exactly where we are at the moment .It is horrible and fearsome. The peaceful region of the SouthEast and Imo state particularly, suddenly turns volatile and people hardly sleep with two eyes closed any more, as was the case.
The above analysis that were cautiously carried out by parochial and hyde-bound dispositions are quite pertinent.
But, beyond mere descriptions and analytical expressions, something must be done decisively to minimize the evil and brunts of the ensuing violent Political criminality in Imo State. Doing this does not really entail blame trading and inter- personal or official or political traduces, mudslinging and aspersions. They are definitely not the solution to our beagueoning security lapses.Instead, protracted dialogues should be the imperative between the major stakeholders vis-a-vis the IPOB,ESN,UGM and the establishment adjuncts of the joint task forces ,Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and the others, including the so called’Ebube Agu security outfit’. Let peace reign in Imo State, please, enough is enough.
Meanwhile, notwithstanding personal constraints forbidding the citing of examples of the bale and dastardly incessant acts of violent criminality in the State, mention must be made of the recent arson at the Umuguma Police Station, Ambassador George Obiozor’s country home, massacre in the Orsu Ihite Ukwa, Izombe,Atta,Egwedi,Okwudor,