The Imo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has invoked the spirit of former governor of the state, late Sam Mbakwe against President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent, Hope Uzodimma.
Buhari is scheduled to be guest of Gov. Uzodimma of All Progressives Congress, APC, today(Tuesday) to commission some projects including the rebuilt State House of Assembly complex to which the State PDP felt the glory of the project is that of Mbakwe, the first democratic governor of the state.
By means of a statement, the opposition spokesman, Collins Opurozor, said Mbadiwe suffered in the hands of Buhari and for the governor to now invite him(Buhari) to commission a project that was the deceased’s baby was a disrespect to him (Mbadiwe) and went on to invoke the spirit of the late governor to deal with both.
The statement in part: “Our party, therefore, condemns the move to bring President Buhari to Imo State to re-commission a 30-year-old repainted complex and the uncompleted Owerri-Okigwe Road. The President should not bow to self-serving pressures from Uzodinma to lend his exalted office for such caricature. We challenge Uzodinma to take President Buhari through the road set for commissioning to prove that it is truly in existence.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Imo State House of Assembly Complex, the best in Nigeria, was built and commissioned by Chief Sam Mbakwe in 1983. The project was handled by an indigenous firm, Okigwe Construction Company, owned by Chief John Enyogasi.
“For Imo PDP, therefore, Uzodinma’s attempt to take credit for Mbakwe’s landmark project is an intolerable dimension to his insult and disrespect to Mbakwe, and it is the most audacious attack on the memory of the late respected leader.
“What makes the issue more outrageous is that President Mohammadu Buhari, who Uzodinma has concluded plans to bring for the festival of shame, has always been known for his abiding disdain for the progress and development of Imo State. Recall that in 1983, the military regime of Buhari put our hero, Dee Sam Mbakwe, in prison for daring to develop Imo.
“In 2020, the regime of President Buhari again stopped the progress of Imo State by terminating the tenure of the duly elected Governor, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and installing the unelected and unelectable Hope Uzodinma. Now in 2022, he is being invited to re-commission one of the signature projects of Chief Mbakwe so as to fully participate in the ridiculing of the late quintessential leader. The spirit of Dee Sam will rise to fight these unrepentant enemies.”
