A member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, has called for immediate release of a journalist, Nonso Nkwa, allegedly abducted by the Police in the state even as he accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of playing politics with security of Imo State.
Ugochinyere stated this in Abuja, while speaking to journalists on the security situation in the state.
The lawmaker, who was reacting to the recent arrest of Mr Nkwa, a journalist in Imo State, called on President Bola Tinubu to pay special attention to developments in the State.
Ugochinyere, while calling for the unconditional release of Nkwa, also called for the re-shuffling of the heads of the various security agencies in Imo.
According to him, Governor Uzodimma has allegedly weaponised insecurity in the state, adding that it was usual practice for the state government to label anyone with opposing views as a security threat.
He said, “on behalf of members of the House of Representatives from Imo State, we had our meeting yesterday and we want to talk about recent developments in Imo State, where a foremost journalist, Nonso Nkwa, was abducted by security men that turned out to be men of the Nigeria Police Force. And has been taken to Abuja, based a petition we were told allegedly by the government of Hope Uzodimma.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the new IGP. In Imo, maybe you are not aware, we have a government of tyranny that clamp down on people with opposing views. We have a government that have unorthodox means to quell security problem and end up inflaming the situation. We have a state government that top officials have been involved in acts that threatened the peace and security of citizens.
“When people talk about the security situation in Imo, it is not that we are playing politics with it. It is Governor Hope Uzodimma that is playing politics with it. I remember last time when he was quarreling with Rochas Okorocha, he said Rochas Okorocha is the one behind unknown gunmen. Now, when they reconciled, he turned round to say it is Uche Nwosu.
“When they reconciled, we didn’t hear of it again. When he started having problem with Chief Ihedioha, he said Ihedioha is the one behind the insecurity. Later he abandoned that one. At a point, he said it is Gerald Irona. At a point he said I am the one behind insecurity in the state.
“The government is using issues of insecurity to be playing petty politics. There is nothing on security that the government should be taken seriously by any reasonable person.”
Ugochinyere added, “I am using this opportunity to call on the DSS and the Police and Mr President to please intervene in the arrest of Nnoso Nkwa abd ensure that he is released. If you say he has committed an offence, the right thing to do is charge him to Court.
“You do not have any reason to hold Nnoso Nkwa more than the constitutional stipulated time. These are things that are causing problems all over West Africa, why people are getting involved in coups and so on and so forth; because leaders tend to abuse democratic process, tend to abuse human rights. If you say he has committed offense, the right to do is not to flex muscles.
“I am appealing to the heads of security agencies to be careful when they are handling issues from Imo State, because we have a governor who has weaponised insecurity and using it to secure cheap political points.
That is why I am calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Nonso Nkwa.
“It is time to reshuffle all the heads of security agencies in Imo State. I am calling on the President to pay special to development in Imo.”
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