Ikedi Ohakim

Ex-governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim has responded to those accusing the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma of being responsible for the insecurity in the state.

According to him, Uzodinma is also a victim of insecurity.

Ohakim stated this during an interview with Daily Sun.

Speaking further, Ohakim insisted that Imo does not have the highest crime rate in the Southeast.

According to him, “On security, my worry is that some of our people, including members of the elite, create the impression that it is a peculiar problem to the state. Some even go further to insinuate that the governor deliberately hoists insecurity on the state. Nothing can be more nonsensical. Governor Hope Uzodimma is, himself, a victim of insecurity in the state. I am also a victim. I am in a position to know that the government is doing everything possible to tackle the situation. I can assure you that the government is on top of the situation.

“As a matter of fact, verifiable statistics with the Nigeria Police does not show that Imo has the highest number of crime in the Southeast. As a private citizen, I move around the Southeast and I can say without any fear of contradiction that on the matter of insecurity, our dear state, Imo, is not worse off. That does not mean that we should give any room for complacency but we should not blackmail ourselves and act in a manner that would rubbish the collective integrity of our dear state and its people.

“I have been personally involved in several meetings on the matter of insecurity in the Southeast and I know that the governors are doing quite a lot. Whether we like it or not, the matter rests squarely on the shoulders of the Federal Government; which is why I would once again restate my position that we need state police.“