Mercy Udoka, Owerri
Following the alarm over insurgency raised by the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cyprian Akaolisa, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised opposition parties for their silence on the development.
APC State Publicity Secretary, Cajethan Duke, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday.
The APC condemned opposition parties over their silence on the criminal activities of the arsonists saying, “we condemn the silence of the opposition, which is worrisome as the APC expected them to at least demonstrate genuine humanity and responsibility as citizens by speaking out against the unwholesome acts of the criminals and so called, ‘freedom fighters,’ because violence and insecurity are not discriminatory. An injury to one is injury to all. Violence is an ill wind that blows none any good.”
The party allayed fears of break down of law and order saying, “Despite the fact that the criminals have not clearly stated their motives, one thing certain is that they are on a mission to make Imo State and particularly Orsu, appear ungovernable but they have failed as the APC-led government of Senator Hope Uzodimma will never allow an inch of Imo territory to be occupied and controlled by hardened criminals and social misfits.”
Further, they condemned the wanton attacks on the country home of Akaolisa, Justice Commissioner who they noted served the party faithfully; that of the Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Prince Ford Ozumba; and the country home of the member representing Orsu State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ekene Nnodumele; and the Orsu Local Government headquarters.
The APC restated their support to the victims of vicious attacks and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the losses.
The APC regretted that the destruction of Police stations exposes people to risk saying: “We also note with concern that the destruction of state assets, the police stations and council areas, and note that incapacitating the authorities is one way we expose ourselves to more risks. Let’s remember that every of our action will return to us to account either now or hereafter.”
This is even as they have warned that arsonists will not override the state saying, “to those criminals, we say, you will never succeed, and you will neither destroy the state nor the strong will of the masses.”
According to the party, Governor Uzodimma has initiated tough measures to end the menace of the arsonists who erroneously deceive people with false claims of being freedom fighters.
They called on the people to support the government by providing useful information to the appropriate authorities for prompt action saying, “without doubt, the task of securing Imo State is a collective effort hence every law-abiding Imo citizen must rise against these devilish criminals that are diligently bent on destroying Imo State as directed by their sponsors.”