2023: Interim government is call to anarchy – Gov Uzodimma

By Egena Sunday Ode 

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Tuesday, described the suggestion by a legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola that an interim administration should be set up at the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari as a call to anarchy.

Speaking to newsmen after he met with President Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governor pointed out that the nation’s constitution has no room for an interim arrangement.

The governor also disclosed that two persons have so far been arrested  by security agents in connection with the killing of a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ihitte Uboma ares of the state.

He further said that INEC was not the focus of the attack as intelligence report has suggested that Okigwe Correctional Center was the main target before security was fortified at the confines of the facility.

Uzodinma wondered what would be used to determine the interim government if there was no election to replace the current administration.

Answering a question on his opinion on Babalola’s suggestion, he said: “By May 29, if there is no elected government, our constitution has not provided for an interregnum. There shouldn’t be a gap, otherwise, you are creating room for anarchy. 

“What will be the process of selecting the interim government because, after May 29, the President may not have constitutional powers to function as a President anymore? So, I don’t think we will decide to abandon our constitution. 

“Constitution is like a Bible. For some of us who are Christians, the Bible is the manager of our faith. So, the Constitution should be the instrument guiding our actions as a country. 

“If you think there is an opinion you think that is worthy to be canvassed superior to what is in the Nigerian constitution, such opinion should be taken to the National Assembly and they will through due process amend our constitution to factor in such an opinion.” 

Recall that Aare Afe Babalola, had adviced the Federal Government at a press conference on Monday, where he canvassed the need to suspend the 2023 elections so as to allow a six-month interim government after Buhari’s tenure. 

He said that a new constitution to address insecurity, economic, political, and other excruciating ills bedeviling the nation, would then be evolved. 

The lawyer advocated the suspension of 2023 elections until Nigeria has “a new-look peoples’ Constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and non-executive president.”  

Babalola said that members of the interim government should be drawn from all living former presidents and vice presidents; some selected ministers and governors and delegates of prominent professional associations.  

“The same constitution has made politics become not only very attractive but the only lucrative business in Nigeria today.  

“What this means is that any election that holds under the present scenario will end up producing transactional and recycled leaders, with no ability to turn things around,’’ he said.  

Babalola similarly suggested that the new constitution should also provide that there shall be no salary, but sitting allowances only for lawmakers.  

He further stated: “It should provide a true federal system of government, instead of the expensive presidential system of government. I suggest a parliamentary system of government, with a unicameral legislature.  

“The new constitution should also provide a body at the local, state and federal levels to screen all aspirants on the sources of their wealth and means of livelihood, a criminal record which includes pending suits.” 

On the killing of INEC staff in Ihitte Uboma, Governor Uzodimma said based on intelligence that the Correctional facility in Okigwe was targeted to be attacked by bandits, the facility was immediately fortified, adding that out of frustration, the bandits opened fire on people at the INEC registration center.

He said, “The incident that happened that involved INEC staff, regrettably INEC was not the target. We had the intels that the Correctional Center facility in Okigwe was to be attacked by bandits.

“We recorded their conversation and fortified the Correctional Center for safety.  And true to it, th bandits  approaching Okigwe, saw how fortified the place is, tried to escaped through Ihitte Uboma and ran into INEC staff when they were doing continuous voters registration. It was out of that anger and frustration, they (bandits) attacked them.

 “You must have heard that two of the bandits have been arrested and are helping the Nigerian police and Imo state government to do a very thorough investigation and until that is done, I will not say much on that.

The Governor, who called on politicians to play politics without bitterness, said, “I am no longer in doubt on those sponsoring banditry in Nigeria.”

He also appealed to Nigerians to be more patriotic and place national interest above any other personal consideration.

He said, “Then on the issue of the sponsor of banditry by APC. I want us to look at the issue of banditry Nigeria holistically. If anybody’s telling you that the government in power is sponsoring banditry, how and why? 

“How can anybody even think of a government sponsoring banditry in a country that they are in charge. If that is correct, assuming that is a possibility. How many states governed by opposition parties are under this kind of attack that we hear from Kaduna every day. 

“That we get from Imo state every day, that we get from Ebonyi state. So if we are ones, why are we attacking our own states? Why are we going to be enemies and opposition to our own governments. Among those that have been killed and houses that were attacked, how many of those buildings belong to opposition party? 

“Am I supposed to be attacking burning down my own house? Or do you think Ebonyi governor will burn down his own house? Or the Kaduna governor burn down facilities in his government?

“So we should be able to ask questions, not only as media practitioners but as Nigerian citizens. I just use this medium to call on Nigerian politicians to play politicis without bitterness and stop letting blood here and there in the name of looking for power.

 “I am no longer in doubt, as to who are the sponsors of banditry in Nigeria. Those who want to make Nigeria ungovernable cannot be the people governing Nigeria, currently. 

“After all, we don’t have election this year. Election should start by next year. So for completely one year, APC government is in power and will not encourage any disruption. 

“So I think we reason and  begin to think better than we’re currently doing. Nigerians should be more patriotic, our national interest should be uppermost in our minds.”

On the agenda of his meeting with the President, he said, “I got the approval of Mr. president to commission  the Owerri-Orlu road and the Owerri – Okigwe road next month. The contractor is a world class contractor, the roads almost 95% complete. 

“By next month they will all be completed, ready for commission by Mr. president and Mr. President has graciously approved that he will be there to commission the roads.

 “I also used the opportunity to brief him on  the state of affairs in my state, particularly, it has to do with the recent resurgence of banditry and the efforts  we have made to contain the situation.”

 He said that the roads are federal roads, adding, “I wrote to Mr. President to approve that the state construct the road. They are economic roads, critical highways that will alleviate sufferings of our people. Those roads have been there for over 16 years unattended to. 

“The Owerri-Orlu road is 44   kilometers dualised making 88 kilometers. The  Owerri – Okigwe is 59 kilometers, expanded 7.3 metes to 12 meters. And progress has been very substantial.” 

Asked the financial implication of the roads, he said, “The cost currently is borne completely by the state. And we’ll struggle to do that hoping that one day the spiritual of God will touch the heart of the federal government. 

“And they may refund us either completely or some part of the money used for the construction. But what is important and uppermost in our mind as a government at the state level, is to make the roads motorable so that farmers can evacuate their goods to the market and live can be made more meaningful to our people.”

 He said there was plan to extend the intervention to Owerri-Umahia road, adding, “I have written to Mr. President, and in fact he has agreed that I should come with the letter, by next week, I’m going to come up here with a letter requesting also an approval to do the same from Egbu-Mbaise road up to the boundary between Imo State and Abia State. 

“So, it is also in our plan and during our stakeholders meeting. I did mention this to stakeholders and they unanimously agreed that it will be a veritable thing to do.”