Why Uzodimma 'welcomed' Buhari with Osadebe instead of the warrior, Chimezie

From January 14, 2020 until now, the people of Imo State have continued to live in limbo with their Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma. The relationship between Governor Uzodimma and Imo voters simulates that of two adults in a forced union. The governor misses no opportunity to display, like a wife from a privileged and influential home, her status.

The people of Imo believe that their governor was not their original intention, but was forced upon them by an unexpected pregnancy out of wedlock.

This might explain why since the Supreme Court ruled on the appeal of the 2019 gubernatorial election that fired the Hon. Emeke Ihedioha, Governor Uzodimma struggles to gain the trust of the people, even though he rubs the fact that despite their reservations, he remains their governor.

Using the above as a backdrop, one could understand why President Muhammadu Buhari's recent visit came exactly one year after a similar visit in 2021. Governor Uzodimma and his All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters wanted than the world to see the president's visit as proof of the governor's political savvy rather than a make-up visit to right the wrongs of the previous stopover.

And, as happened last year, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) proclaimed the legendary sit at home (SAH), which many have described as part of the Biafra calendar in south- is.

Unlike the usual Monday SAHs, the IPOB leadership's decision to criticize an SAH on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 has been met with many surprises, although it has been subject to different interpretations: while some observers argued that the SAH was targeting the visiting President Buhari, others argued that Governor Uzodimma orchestrated the SAH to make the President's visit happen without a hitch.

Those who expressed this sentiment noted that the governor had expedited moving the IPOB chief's trial from October to September 13, ostensibly to induce IPOB to make its usual statement.

Recall that in the more than three-year bittersweet relationship between the Imo people and Senator Uzodimma, the IPOB had been at the forefront of branding his administration as antithetical to Igbo socio-political interest.

While there has been no official confirmation that Governor Uzodimma played a role in changing Kanu's trial date, the IPOB statement highlighted his intentions to declare SAH on a Tuesday.

In the statement dated September 10, 2022 and signed by IPOB Spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group said: "The global family and movement of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and the leadership of our indefatigable liberator, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU, wishes to announce to the general public, especially the Biafras, that Tuesday, September 13 has been declared a day of civil action in the form of Sit-At-Home in Biafra Land.

Powerful noted that on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, the civil action was very important for two reasons: "First, our Chief's Court of Appeals hearing scheduled for October 11 has been brought forward to September 13, 2022.< /p>

“As usual, we call on Biafrans and freedom lovers to show our solidarity with our leader, who has been carrying our yoke in detention for more than a year now. The IPOB has never issued a new directive to Biafra, but is simply implementing an existing order to lock down Biafra territory each day the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra will appear in court in Abuja.

“It was based on such an agreement with our leader who advised the suspension of the first Sit-At-Home Mondays declared by the IPOB leadership in August 2021. It is imperative that our people understand this and go about their business. daily work and shops on Monday and get ready for Tuesday September 13, 2022, as Biafraland will be COMPLETELY LOCKED.

"Secondly, it has come to the knowledge of the leaders of the indigenous people of Biafra that the vulture of IKONSO HOUSE in Owerri, the government office of Imo State has decided to insult the memory of our valiant men and women and the youths of Imo State whom he murdered in collaboration with the Nigerian uniformed terrorists of the army, police and DSS inviting Buhari to Oweeri, the state capital of Imo on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, the same day, the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will appear in court. What an affront and insult to the land of Biafra and the people of Biafra."

Therefore, on that fateful Tuesday 13th, when President Buhari's plane touched down at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Governor Uzodimma felt relived and seemingly satisfied that he was killing two birds with one Caillou: First, the President's visit helped the Governor dispel the widespread impression that President Buhari had sworn never to visit Imo State under Uzodimma's watch, as he was encouraged by the opposition in the state.

It could be...