From Evarest Ezihe, Owerri
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, at the weekend told Nigerians and the international community that neither himself nor his government is instrumental to the killings in the state.
Uzodimma made the clarification at his home town, Ozuh Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area during the dedication of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church Parish, a church he solely built and furnished.
He described the insinuation as “evil, devilish and an attempt to smear his image and blackmail” his government, adding that as a governor, he needs peace to serve the people well and urged those behind the insecurity in the state to have a rethink or be ready to face the wrath of God.
The Governor said that despite accusations and blackmail, God has proven to be with him, “because power belongs to God.”
He pointed out that, as someone who has benefited from God’s grace, he owes God a lot, noting that it is unthinkable for anyone to link him or his government to the cause of crises and violence in a state God made him governor.
Uzodimma passionately admonished those responsible for the violence to desist forthwith “because they will certainly at the end, answer for their sins before God and man.”
He noted that his ambition is not worth the blood of any human being, even as he recalled the genesis of the newly dedicated Church he built for his Community, saying he was inspired by the commitment of his late mother, Ezinne Rose Uzodimma.
Explaining that the project was conceived some 16 years ago and modelled after the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, the governor said that he was encouraged by the late Catholic Bishop of Orlu, Gregory Ochiagha and the current Bishop, Rev. Ukwuoma, and regretted that Bishop Ochiagha was not alive to see the Church completed and handed over to the Diocese.
The Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Ukwuoma, in his Homily said the Church will help to foster peace and bring to an end the insecurity and bloodletting in the area and parts of the State.
He also appeales to the leaders to lead the people with good consciemce “because there is a lot of hardship in the country.”
The ceremony was graced by five Catholic Bishops, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and other Senators of Imo State extraction, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku, members of the State Expanded Executive Council, Traditional Rulers among others.
