Athan Achonu, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing air strikes in the Okigwe Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. Achonu expressed concern that the air strikes have caused significant destruction and rendered many residents homeless.
During a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, Achonu criticized Governor Hope Uzodimma for what he perceived as his inability to address the security challenges in the state. He alleged that Governor Uzodimma had recently made threats to bomb an unnamed community, and suggested that the governor might have knowledge of the military air strikes in Okigwe LGA.
Achonu called on President Tinubu to establish an investigative panel to determine the cause of the violence and destruction in the area, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable. He urged affected families not to take matters into their own hands and expressed a commitment to ensuring justice prevails.
In response, Collins Ughalaa, the Special Adviser to Governor Uzodimma on Public Communications, dismissed Achonu’s claims as false. Ughalaa accused Achonu of being out of touch with reality and argued that the governor had been proactive in addressing insecurity in the state. He suggested that Achonu was opposed to security operations against bandits and accused him of being aligned with unscrupulous politicians.
The situation underscores ongoing security challenges in parts of Nigeria, with political and public figures frequently clashing over the response to these issues.