•Demands governor’s resignation over gross incompetence
•Action for religious tolerance, economic devt, says Uzodimma
•Gov asks LG chairmen to reside within council or resign

The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, of allegedly approving the sum of N2.1 billion for the 315 Muslims from Imo, Abia and Bayelsa states, who departed at the weekend during the flag-off of the 2025 Hajj Pilgrimage via Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, among others, had converged on the airport to flag off the airlifting of the pilgrims.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Lancelot Obiaku, which was made available to The Guardian, the party alleged that spending such huge amount amid insecurity, such as arson, kidnapping and killings amounts to insensitivity and wasteful, recommending that such money should have been channelled to better the lives of residents of the 27 local councils of Imo State.

The statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has noted with great concern the decision of the Hope Uzodimma-led administration to waste N2.1 billion on a Muslim pilgrimage and to host a lavish party on Friday May 9, 2025, in celebration of the airlifting of pilgrims, at a time when the state is grappling with worsening insecurity and deepening poverty.

“While the Imo PDP is not opposed to religious inclusion, there is no justification for the government to squander as much as N2.1 billion of taxpayers’ money on such a programme for 315 individuals, let alone organise an extravagant party, hosting the Vice President merely for the airlifting of the pilgrims going for Hajj operation.”

The statement said it was worrisome that the airlifting happened a day after assailants laid siege in Okigwe, lamenting: “More worrying is that the event was held just a day after armed assailants laid siege to the road between Umuna and Okigwe in Onuimo Local Council, killing at least 20 people, kidnapping others, and setting over 22 vehicles, including trucks, ablaze, a tragedy the governor has not flinched at.
“The party views this wasteful and insensitive action as a tacit endorsement of the recurrent arson, kidnappings, and killings plaguing the state. We, therefore, emphatically call for the resignation of Governor Hope Uzodimma over his gross incompetence.”

In defending his action, Uzodimma, first, thanked President Bola Tinubu and others for the support they gave the state for the event to be held, noting that Imo was noted for religious tolerance, adding that it would open doors for development.

MEANWHILE, Uzodimma has warned that local council chairmen and councillors who cannot reside in their council areas should consider resigning from their positions.

The governor read the riot act at the weekend during a stakeholders meeting held at the Imo Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat, Mbari, Owerri. The meeting was the 10th in the five-year administration of the governor.

He explained that the meeting was devoid of politics, meant to interact with stakeholders in the state and the leadership of the 656 autonomous communities in Imo to take strategic decisions in the greatest interest of the citizenry in the areas of insecurity, education, affordable health care and making life more meaningful to the people.

“There is always a time when citizens come together to take bold decisions for the interest of the people,” Uzodimma noted.