Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, has said that President Bola Tinubu imposed the emergency rule on Rivers State to safeguard vital national economic assets and quell the intractable political and legal tensions in the state.
He also said the president acted to stop the impeachment of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The governor spoke at the Vanguard Annual Awards, where he won the on Infrastructure Governor of the year award in Lagos on Sunday.
Fielding questions pertaining to the legality of the emergency rule in the oil-rich state, the governor said, ”Maybe you are not vigilant because I have spoken about. In fact, I was one of the earliest speakers the moment it happened. I anchored my reasoning and logic on protection of our economic assets.
”When pipelines were bombed, we had to prioritise safeguarding production. As chairman of the National Economic Council’s subcommittee on crude oil theft, our efforts have been on how to boost output and any actions threatening our quotas must be condemned.
”The president, as Chief Security Officer, acted to quell tensions in River.
”By the time I heard that the pipeline was burnt at a time we were crying and making efforts geared towards boosting production. So, anything that would lead to further leakage or reduce the production quota we have, should not be encouraged.
”Mr President, who is the Chief Security Officer of the country, called some of us, and said he was worried about the growing tension in Rivers State. Of course we were all here and we saw it. What would have happened if those boys in the House Assembly were allowed to impeach my colleague, Governor Siminalayi Fubara? It may be one person today, another person tomorrow.
”Power belongs to God, I am a Christian and my faith is strong. If you will be a governor, you can only be if God approves and when it is your turn, God will defend and protect you. I am one of the most abused and blackmailed governors when I came in.
”Many of our people didn’t give me a chance, they wanted to subdue the decision of our people. When I contested for election, it was clear that I won. Now, the number of votes after cancellation, the ones excluded outside the cancelled one were more than what was announced. The declared one didn’t make a simple two-third which is the required majority before anybody can be pronounced governor.
” However, because they have access to media and blackmail, he became the Saint and I became the sinner. When the matter was tabled before the court, it saw what was clear and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), why it didn’t include the result, INEC didn’t answer.
” When it was included, number four became number one, yet people kept talking about it. For my second term, I won 27 local governments, is that also the Supreme Court? I am a realist, I don’t discuss things that have no meaning to me. I am very objective and practical. And that is why what interests me are results. At the end of the day, what has happened? Imo is better under me as a governor, and it is clear.”
