A Rebuttal To Barr Kissinger Ikoku's Mischievous Clout-Chasing Video:

Stanford Arinze Nwokedi 

The immediate past Legal Adviser to Imo PDP, Barr Kissinger Ikoku is in the News for the wrong reason. To an average politician of his cadre, every publicity is good.

From his situation of political wilderness, he has tried to seek for political relevance once more, to court interests from 2027 power players. 

Barr Kissinger's video which he circulated across many social media handles signposts mischievousness. He used the gory incidence of the last Monday mindless killings at Onuimo and Okigwe to discover his lost voice. Instead of condemning the enforcers of the illegal Monday-Sit-At-Home, he twisted the gist to question if the bloodletting was of any concern to the Governor. He suggested that the Governor of Imo State should personally enter the bushes in Imo State to fight against "Fulani herders" whom he claimed shot a driver dead along Ngor Okpalla - Aba Rd last week.

As a lawyer, he failed in the ethics of his profession by basing his determination of the ethnicity of the criminals on grapevine sources. He felt it would soothe his craving to use "Fulani" because the Fulanis have been so profiled in the North and in the Middle Belt areas. Hence, he adorned criminality in ethnic garbs. As a lawyer, he ought to know that crime and criminality deserve total condemnation, without minding whose ethnic nationality is involved.

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If that generalization was not indicative of mere mischievousness, his suggestion that the Governor should personally move into the forests in Imo State to fight the crime of kidnapping was laughable and simplistic. That  demonstrates a deep lack of understanding of the Governor's noble and courageous approaches to security matters in today's Imo. A lawyer ought to know better. Indeed, Imo opposition is queer.

If Governance were to be a military institution, for all his efforts, initiatives, and managerial dexterity over the near-war situations that confronted the Governor since 2020, he should today be a full General. 

Suffice it to state that beyond Infrastructure, one area that  the Governor of Imo State has achieved his greatest feat remains in his dexterity, courage and determination in not just containing, confronting and conquering both the contrived insecurity and the sheer banditry of some disguised criminals, but in innovating the template that has reversed the trend and returned Imo State, nay Igboland, to some state of security and safety. To grasp this fact, it suffices to flash back to 2020/2021!

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Unlike Barr Kissinger's simplistic and mischievous suggestion,  Gov Hope Uzodimma adopted a multi-faceted scientific approach to combating crime in Imo State. Let me list them one after the other.

It is on record that Governor had equipped the Police and military with hundreds of equipped security vehicles, procured expensive Armoured Personnel  Carriers, and  provided the enormous logistics to enhance their capacity to tackle crime.

There is today a Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs in Imo State today. This Ministry is strategic and has helped to coordinate local vigilantes to pave way for the improved state of security and safety in Imo State today.

Through the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government, the Governor has trained and equipped about 45,000 Imo youths with digital skills to engage them constructively and dissuade them from being tools in the hands of those who radicalize them. 

Governor Hope Uzodimma's administration has restored peace in all troubled areas of Imo State, eliminating ungoverned spaces and ensuring citizens can move around safely.

Combining Carrot and Stick Methods has shown Gov Hope Uzodimma's dexterity in handling his main responsibility of safeguarding lives and properties in his charge as Governor.

The Governor's approach combining kinetic and non-kinetic methods include community engagement, screening of aliens who live as tenants in our local Communities, coordination of local vigilantes and ensuring good public-security forces relations. These have been the jobs of the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs.

Governor Uzodimma owns the template all other States in the Southeast are currently using. He blazed the trail when it was politically inconvinient  and risked political reproaches when he courageously invited the FG to help Imo State, nay Igboland. This was twisted by elements like Barr Kissinger Ikoku to mean that he invited the Soldiers to come and kill his subjects. In other words, the opposition had enjoyed the wanton criminal activities prior to the invitation.

There is a Ministry of Youths and Talent Hunt in Imo State Government today. This is to avail the veritable platform for youths engagements. 

The Governor's courageous feats in responsibly equipping security agencies and strengthening local vigilantes have ensured that Imo State is safe and secure. The soft-spots' hit and run campaign of the remnant criminals notwithstanding, so much Government efforts have been manifestly helpful.

In conclusion, Barr Kissinger's remark is a clear demonstration of his desperation to score cheap political points. It is clear that the Governor of Imo has continued to provided all necessary supports to ensure the safety of all and sundry. It is doubtful if any other Imo Governor could have withstood the surge of violent crimes that confronted the incumbent Governor of Imo State. Yet he delivered all the dividends of democracy that every doubting Thomas has affirmed.

The people of Imo State, except the unconscionable political elements who lost power, recognize the Governor's efforts in ensuring their safety and security. The majority of Imo citizens and residents will not be swayed by  such mischievous remarks from Barr Kissinger Ikoku and his ilks. 

Governor Uzodimma's noble and courageous approaches to security will continue to inspire confidence in his leadership.

The gates of hell shall not prevail in Imo State.

Imo is winning.