TheCable

The Imo government says all necessary arrangements are in place to guarantee “tight security” during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.

Buhari is expected to visit the state on Thursday to commission some projects carried out by Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo.

Following the announcement of the proposed visit, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) reportedly declared a sit-at-home order for Thursday.

Speaking on the planned visit of the president, Declan Emelumba, Imo commissioner for information and strategy, on Wednesday, said those who want to cause trouble during Buhari’s visit will be doing so at their own peril.

“I want to let you know that security arrangements are tight. No effort has been spared to make sure that security is guaranteed, and there cannot be any form of security breach during the president’s visit,” the commissioner said.

Emelumba also asked residents of the state to come out in large numbers to welcome the president.

The information commissioner disclosed that the president will commission some projects in the state, including the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa ring road, as well as a balloon-driven technology system — an underground tunnel designed to address flooding within the state capital.

Emelumba also disclosed that the president will hold a closed-door meeting with some south-east leaders to deliberate on important issues that concern the region.

Meanwhile, the Imo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the proposed presidential visit to the state as a “mockery” of residents.

This was contained in a statement issued by Ogubundu Nwadike, Imo PDP publicity secretary, on Wednesday.

The PDP, however, urged the president to use his visit to “mend fences” with residents.

“For us in PDP, the presidential visit is a deliberate ploy to mock the people of the state to their very face. This is callous and inhuman. Consequently, we invite the president, if he is really the father of the nation, to use the occasion of his visit to look inwards with a view to righting the grave wrongs he has done to the people of the state. The president can show some humility and remorse and use the occasion to mend fences with the people,” the statement reads.

“The president should also use his good offices to clip the wings of the governor who runs the state from outside. A mere fanfare will not help the bad situation in the state. Rather, it will generate more anger and acrimony.”