The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in strong terms what it described as the reckless and insensitive spending of N2.1 billion by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration on Muslim pilgrimage sponsorship and an accompanying lavish ceremony in honour of the pilgrims and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, the PDP called for the governor’s immediate resignation, citing gross incompetence and misplaced priorities in the face of mounting insecurity, poverty, and infrastructural collapse across the state.
According to the PDP, the Uzodimma-led government’s sponsorship of 315 individuals to the 2024 Hajj and the subsequent extravagant celebration is not only unjustifiable but deeply offensive to Imo citizens who are currently battling daily threats to life and livelihood.
“The party is not against religious inclusion or freedom of worship,” Obiaku stated, “but there is absolutely no justification for squandering as much as N2.1 billion of taxpayers’ money on this programme, especially in a state plagued by violence, joblessness, and dilapidated infrastructure.”
The PDP’s outrage follows the horrific massacre of over 20 people along the Umuna–Okigwe Road in Onuimo Local Government Area, where suspected gunmen also abducted several persons and set more than 22 vehicles ablaze—a tragedy that occurred barely a day before the state-sponsored Hajj event.
Obiaku accused Governor Uzodimma of ignoring the bloodshed and choosing instead to engage in celebrations. “His silence over the gruesome killing is a tacit endorsement of the violence. It is an insult to the grieving families and affected communities,” he said.
The party also referenced other recent violent incidents, including the abduction of 26 individuals and the killing of one person in Ngor Okpala allegedly by suspected Fulani herders, as further evidence of the governor’s failure to protect lives and maintain security.
Imo PDP described Governor Uzodimma as “detached” and “unconcerned” about the suffering of Imo people, accusing him of prioritising political showmanship and frivolous events while vast regions—particularly Okigwe, Orsu, Njaba, Onuimo, Oru West, and Orlu—remain under siege.
“The N2.1 billion could have been invested in meaningful developmental projects such as road rehabilitation, payment of pension arrears, or youth empowerment through tech hubs,” the statement noted. “Instead, the governor continues to indulge in wasteful expenditures that bring no value to ordinary citizens.”
The party expressed further disappointment over what it called Uzodimma’s “lack of empathy,” noting that he often “acts like someone who is not from Imo State.”
Efforts to get a reaction from the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo, Dr. Macdonald Ebere, were unsuccessful, as his phone remained switched off at the time of filing this report.
Calling on ndi Imo to rise and demand better governance, the PDP concluded by urging citizens to reject what it described as “a detached and incompetent government that no longer represents their interests or safety.”
Leave a Comment