2027: Uzodinma visits Otti, says South East governors will support Tinubu
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma, has said all the five South South governors have resolved to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Uzodinma spoke on Friday during a new year courtesy visit to the Abia State Governor Alex Otti in his Nvosi country home in Isialagwa South Local Government Area of the state.
He said the governors are determined to develop the South East region, adding that the only way they can achieve their objectives is through collaboration.
He said, “As the chairman of South East Governors forum, I have a responsibility to touch base with them, to discuss with them, share ideas, and agree on how best to help the people of the region to survive.
“So my visit is a courtesy call to the governor, who I have also seen he is doing very well. I wish him a happy new year and pray with him so that the almighty God will give us enough wisdom to continue to serve our people better and better. That is why I am here”.
When asked if he is concerned that his visit could be given a political coloration, Uzodinma said nothing can be more political than when two politicians are meeting.
“Everything in the world is politics. Are not aware that I am a politician and he is a politician. So when two politicians are meeting, what else can be more political than that? he said.
The governor also missed views that the recent defection of the presidential of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election Mr Peter Obi, will scuttle the chance of Tinubu in winning the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, “That view
is not correct. Contrary to that, President Tinubu is a brand. Of course, as you know, I am the chief marketing officer.
“That all of us have decided because of his successes in the economy of the country, in security, in the policies in place, and in social interventions.
“He has done extremely very well. And we in the South East, we have even resolved not to do tribal politics anymore.All this so-called political rascalism must stop. We are now part and parcel of the country called Nigeria. Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So the five governors of the South East are all supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, policies and his good governance system.
“So we don’t have any problem with Tinubu. We don’t have it as a people.
“And let me now use this opportunity to advise you, the media, to only speak what the people are saying, because the political class in the South East, we are very sensitive. We don’t want our people to be victims of mistaken identities. We are nationalists. We are stakeholders. We have a stake. And we are supporting a united Nigeria.
“A Nigeria that will be better for everybody. The South East is part and parcel of Nigeria. And nobody should come here and speak a different language apart from what will make the country to be strong, bold and robust.
“So in the South East, even though that is not the business why I am here today, I have come to visit my dear brother and to wish him well. But I can tell you, those of you listening to me now, both those who are here and those who will watch you on television tomorrow, that the five of us, governors of the South East, have decided to make sure the South East is part of Nigeria. And that is what we are working on”.
Also speaking Otti, lauded Uzodinma for the courtesy visit, adding that it is more of a brotherly visit than political visit.
He said, “I thank him for this visit Like he said, this is not necessarily a political visit, but because we are all politicians, there is no way we can discuss politics.
“But then, I think what is most important from what he has said is that government is one. You have the bational, the ub-national, and then the local governments. And I made the point that you can’t be in opposition in a government that you are part of.
“So when people mistake an issue of different political parties as opposition, they miss the mark. You can disagree, but there are forums for disagreement. But once a decision has been taken, you are part and parcel of that decision.
“So it is normal to ask if the state government is supporting the federal government. Of course the state government is part of the federal government. So what he has come to do here is to wish us a happy new year and I appreciate the visit”.
“So I thank him for this visit and I pray that God will continue to keep him, bless him, bless his family and bless Imo State. A lot of Imo people live here in Abia, particularly in Aba. So he has a big stake in Abia State.
“And of course, we were one and the same state not too long ago. Those official boundaries don’t really mean anything. We are all Igbo people and we are Nigerians”.