HON AGABIGE’S MOTION WAS JUSTIFIED AND NEVER CLAIMED COMPLETE RESTORATION OF PEACE IN ORSU HENCE RESTORATION OF PEACE IS A CONTINUOUS EXERCISE*
The attention of our Media Department has been drawn to the above captioned publication by ORSU IHITTEUKWA UNITED YOUTHS INITIATIVES published on page 09, of the Monday April 07, 2025 edition of the WHITEPAPER Newspaper, as well as other local tabloids in the State, which made deliberate efforts to mislead and send wrong signals to the unsuspecting reading pubic and Orsu State Constituents.
The publication which purportedly refuted the Motion of the Honourable Member Representing Orsu State Constituency, Hon. Engr. Uche Francis Agabige, made on the floor of the Honourable House on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in which he thanked the Executive Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, for restoring Police and Civil Order in Orsu LGA and to urge him to rebuild Orsu infrastructure, was uncalled for and should not have warranted the unnecessary controversy and misinterpretation that elicited this rebuttal.
Ordinarily, we would not have bothered to put a Rejoinder to this controversial publication that appears to have emanated from misinformation, and deliberate attempt to pick faults where non really exists and undue politicization of the unfortunate insecurity in our home land but a second thought compelled us to do the needful, to put records straight in its right perspective and as well provide useful explanation to the reading public, especially the good people of Orsu State Constituency who deserve to know the truth and should not be misled through the unnecessary publication.
In view of the need to address the bandied misinformation aimed at portraying the Honourable Member as being insensitive to the plight of his constituents, we sate as follows:
1. That the Motion on the floor of the Honourable House dated Thursday 3rd April, 2025 sponsored by Hon. Engr. Uche Francis Agabige did not claim that there was complete restoration of peace in Orsu. The Motion was specific, concise, unambiguous and clearly conveyed a thank you message to the Governor for restoration of peace and civil order in Orsu LGA and to urge him to rebuild Orsu infrastructure.
2. It is not out of place for a Legislator who has witnessed the good efforts of the State Governor in fighting the ravaging insecurity to move such a Motion to register his appreciation, and further utilize the opportunity to call the Governor’s intervention for immediate rehabilitation of the people and destroyed infrastructure in the Area. That is the responsibility of a lawmaker considering the fact that the efforts made so far by the Governor should be commended, and nature holds that appreciating good deeds provides leeway for more good deeds/ benevolence from the doer.
3. That the fact that it was acknowledged that security has improved in Orsu, which paved way for return of the Police and maintenance of civil order, does not in any way suggest that the Honourable Lawmaker stated or concluded that there is complete restoration of peace in Orsu as those behind the rebuttal erroneously portrayed in their publication.
4. For the avoidance of doubt, the Honourable Member, Rt Hon Engr Uche Francis Agabige has been involved at various levels of the concerted efforts to stop the ravaging insecurity in Orsu. He has participated at both communal and governmental platforms and had even made personal contributions, which does not need to be emphasized here because it is not necessary. He had also made previous representations and submissions to the Honourable House and the State Governor on the issues of protracted insecurity in the homeland and urgent need to apply marshall plan for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and rehabilitation of the people.
5. It is also contradictory for the authors of the purported rebuttal to acknowledge the good intentions of the Motion and the fact that the Executive Governor of the State, Distinguished Senator Hope and various security agencies have done so much in the fight against insecurity and deserve accolades, and still went ahead to pick quarrels over the same Motion. One wonders what truly the grouse of the authors is : whether the elected House Member was not the right person to convey such message? If the authors agreed with the good intentions of the Motion as openly acknowledged in their publication and the need to appreciate the Governor, what then was the rationale behind the rebuttal at the first instance? Does it really make sense to proceed with such unwarranted publication that tends to portray Orsu negatively as people misunderstanding themselves over minor issues?
6 It is also crystal clear and on record that the performing House Member,Rt Hon Engr Uche Francis Agabige has been partnering with Odimma Orsu Initiative in their local content input in the fight against insecurity in Orsu.This partnership has been in place since its formative stage and every other time they had planned for the execution of a program or meeting with the Governor or Constituted authorities to cement ties or request for approvals.Odimma Orsu has every responsible Orsu person as a member and does not provide platform for divisiveness because the fight against insecurity is a collective fight of all and sundry,encompassing private business men, politicians, professionals, traditional rulers, civil servants and people from different shades of opinion.Rt Hon Agabige will continue to support the noble intentions of Odimma Orsu and intensify efforts to contribute his quota as an indigene of Orsu as well as the elected representative of Orsu people in the first against insecurity.
7. Again, an objective and cursory look at the motion would have revealed that the main purpose of the Motion was to provide a vista for a new phase of government intervention in Orsu for rehabilitation of the people and reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure. This program will obviously be undertaken while the restoration of peace continues hence the fight against insecurity remains a continuous exercise. It never intended to exaggerate anything because the content of the Motion was unambiguous or unequivocal. It is necessary to point out that the Motion, while calling for the rebuilding of the destroyed infrastructure, also urged the Governor to sustain the tempo of the fight against insecurity. This shows that the Honourable House Member is sensitive to the prevailing security situation which requires sustained efforts in the fight. So, how did the House Member mislead the government or portrayed a false impression that there is complete restoration of peace in Orsu ? How and when did he say that?
Conclusively, it has become necessary for us to be circumspect and exercise restrains the way we react to issues. The fight against insecurity in Orsu is everybody’s business and as a people committed to this fight against our existential threat, we should eschew bitterness, rancor, animosity and unhealthy rivalry and as much as possible acknowledge the role of various individuals, groups, government etc devoid of misrepresentation of facts.
Once again, for the umpteenth time, we wish to further reiterate that the rebuttal by ORSU IHITEUKWA UNITED YOUTH INITIATIVE was totally misplaced and unwarranted as issues raised in their publication are unfounded and cannot be substantiated. Hon Uche Agabige is committed to the fight against insecurity and will continue to expedite action as an elected representative of the people to put necessary legislative input and advocacy towards a better result.
We urge the general public, especially the good people of Orsu State Constituency to remain afloat and avoid being misled by any individual or group of persons whose motives may have been spurred for ulterior political hatchet purposes.
Signed:
Mr. Casmir Madu
Special Assistant to the House Member representing Orsu State Constituency On Media & Publicity