Students of the Imo State University (IMSU) expressed their dissatisfaction with Governor Hope Uzodinma as they voiced their discontent during his campaign visit on Monday.
Chanting “no light, no light,” the students continued to protest the lack of electricity at the institution for four consecutive days, resulting in an unwelcoming atmosphere for the governor.
Videos that emerged on Tuesday showcased the students’ refusal to engage with Governor Uzodinma, highlighting their frustration with the ongoing power supply issues. This incident occurred amidst the backdrop of the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, which has already been marred by controversies involving the police, security operatives, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Reports from November 2 revealed Governor Uzodinma’s explanation regarding the assault on the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, linking it to alleged meddling in partisan politics. The arrest of Ajaero during a protest rally over delayed wage payments for state workers, as reported last Wednesday, led to condemnations from the NLC, with Ajaero sustaining severe injuries during the incident.
The NLC’s Head of Information and Publicity, Comrade Benson Upah, denounced the arrest and subsequent assault as “attempted murder.”
However, Governor Uzodinma justified the attack, citing Ajaero’s alleged interference in state politics. Speaking to journalists after receiving the All Progressives Congress’ flag from President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, Uzodinma emphasized his role in preventing the dissolution of the Imo State chapter of the Congress by the NLC’s national leadership.
“What has happened in this ugly coincidence is that the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress is from Imo State and has not been able to demarcate the difference between being a national leader of an organisation and then an interested party in local politics,” he said.
He had said,
“I understand the sensitivity of this event (protest). But I want you people to be careful because there is an attempt to mix up partisan politics or an attempt to blackmail my government.
“I can tell you that my people are already aware; that was why the NLC Imo State chapter addressed a world press conference that what their national leadership is doing is not correct and that they are not going to embark on any strike or protest.
“In the process, they decided to dissolve them to put in a caretaker. Of course, I’m the Chief Security Officer and I have a responsibility to intervene. I encourage the national leadership not to dissolve a management team that their tenure has not expired, and that was what they did.”