OWERRI, Nigeria – In an unprecedented turn of events, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, has reportedly spent over $600,000 to send his appointees and party members on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The directive for the journey, which seems to have political undertones, is for these ‘pilgrims’ to pray for his re-election.
This development comes on the heels of the governorship primary election in Imo, where the Labour Party (LP), People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and other opposition parties have set their sights on unseating the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming governorship election slated for November 11, 2023, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to News Express, a Government House insider, who chose to remain anonymous, “The governor is very apprehensive about his re-election bid, especially after the primary election which fielded Imo ex-Senators, his former colleagues in the National Assembly, to challenge him in the November poll.”
Uzodimma has reportedly hand-picked a range of individuals for this spiritual mission, including sole administrators in various Local Government Councils, Commissioners, expanded executive members, local governments and boards appointees, and top party executives.
Journalists who visited the Imo State Government House in Owerri on Friday, April 28, 2023, reported witnessing an assembly of around 1,000 people in uniforms, anticipating the Governor’s address before their departure.
However, some lawmakers in the state, unhappy with Uzodimma’s governance, have turned down the pilgrimage offer. Others have delegated personal assistants, friends, and family members to go in their stead, while a number of undisclosed top party officials allegedly sold their pilgrimage slots for cash.
An appointee close to the governor, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed to journalists on Sunday, April 30, 2023, “The purpose of the Jerusalem visit is to pray for the Governor’s re-election.”
Reportedly, the first batch of 100 people left for Jerusalem on Friday after the Governor’s address, with a second batch set to leave soon.
Interestingly, many of the proxy pilgrims have indicated they may extend their stay in Jerusalem, potentially well beyond the duration of the prayer mission.
Repeated attempts to reach the Commissioner for Information, Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Oguwuike Nwachuku, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
