Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has spoken out in defense of President Bola Tinubu, calling the growing coalition talks and merger speculations a “distraction” that would not deter the President’s administration. Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Uzodimma emphasized that the focus of governance should remain on delivering results.

Regarding the tense security situation in Rivers State, Uzodimma stated, “As chairman of the National Economic Council’s subcommittee on crude oil theft, our efforts have been on how to boost output, and any actions threatening our quotas must be condemned.”

On the contentious issue of state police, he affirmed, “State police are necessary because with the population of the country, security cannot be micromanaged.”

Uzodimma also responded to criticisms about alleged favoritism towards the Southwest in Tinubu’s appointments, stressing, “We are looking for a merit-driven government… Governance is about performance, not where you come from.”

The Governor also revealed significant strides in boosting Imo State’s revenue, citing, “When I came in 2020, our internally generated revenue was less than N400 million a month. As I speak to you, we’re very close to N4 billion.”

In the face of political rumors, Uzodimma remained unfazed, asserting, “You don’t change a winning team… We know where we are going.”