The Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted out of context regarding his comment on Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Buhari was quoted to have said at the meeting he had with South-East leaders, during his last week visit to Imo State, that “I’ll be careful with your (Uzodinma’s) future invitations”.
The president reportedly made the comment at the end of his speech at the occasion.
But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, debunked the claim, noting that Buhari during the event said he was overwhelmed by the reception and galaxy of personalities that travelled from the five South Eastern states to have a heart-to-heart discussion with him in Owerri
Adesina said, “The purveyors of disinformation want Nigerians to believe that the President bluntly told Governor Uzodinma, ‘I’ll be careful with your future invitations.’
“They have adduced different meanings to the phrase, contrary to the context wherein the President spoke during his successful dialogue with leaders of thought from Igbo land.”
Likewise, Governor Uzodinma has refuted reports claiming he said President Buhari is insensitive to the plights of Imolites.
A viral video showed Uzodinma made the remarks during in an interview on Channels TV.
But the governor’s Director-General, New Media, Paul Ihunanya said that the video was doctored. He alleged that the opposition and enemies of Uzodinma’s government were behind the video.
According to Paul, what the governor said was that “we are supporting his (Buhari’s) administration. We are supporting all his policies because Mr President has shown sufficient interest in terms of pragmatic approach in listening and being sensitive to the yearning of Imolites. “That’s the clear words of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope UzodiNma.”