BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI-Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State has appealed to the citizenry to resist the temptation of engaging in any form of violence as the state prepares for the supplementary poll scheduled for tomorrow.

Ohakim, who made the appeal in a radio and television broadcast to the people, was also of the view that Imo is a family that could not afford the luxury of losing a single soul in the name of politics.

He used the occasion to declare a curfew in the four local government areas of Orji in Owerri North local council area, as well as Oguta, Mbaitoli, Ngor Okpala and Ohaji/Egbema, where the planned supplementary elections would hold.

The curfew, according to Ohakim, will be effective 7pm Thursday, May 5, and terminate on Saturday, May 7, adding that the measure was taken to forestall breakdown of law and order, as well as ensure that the affected areas were not invaded by miscreants.

He said government and security agencies had taken necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the citizenry during and after the electoral exercise.

The governor noted that contrary to series of text messages aimed at misinforming Imo people, especially about the management of the finances of the state, his administration had been prudent and transparent in the management of the resources of the state.