The Governor of Imo state Senator Hope Uzodinma has on Tuesday refrained from mentioning the names of those he felt are sponsoring perpetrators of unrest and insecurity that has bedevelled the state for some months.
It would be recalled that the governor had earlier promised and threatened to make public the people behind the unrest during the 5th Imo stakeholders meeting that was held at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers in Owerri.
The governor while giving an account of stewardship of his government since inception stated that against his promise, it’s imperative to allow the security agencies do their investigations which will lead to the arrest of the sponsor and charge those culpable to court.
He disclosed that his decision is based on the fact that the issue has been politicised and awashed on the social media hence the need of allowing the security agencies do their work in order not to misfire and thereby achieve their aim of bringing all concerned to book.
He noted that the security breaches experienced in the state started after the implementation of the white paper reports by those who felt indicted and bittered about the outcome.
He seized the opportunity to tell Imo stakeholders that he does not have grudges and problems with the past governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha but the issue according to the governor remains that Okorocha does not want him to answer the governor of Imo state in peace but has deviced so many means to still remain in governance even after he has left.
He said Okorocha is his junior in age and should give him some respect while stating that he will no longer join issues with him as a younger brother.
The governor reinterated that under his watch, he will employ all measures necessary to sustain peace and not allow any individual to hold the state in hostage.
On the purported enemies of the state, the governor maintained that he is not deterred by the daunting challenges but will remain focused in his governance.
He maintained that his administration has never recorded any trace of corruption but is willing to serve and not to steal from the people.
He noted that every falsehood and propaganda initiated by the opposition has not yielded much fruits but will continue in his efforts as there are price to pay for reformation.
The Governor further directed that the stakeholders meeting should be made a statutory body that will outlive his administration in order for future governors and leaders of the state to always give account of stewardship to the citizens of the state.
While accounting for the projects executed and the achievements of his administration, he disclosed that his aim is to make the Internally Generated Revenue of the state to hit up to 5billion monthly.
He disclosed that the government is embarking on an irreversible part towards economic growth and also packaging a 10-year economic plan for administrations that will come after him.
The governor further disclosed that the 2022 bugdet covers all sectors with major emphasis on infrastructural development.
He maintained that about 90 roads have been constructed and some yet to be completed, 30 were commissioned during the visit of the president, his excellency, Muhammadu Buhari.
He maintained that the road construction runs through the rural areas, while mentioning roads that will be completed within a short period of time. He said that the roundabouts in the state will be demolished and remodeled to a 21st century standard.
He disclosed further that the road rehabilitation will boost the economy of the state as there will be ease of transportation of goods and services in the state without further hitches.
In his bid to restore the health status of the citizens, the governor stated his commitment to rehabilitate the 305 primary health centres across the 27 LGAs of the state. He also disclosed that the Imo state teaching hospitals has been revitalised as it graduated over 100 medical students after failure to do so for so many years.
He noted that lack of medical workers especially nurses has also impeded on the performance of the government hospitals in the state hence the need to revive the nursing school at Orlu. He further seized the opportunity to advice Imo citizens to take serious the Covid 19 Vaccine to be safe from contacting the virus.
The Governor also assured of his commitment to pay salaries of workers and pensioners having engaged them in verification excercise, disclosing that genuine workers will not experience further problems of payment.
The governor who spoke on his achievements in various sectors in the state urged Imo people to give him their maximum support for him to achieve more.
The chairman of the meeting and the CEO of Zinox Company, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh while speaking on the economic situation of the state said he has contributed over 1billion naira to growth of the economy of the state and urged Imolites not to join hands in destroying what has been built over the years
He noted that lots of companies earn even more than the state hence the need for the state to reconcile and forget the individual differences and political backgrounds.
He disclosed that the security situation of the state is capable of chasing away investors.
He said, “other states are growing their economy while we are busy fighting, people think Imo is a war front, how will investors come”.
Leo Stan appealed to all imo citizens both home and abroad to support the governor to find a solution to the problems facing the state.
He further pledged to support the state with a 500million finishing school project where Imo people will be trained to become employable.
Various stakeholders spoke on different issues and ways of making Imo better.
Barr. Dr. Dan Iwuanyanwu thanked the governor for his efforts in ensuring the smooth running of governance and applauded him for the implementation of the report of the judicial inquiry on lands.
He disclosed that the singular act of the governor in the various recoveries he has made is enough to give him a score mark.
He therefore moved for a vote of confidence to be passed on the governor which was adopted by the stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by Imo sons and daughters both home and in diaspora, the past governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the deputy governor of Imo state, Prof. Placid Njoku, Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the speaker Imo state House of Assembly, Hon. Kennedy Ibeh and the House members, the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief George Obiozor, the chairman of Imo Council of Elders Eze Ilumoanya, a renowned Imo born famous singer Onyeka Onwenu and a host of others graced the event.
However, the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has mocked the State Governor Hope Uzodimma for refusing to name sponsors of insecurity as promised.
Okorocha in a statement titled, ‘The Camp Hope government in Imo, has become an embarrassment,’ said the governor failed to name the sponsors “after much noise to that effect” before the stakeholders meeting held in the state on Tuesday.
Governor Uzodimma on Tuesday made a U-turn and failed to name the sponsors of attacks in the state contrary to a pledge he made. During the Imo stakeholders meeting at the Government House, Uzodimma acknowledged that he promised to name the sponsors of attacks in Imo but he craved the indulgence of the people that he would no longer name names but would leave security agencies ‘to do their work’ and prosecute those found culpable.
Okorocha in reaction said the Uzodimma’s administration has made Imo State a laughing stock and has become a nightmare to itself.
The former governor, therefore, said he won’t pursue the press statement written earlier by Uzodimma’s Press Secretary which mentioned him and Uche Nwosu as sponsors of insecurity in the state.
