By Onyekachi Eze/Onyinyechi Amakaulo
The Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Hope Uzodinma has disclosed that people of the State were mocked in several quarters including Abuja before he emerged to stop the son in-law of the governor from becoming the governorship candidate of the party.
Speaking during the official unveiling of his manifesto in Owerri yesterday, Senator Uzodinma stated that the fortunes of the state were controlled only by one man who pocketed everything and went further to attempt producing the husband of the first daughter as successor.
According to Uzodinma “Imo people were mocked. We were a laughing stock in Abuja where those who knew Okorocha’s plans laughed at us that there are no men in the state to stop the father to son in-law transition.
Speaking on his program for the state, Uzodinma who tagged the manifesto as “A 5-Point blue print for Imo Economic Survival” assured Ndi Imo of a better livelihood to based on human and capital oriented programmes.
Sympathizing with Imolites on the level of hardship and alleged dehumanization Okorocha government has bequeathed the people, Uzodinma recalled that the state was far better before 2011, but became difficult when the present government introduced stringent administrative policies.
He assured to put in place civil service structure that will thrill workers, adding that there will be prompt payment of salaries, pensions and other statutory obligations.
Emphasizing on adherence to rule of law, procedures and constitutional guidelines, the Oru East born political pundit averred that the role of government is to carter for the welfare of her citizens, and not to send them to their early graves as Imolites were subjected to past in the 8 years.
Senator Uzodinma also revealed his plans of establishing an Imo State Education Opportunity Programme (ISEOP), where the state will be transformed into an academic driven economy, as well as accelerating development through manpower development.
“We shall restore Imo State as the nation’s leading center of knowledge and enterprise. For a highly functional and qualitative educational system, our new educational architecture shall focus on science and technology in line with modern digital learning ecosystem of the 21st century”.
He further promised to produce a new generation of creative enterprising graduates equipped for immediate past school employment and self reliance.
Commenting on health sector, the guber hopeful promised to enhance on primary and secondary health care, pointing out that within the first 2 years of his administration, they would here attained a 75% Health For All (HEFA), covering the 27 LGAs.
Uzodinma promised to recruit over 850 community health workers to strengthen existing primary health care work force in the state.
“In collaboration with a duly elected local government council, we shall rehabilitate, renovate and equip all the dilapidated community health centers in the 305 wards of the state, within the first year in office”.
While promising to establish criteria for research and integration of alternative medical practice, he assured the people that other health and specialist hospitals in the state shall be elevated as Regional medical informatics centers.
Rendering the tripod vision of his administration if elected Uzodinma included Recovery Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of core infrastructures and the rehabilitation of micro-small-medium- enterprises (MSMES as cardinal policies. Senator Hope Uzodinma opined that Imo will be great again if voted into power.
He expressed optimism that the degraded Imo economy will bounce back with 6 months of enthronement as Imo governor, especially with his experiences and technical know-how in management.
Uzodinma boasted of involving both local and foreign business experts whose investments will revamp the Imo economy to the envy of other states of the federation.
He concluded by giving hope to Imolites that his administration will be people oriented, respect to the 3 tiers of government and ensuring that the LGA autonomy is implemented to the fullest.
He read a riot act against insecurity, cultism, social vices and other acts capable of distorting peace and tranquility in the state.
Community leaders and traditional rulers are also promised to be carried along in discharge of duties, stressing that he won’t be happy if his traditional rulers cannot have the boldness to connect him if he errs.
Meanwhile, Senator Hope Uzodinma enjoined Imolites to join hands in liberating the state from the shackles of maladministration.
Contributing, Chief EJK Onyewuchi, one of the Elders said that Senator Hope Uzodinma is the only candidate that can win in the next general election and restore all that the family of Okorocha has destroyed.
He further noted that APC and Hope Uzodinma is the only hope to the suffering of Imo State.
Bob Njamanze an elder statesman in his contribution also noted that Imo State have had their share when it comes to bad governance, urging Imo people to focus on Hope Uzodinma who he said has what it takes to rescue Imo from the bondage Okorocha has put Imo over the past years.
