By Onyekachi Eze
Former House of Assembly Member who represented Oru East State Constituency in the 8th House, Hon. Nkenna John Nzeruo has marshaled out reasons why Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State deserves to be fully supported by all and sundry.
According to the former Oru East representative, now a Commissioner in the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, he said, what governor Hope Uzodinma has achieved within the past one year he held sway the administration of Imo are overwhelming.
Hon Nkenna Nzeruo made the assertion over the weekend, while addressing newsmen.
He was of the opinion that instead of looking for loopholes to negatively criticize the Governor, it would be better to poll maximum support for him.
How Nzeruo explained that barely one year, Imo State has experienced massive transformation in virtually all the sectors.
Chief Nzeruo maintained that aside the late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, Governor Hope Uzodinma has surpassed his predecessors with both human, capital and economic developments.
“Without any fear of equivocation, the land of Imo State became greener since the enthronement of Governor Uzodinma. Against opposing forces, he has continued to record giant feats;
“Even in the face of Covid-19 pandemic, ENDSARS protest, insecurity level, the governor never lose sight in safeguarding the lives and properties of populated Imolites. He needs our collective effort and prayers, not blackmail and cheap politics”.
Hon. Nzeruo affirmed that in tandem to his 3R mantra of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery, Governor Uzodinma is leaving no stone unturned in correcting the ills of past administrations.
However, Nzeruo eulogized the 3R mantra for haven changed the old narratives people had towards governance, stressing that the present APC government in Imo has redefined true governance embedded on the principles of effective democracy.
“Because Governor Hope Uzodinma knows what it means to be an exemplary Leader, he chose to uphold all tenets targeted at safeguarding the lives and property of Imo people, and those resident across the nook and cranny of Imo;
“Take for instance the recent insecurity situation that bedevilled the State, although it cut across the nation, but, Imo happen to have the low share of the crisis. This was so due to the technicalities, expertise, and public opinion implored by Governor Hope Uzodinma. He is a listening governor. Because he believes life is sacred, he applied cautioned, and today, there is relative peace. We pray it is permanent”.
On health matters, Nzeruo averred that although the present government met a decayed health system, it is stopping at nothing in upgrading the health facilities to modern standard.
The Oru East mouthpiece in the State Parliament (2015-2019) commended the mutual working relationship that is existing between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
He said for there to be uncommon achievements, both arms are expected to work together in synergy.
“Just last week, the Imo number one citizen assented new bills into law, making it approximately 22 bills he has signed this past one year. As a one time Lawmaker, bills don’t come by easily, talk more of all the people oriented laws that were recently signed”.
On security, Hon Nzeruo added, “The Governor recently handed over security vans to different security outfits in the State, a feat that has gone a long way in proving his dedication, resilience and determination in combating crimes and social vices. Irrespective of the insecurity being witnessed nationwide, more work are being put in place to checkmate the ugly trend. Already, as promised by our dear Governor, more security outfits are underway to assist both the Federal and State governments security agents. These can only be a vision of a man determined to salvage Imo State”.
Commenting on the issue of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, Hon Nzeruo disclosed that the massive records from the Commission are enormous, revealing that many projects to be executed by ISOPADEC are underway, and to be spread across the respective LGAs.
“The pragmatic steps, so far taken to recover the lost glory of the State, as well as the looted assets have rekindled the Hope of Imolites, that there is indeed light at the end of every tunnel, for the future of Imo State. The Governor has assured that in spite of the bureaucratic bottlenecks, the wealth of Imo people like the oil wells recently recovered from Rivers State, the Imo Transport Company (ITC), the former Eastern palm university, Ogboko, which is now fully state owned and rightly renamed, “Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University”, Ogboko, the Royal Spring Palm Hotels, just to mention a few, will not be allowed to remain in the wrong hands, under his watch. He has also used the instrument of the law to cancel the bloated pension for Ex-Governors, which is taking a toll on the State treasury”.
He continued, “In the same vein, Gov. Hope Uzodinma decided that what is good for the permanent Secretaries is good for the rest of the Civil Servants, thus he also provided free bus shuttle for Civil Servants, to convey them to work and back, from different ends of the State. Prior to that, he handed over official vehicles to all the Permanent Secretaries in the State, to help alleviate their transportation lapses. This scheme has remained a marvel”.
In furtherance, Nzeruo commended Governor Hope Uzodinma on massive roads construction and reconstruction thus, “The basic infrastructure which serves every citizen of the State and even non-state actors is road construction. And the Governor is leaving no one in doubt about his resolve to make road usage a delightful experience. The terrible state of roads in Imo state before the arrival of Governor Hope Uzodimma was known to all. It got to the extent of the social media trending with viral videos of Imo roads! The Road revolution, from Owerri-Port Harcourt road, Owerri -Okigwe road, Owerri-Orlu road, Owerri -Aba road, and over 48 other roads at various stages of construction is not only enviable but an eloquent testimony of the dividends of good governance, by the 3R administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma”.
Enumerating further on the governor’s antecedents so far, he outlined thus;
The creation of database of both pensioners and Imo workforce, full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), strong synergy between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary, periodic Imo Stakeholders General Assembly aimed at briefing Ndi Imo and getting to hear their plights.
In addition include the introduction of the Imo Health Insurance Scheme for the less privileged, proactive step of the Governor in handling the Covid-19 pandemic in the State which ended up making Imo a less affected State, total renovation of Dan Anyiam stadium and other projects to boost sporting activities in the State, agricultural revolution and the revamping of Adapalm, upgrading and putting into use the ICT Centres in all the Local Government Areas up to CBT standard. And other developmental projects and programmes too numerous to mention.
Hon. Nkenna Nzeruo concluded by charging all hands to be on deck, towards making Imo an envy of other States.
“We are all enjoined to support this administration to succeed. A peaceful Imo State where people can live and move freely is the desire of all men and women of goodwill. Imo is all we have and we cannot build it by destroying it”, he said.
