Stakeholders from Owerri Senatorial Zone have endorsed Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for a second term.
This is even as the leaders have also demanded that governorship position be rotated to Owerri Zone at the end of Governor Uzodimma’s constitutional two-term mandate of eight years in office.
The stakeholders, comprising traditional rulers, political leaders, businessmen, women leaders and opinion leaders converged at the Palace of Chairman Owerri Zone Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Akujobi David Osuagwu in Awaka, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state, where they commended Governor Uzodimma for his stellar performance in less than three years in office.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which was signed by the host HRM Eze Akujobi David Osuagwu, all other leaders, the stakeholders eulogized Uzodimma for investing in human capital beyond infrastructure and industries, saying they considered the huge investment in human capital development as a veritable ingredient for sustainable development.
They expressed happiness over the governor’s performance in the area of quality infrastructure with particular reference to the dualisation of Owerri – Orlu road (36km), the Owerri – Okigwe road, Phase one (29km), the reconstruction of Owerri – Umuahia road through Mbaise as well as the rehabilitation of numerous roads within Owerri metropolis.
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Flash Back: In February 2020, Uzodinma Told Ihedioha, PDP To Prepare For 2023
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has told Emeka Ihedioha and the Peoples Democratic Party to forget about the 2019 governorship election in the state and focus on the 2023 polls.
Uzodinma, who addressed All Progressives Congress supporters who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House in Owerri on Saturday, said his January 14 victory at the Supreme Court had been affirmed by the people of the state and God.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Placid Njoku, insisted he would defeat Ihedioha again in the next election.
The former representative of Orlu zone in the Senate, wondered why Ihedioha had been laying claim to the governorship of the state when the apex court had confirmed that he didn’t win the election.
Uzodinma insisted he won the March 9, 2019, governorship election.
He said, “Tell our friends on the other side to prepare for the next election in 2023 if need be; they will fail again. The 2019 Imo governorship election has been decided by the apex court. It has been decided by Imo people and it has been decided by God.
“Seven Supreme Court justices ruled that Hope Uzodinma was the duly elected governor of Imo State without any minority judgment. “
The APC caretaker committee chairman in the state, Marconi Nlemigbo, said the South-East was happy to have an APC governor.
According to him, Igbo are now closer to the 2023 political arrangements, nationally.
More PDP lawmakers will join APC, says Imo Speaker
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Collins Chiji on Saturday said more lawmakers would join the ruling APC from the PDP.
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The speaker who addressed APC members in Owerri, the state capital, said PDP would have only one lawmaker by the time the Assembly resumes on February 13.
Chiji revealed that by the next legislative sitting, APC will have 26 lawmakers.
He enthused that every lawmaker at the state house of Assembly wants to join the APC because of the personality of the governor.
The Speaker said the state was lucky to have a governor like Uzodinma who he said ‘‘has an unhindered access to the President.’’
The Speaker likened the state to the national grid, saying it would enjoy the benefits of being a state ruled by an APC governor.
He said, “Imo State House of Assembly is comprised of 27 lawmakers but as I speak to you now, 26 of us have joined the APC because of our governor.
“Nine lawmakers joined immediately the Supreme Court delivered judgment in our governor’s favour. On the next legislative day, eight more lawmakers defected to the APC.
‘‘Just watch what will happen on the next legislative day, more lawmakers who have not defected will defect, making it 26 APC lawmakers.”
He said that no lawmaker was financially induced to join the ruling party.
