A business mogul and frontline politician who’s also Chairman of Imo State Coalition For Good Governance, Dr. Uzoma Obiyo breaks silence on emerging political developments in the country. As a member and one of leaders in the ruling party, APC, Dr. Obiyo has been silent since emergence of candidates of various political parties for various political positions in the country.
The leadership role Dr. Obiyo played during last APC Congresses and Convention cannot be over emphasized. Dr. Uzoma Obiyo brought his business and political acumen into bare which led to resounding victories Imo APC Coalition recorded in the state. As a pragmatic politician, Dr. Obiyo was able to manage different spheres of interests within membership of Coalition when many thought such interests would have torn the group apart. Dr. Obiyo believes in a Better IMO.
It’s pertinent to note that Dr. Uzoma Obiyo was in forefront of Owerri renaissance since 3years ago through the acronym, “Imo Equity Movement”. The very essence of this is to ensure that political power rotates amongst the three geopolitical zones in the state. This course of redistributing political powers equitably in the state gathered momentum especially within the APC family as all major gladiators of the party in the state from Owerri Zone keyed into this noble project. Pride to mention, the success Imo APC Coalition recorded in the state wouldn’t have been easier without full commitment and contributions of notable illustrious sons and daughters of Owerri Zone in APC.
As 2019 general elections are around the corner, it becomes imperative for gladiators like Dr. Uzoma Obiyo to make their stance public. As a member of the ruling party, APC, and a leader of repute at National level, Dr. Obiyo while addressing mammoth crowd and newsmen that graced end of year meeting at his country home, Castle of Grace, Nneise Uguri-ike in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday, 31st December, 2018, thanked leadership and members of the party for their steadfastness during struggle for moral rearmament which lead to dethronement of a dictator in the state. In his words, _”it’s my firm belief that APC has come to stay in the state as the party have been taken from a dictator and handed back to the people. During the course of this struggle, we, the Owerri people where desirous of having a shot at the helm of affairs as number one citizen in the state. Owerri Zone in APC used every legal means within her reach to drive home her demands. Imo Equity Movement was well pronounced in Owerri struggle to occupy Douglas House come 2019. The two other zones and right thinking human beings in the state saw our course as just. In the course of this struggle, we didn’t leave any stone unturned. We put in our best for this struggle, but at the end, we did not achieve our desired objective, though, our impact was felt”.
As he continues, _”Imo State belongs to all of us, and in politics, when you win some, expect to lose some. Intra party primaries in our party are over and winners has emerged. As party faithful, we should accept the decisions and outcome of the primaries. I use this opportunity to declare my full support for the candidates of our party in the state. I will use every lawful and available means within my reach to ensure that our gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming election, “Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma” comes out victorious at the polls. We must join hands together to realize this dream as APC is the only party that can guarantee our total liberation and full participation in Imo politics. We should ensure that all other candidates of our great party for various elective positions in the state wins at the polls.”_
As a nationalist and one of the national leaders of APC, Dr. Obiyo posited, _”APC is the only party that can give Igbo man an opportunity to aspire and become President of this country come 2023. I enjoin my brothers from 5 South East states of the country and beyond to support the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari. We will be doing ourselves a disservice if we support another candidate outside President Buhari as such person would do a two term of 8years. My decision in calling for support of President Muhammadu Buhari is not only for enthronement of a President of Igbo extraction come 2023, but for lasting legacies which President Buhari bequeates on us. You can agree with me that corruption is bane of this country, since inception of this administration at the center; alot has been achieved in terms of curtailing the accesses in our public sectors. Anyone that does business with Federal Government or its agencies will tell you that it’s no longer business as usual. Pride to mention, our presidential candidate before his election as president in 2015 and now as elected president was never and has never been accused of any financial impropriety in the country. During the 2015 electioneering campaigns, President Buhari publicly told the world that when elected, he will strengthen anti graft agencies to enable them probe corrupt politicians and public office holders in the country. If the then ruling party had evidence of corruption against him, why didn’t they probe him? President Buhari has achieved much and should be given the opportunity to serve another one more term of four years to help in stabilizing our economy and strengthen our institutions. Bringing in a new president will destabilize present achievements in the country which will amount to changing of goal posts half way in a football competition. President Buhari is an epitome of integrity and should be reelected to instill discipline in our public institutions. Reelection of President Buhari will also strengthen our polity as zoning principles will be entrenched and observed henceforth, from our federal to even local administration in this country”._
The interactive meeting with the media was attended by all registered and accredited media houses operating in Imo State.
