•Uzodimma, A Treasure To Imo -Onuimo Lawmaker
By Onyekachi Eze
Fascinated by the developmental strides of the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma within a space of three and half years saddle in office, the Member representing Onuimo State Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. James Uba Esile has attributed the governor a treasure Imolites should guard jealously.
This was contained in the motion he presented at the floor of the House on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
The Motion, which was Co-sponsored by Hon Ikenna Ihezuo, Hon Bernard Ozoemenam and Hon Innocent Ikpamezie, was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader and Member representing Okigwe State Constituency, Hon Chidiebere Ogbunikpa and was equally supported by Honourable Members, including the Minority members.
Hon James Esile did not only advocate for a broad campaign towards the re-election of Governor Uzodimma, but also posited that for the State to continue experiencing a turnaround in all facets of governance, the second term of Uzodimma remains sacrosanct.
It was entitled, “Motion to adopt His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, as the sole candidate for the November 11, 2023 Governorship election”.
The motion reads, “Whereas His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma has surpassed the expectation of Ndi-Imo, in terms of procedural and administrative leadership, quality and durable projects, vis-a-vis road infrastructure (Owerri/Orlu Road Project, Owerri/Okigwe Road Project, Owerri/Mbaise/Obowo Road Project, MCC/Uratta/Ukatankwu Road Project ), Building Projects (Imo State House of Assembly Complex).
“Whereas His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma has recovered diverted state property, vis-a-vis, Imo Orient news/IBC Quarters in Orji, K.O Mbadiwe University, numerous lands etc.
“Whereas His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma is rebuilding dilapidated, demolished and abandoned projects, for example, IICC Centre, Ekeukwu Owerri market etc.
“Noting that His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma is connecting the whole state through quality road projects.
“Noting further that His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma is tackling and controlling flood menace in the state capital, Owerri, through the construction of Balloon Technology Project Initiative.
“Required that His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma should be encouraged to continue in office, to finish the 3-R revolution he started, including payment of 13-month salary for all Civil Servants, and furnishing and equipping the State Secretariat with modern facilities, thereby breathing fresh air in the State Civil Service”.
Hon Esile further explained that once a man receives a gift, he treasures it, same as the gift of Governor Hope Uzodinma to Imo State.
He cited that previously, for him to travel to his hometown through Ekemele was like a puzzle but Uzodimma came and right the wrongs, now same road takes few minutes to ply.
He opined that naturally, God destined Uzodimma to be Leader for the purposes of touching lives.
“Naturally, God made Uzodimma a Leader and a Governor to uplift the people; And to cherish him, we have to re-elect him for second term. A bird at hand worths more than three. Governor Hope Uzodimma is doing something good which everybody have seen, let us allow him to do more. He is creating a base and standard, those coming after him would now leverage on the standard. Onwa Oyoko is a record breaker in standard”.
According to the Chief Mover, “We all know the condition of our roads. The very poor condition of these roads made life to be unbearable before the coming of Senator Hope Uzodimma in January 2020, as our governor. Governor Hope Uzodimma is connecting the whole State through quality road projects.
“Most of our markets were not accessible, due to bad roads. Also, our farmers were finding it difficult to transport farm produce from the village farms to the city markets, due to the poor condition of our roads. As a result, there was food scarcity in the State, and costly too. Today, Governor Hope Uzodimma has brought back our roads, through quality reconstruction. A journey of about 5 hours, from Owerri to Okigwe, due to bad roads, now take us less than 1 hour. Owerri – Okigwe road has been solidly reconstructed, including the infamous Ekemele junction that was impassable for many years. Hope Uzodimma came and restored Hope and Confidence on that road. Today, Uzo-adigo-mma”.
Further overjoyed by the Governor’s performance, Hon James Uba Esile declared, “What of here in this Hallowed Chamber of the Imo State House Of Assembly. This Complex was so dilapidated that the 7th Assembly, 8th Assembly and 9th Assembly partly and indeed, partially, operated from make shift arrangements elsewhere. This became an embarrassment to the Legislative Arm Of Government, and a laughing stock to the Imo State Government. But Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, a foremost National lawmaker, came and restored Hope and Confidence by rebuilding, furnishing and equipping the complex. We now have a brand new Assembly complex. Honourable Members can now make laws that will benefit Imo citizens”.
“What of the Imo International Conference Centre, IICC, that is currently being rebuilt, after it collapsed, due to poor job?”
What of the Ekeukwu Owerri Market that was demolished by the previous government in September 2017? Governor Hope Uzodimma is rebuilding it.
The State Civil Service has completely undergone transformation, both in renovation and equipped for optimum service delivery. Thanks to Governor Hope Uzodimma who started the payment of 13 month salary for all Civil Servants”.
“With the plethora of endorsement and adoption of Governor Hope Uzodimma, due to his exemplary leadership, the Imo State House Of Assembly and Honourable Members who are beneficiaries of this purposeful leadership, cannot be left out”, said Esile.
In supporting the Motion, Honourable Members, including Minority members, spoke unbiasedly on how the governor has transformed the State, through quality, selfless and patriotic commitment and desire to make Imo a better place, describing him as a ‘Real Man’ with enormous capacity to confront challenges and manage crisis.
The Minority members were not left out. The Minority Leader and Member representing Isu State Constituency, Hon Modestus Osakwe, and his Ideato South counterpart of the Accord Party, Hon. Vitalis Ndubuisi Azodo declared, “Eyes can see what Governor Hope Uzodimma has done for the people of Imo State. If Honourable Members from Okigwe and Owerri zones could support the the re-election of the Governor, who am I (said respectively, from Orlu zone) to throw him away? I support the Motion”.
After hearing from the Members, the plenary session presided by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe resolved as follows; “That this Honourable House formally adopt His Excellency distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma as the Sole Candidate for the November 11, 2023 Governorship election.
“That Honourable Members be mandated to galvanize support for His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma, across the 27 State Constituencies, through grassroots mobilization and campaign, for the re-election of Governor Hope Uzodimma”.
