By Onyekachi Eze
Even as other Candidates for the November 11, 2023 Imo State gubernatorial election struggle to gain the support of Imo electorates, same cannot be said of the All Progressive Congress, APC, flag bearer, Senator Hope Uzodimma as he his aspiration has been massively adopted by all and sundry.
While count for support base of the incumbent Governor is yet to be ascertained as at press time, more public declarations giving credence to Uzodimma’s re-election bid have been recorded.
This time, women of Imo State drawn across party lines have affirmed their determination to return the Oru East born Governor in November 11, 2023 Guber poll.
This, they said would further strengthen him in completing all his laudable and people oriented projects he commenced in the first tenure.
In a summit held over the weekend by the Orlu Senatorial zone women, they declared that, following the quintessential character, pedigree and motherly roles of the Imo State first lady, Barr. Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma, they will not relent at electing Governor Uzodimma in the forthcoming election.
Adding that in the history of Imo State, they have encountered First Ladies, but would not mince words to state that Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma is exceptional in both behavior and her relationship with the women.
The Orlu Zone Women doffed cap for the elegant Imo State First Lady for her numerous support towards the protection of women rights as exemplified in the struggle against Gender Based Violence GBV, Female Genital Mutilation FGM, harmful traditional widowhood practices, and gender inequality.
The elated Orlu Zone Women retorted that she has, for many years exhibited her love for humanity, hence, the solid foundation of the passage of the VAPP Law in Imo State which has arrested the aforementioned vices against the Female gender.
Asides protection of female rights, the women described her as a unifier, bridge builder and advocate, whom through her intercession, the governor has continued to deliver good governance to Ndi Imo.
However, they chorused that for all the democracy dividends enshrined in the good governance initiatives of Governor Uzodimma, Orlu Zone Women will troop out en masse to exercise their franchise and will vote for APC in the 11/11 election.
“We Orlu Zone Women owe our beloved son, Onwa Oyoko our votes. He is a son of the soil in whom we are well pleased. Infact, he is the only candidate in this race, we are okay with him, he has delivered good governance which we haven’t seen before”, they enthused.
It could be recalled that earlier, the Imo North (Okigwe Senatorial Zone) women had converged to appreciate both the governor and the First Lady for all the good works they have been doing in Imo State.
Their commendation of the 3R administration was crowned with their implicit vote of confidence on Uzodimma’s re-election, even as they asked the opposition parties to join the APC moving train.
In a related development, the South East National Vice Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and an Ideato born Public Health expert, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu has commended Imo women, especially the Orlu Zone extraction for the show of love and solidarity.
Dr. Arodiogbu enjoined them to sustain the tempo until the November 11, 2023 that the electoral umpire; the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC will declare and return Governor Hope Uzodimma duly elected.
Arodiogbu seized the opportunity to charge them on door to door campaigns in winning more souls who are yet to wake up from opposition delusion.
According to Arodiogbu to the women, “The affirmation on Uzodimma’s mandate you people just reiterated is well appreciated. The governor has shown us that governance can work for the people.
“Senator Hope Uzodimma is man of the people. He neither renege on his promises nor abandon his duties as a Governor. He sleeps and wakes up thinking on how to make Imo State better.
“As we all can see, Imo State roads are wearing new look, our Children now have convenient classroom blocks, health is at our door steps, there are massive empowerment/employment opportunities from the Skillupimo program, our Civil Servants and Pensioners no longer groan over unpaid salaries and pensions. God bless our beloved Governor, Onwa Oyoko”, said Arodiogbu.
Again, he told them that Uzodimma being a gender friendly governor nominated one of their own, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru as his Deputy for the race, a thought he said others in the ring never considered.
He concluded by assuring them that other projects yet to be completed or visited will be considered once the elections are over and Uzodimma declared for a second tenure. Hence, Arodiogbu asked them to join hands in making Imo great in line with the 3R mantra of the present administration.
