…Describe exercise as a harvest of failure
Amidst growing criticism by Imolites over the recent celebration of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s one year anniversary, other stakeholders in the state have joined in strongly condemning the exercise describing it as a jamboree.
Reacting on the recent event, a sociocultural group in the state, Olu Owerri described Governor Uzodimma’s one year anniversary as a harvest of failure characterized with non-payment of salaries and pensions. In a release signed by the President General of the group, Chief Martins Opara, the group called on Governor Uzodimma to first account for all the Federal Government allocations accrued to the state since one year.
The group also accused the Governor of diverting over four billion naira of the local government allocation to the state in the last one year and wondered why the present Government should embark on such a wasteful event when the people are suffering under untold hardship occasioned by nonpayment of workers salaries. ” It has been one year of weeping, abandonment of local government areas, non-payment of salaries and pensions, sacking of workers and running around in the municipal only to impress visitors and urban dwellers.”
Chief Opara also noted that ” mismanagement of the state’s administrative mechanisms and lack of clear vision, commitment to best practices and rule of law have led to the loss of over five billion naira that could have come into the state treasury through World Bank and other national/ multinational agencies and organizations” The group later challenged the state government to publish the one year allocation of the state and her twenty seven local government as well as projects the allocations were used for in the last one year.
Also reacting, Coalition of Imo Progressive Stakeholders described Governor Uzodimma’s one year in office as a tragic experience for Imolites. In a press statement issued by the President of the group, Dr Ethelbert Duru, the group described Governor Uzodimma’s one year in office as a waste of time without any genuine achievements. According to Dr Duru, all the projects the present administration is claiming to have completed were the projects initiated and completed by his predecessors. He noted that ninety percent of the road projects he is commissioning were the same projects completed and commissioned by his predecessors.
“It is very unfortunate that this present Government is built on the foundation of falsehood and mendacity, that is why the Governor will be claiming all the projects initiated and completed by his predecessors. Even to the extent of recommissioning the projects he said he had earlier commissioned. The Government is still struggling to find its feet and to be accepted by Imolites and Nigerians at large. This may be the reason why the Government lacks focus and bearing.”
The group further urged Imolites not to be deceived by the antics of the present Government especially in the propagation of falsehood.
Another group, Igwebuike Imo described the event of Governor Uzodimma’s one year in office as ‘ a celebration of one year of stolen mandate’. This was contained in a release signed by its President Mazi Ike Obiora. The group noted that Governor Uzodimma’s one year anniversary is a reminder to Ndimo how their mandate was rubbed last year and called on the Governor to seek for forgiveness from Imolites rather than mocking the people through his anniversary celebration.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Imo state chapter has bycoted the interdenominational Thanksgiving service organized by the state government to mark Governor Uzodimma’s one year anniversary. In a release signed by the publicity Secretary of the group, Chief John Iwuala, the group accused the Governor of using the instrumentality of divide-and-rule since he assured power, and also turning deaf ears to critical institutions in the state. The group further pointed out that the inability of Governor Uzodimma to tell Imolites his genuine achievements and projects since his one year in office is a slap on the faces of Imolites and because of that they cannot honor the celebration of his one-year anniversary.
“The Governor’s failure to outline to us his genuine achievements, projects and action plan for the state is a slap on the faces of Ndimo as IPAC which represents the largest number of the populace as regards political party affiliation will not tolerate such disdain from the government”. The group also called on Governor Uzodimma to sit up or be ready to attract the wrath of IPAC.
