From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
For the first time since the inception of Shared Prosperity and 3- R mantra government of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to officially visit the Eastern Heartland State this Thursday.
Uzodimma disclosed this on Saturday to Newsmen at Imo International Cargo Airport shortly on arrival from Abuja where he had gone for the past three weeks and said to be addressing issues concerning the state.
He pointed out that the President would be in the State to commission some legacy projects his administration has completed since her assumption of office 20 months ago.
According to him ” I also secured approval for President Muhammadu Buhari to visit Imo State on Thursday, September 9, 2021, to commission some significant projects put together by the Shared Prosperity Administration.”
He pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari did not only buy into the Governor’s position on the World Bank, NEWMAP, ecological programmes etc, but has confirmed to the Governor his intention to come to the state and commission giants stride projects.
Governor Uzodimma informed that he had to embark on the working visit to Abuja so as to “resolve some critical issues that were supposed to be handled in Abuja.” Such issues, he noted, include but not limited to the World Bank programmes on RURAL roads, the NEWMAP projects and other erosion control issues
Besides, the Governor further said that he “used the opportunity to address some political matters.”
His words: “The good news is that Imo has been able to attract additional support from Mr. President on management of some ecological problems in the State.”
Speaking on his assignment as the Chairman, APC Campaign Council for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election, Governor Uzodimma acknowledged the importance of the responsibility entrusted on him by his party and assured that he is doing his best to take the message of what the people stand to gain should they vote APC to win the election scheduled for November 6, 2021.
The Governor said: “The Southeast desire is to join the national politics and those of us in the committee are doing our best to convince our people in Anambra State that we will be better for it if they are in APC.”
He reiterated that “joining the party at the centre will enable the Southeast leaders manage the welfare and trust of their people better.”
Governor Uzodimma further explained : “The Southeast has suffered a great deal of marginalization. The Southeast has been excluded in many things, the reason being that Nigeria is practising partisan democracy, and once you are with the ruling party, there are some advantages you will get outside those who are not in that party. This is no longer a secret.
“As a result, the Southeast wants to be part of the party at the centre now, so that we can get both our rights and privileges.”
On the APC Local Government Council Congress in the State, the Governor assured that “everything had been put in place by the leaders for a transparent, free and fair congress,” noting that reports available indicates that the exercise went on well across the 27 local government areas of Imo State.
