Hon. Declan Emelumb, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy. Pix by Everest Ezihe, Owerri.
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Hon. Declan Emelumba, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy says, the Imo State indigenes resident in United States of America, USA has thumbed up Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Shared Prosperity administration for instituting people oriented legacy projects and programmes in the State within the last 5 and 1/2 years of the government.
Emelumba who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Authority Newspaper in his office at the State Secretariat along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri on Tuesday barely 2 days on arrival from the two weeks official interactive visit to Imo State indigenes residing in United States of America.
According to him, ” I went for an official visit in United States of America, to represent Governor Hope Uzodimma in an important annual function, known as Imo State Congress of America, ISCA which is an exclusive sociocultural cum political body for Imo State indigenes living in America.
“It’s pertinent to know that Imo State government for the past 3 years has been on attendance of the crucial event, that usually holds in the month of July each year.
“As equally critical stakeholders, the essence is to keep them physically updated on the activities of the State government and each year, they usually have a theme,fortunately,the 2025 theme is, “Security in Imo State”.
He expressed gratitude that the official visit, offered him, an opportunity to let the Imo State indigenes residing in USA to know the actual security situation in the State.
“Honestly, I made them to understand the truth, that the security situation is getting better on daily basis and it was not as bad as it was, about 3 years ago, more so, as being atimes propagated and blackmailed by detractors of the State government often using the social media.
“It’s not as if, it is yet totally uhuru, because there are atimes, you witnessed picketing of security breaches, however as isolated cases, which is often here and there. Generally speaking, security situation in Imo State is getting better, and I think they bought into the truth. Thus, it was good that I was there.
“I equally used the opportunity to let them know, the giant strides achievements of Governor Hope Uzodimma for the past 5 and 1/2 years. I presented to them, the state of the State address which is a consummate of the Governor’s achievements so far and within the period under review”.
The Commissioner emphatically stated that, It was quite good as many of them were excited and expressed gratitude for being properly informed.
He also informed that they thanked the Governor for sending him and for being better informed, even as many of them equally confessed that they are aware that the security situation in the State has drastically been addressed but enjoined the Governor to do more.
Emelumba further disclosed that the foreign residents were highly impressed with the State government legacy projects and programmes, especially vision 24/7 power supply, multi billionaire Naira magnificent Assumpta Flying Over, the International Conference Center, legacy expressed roads like Owerri-Umuahia, Owerri-Okigwe, Owerri-Orlu, ongoing Owerri- Aba and Owerri- Port Harcourt, with numerous effective and efficient internal networks of urban and rural roads.
“They appreciated the gospel truth that the State government is working and they encouraged the Governor not to relent”.
He also pointed out that the major benefits of the official visit, was to market the State and her government positively based on truth and realties on the ground noting that most often, the State diasporans are being deceived into believing falsehoods that emanates from the social media.
“It has become an obvious truth, that most of these reports originating from the social media are not correct. They are doctored falsehood. Thus, they have the benefits of first hand hearing of the truth from the player of the system and then have a better knowledge of what’s happening in their State, and they’re happy.
“They even suggested the need for the State government to have a liaison office in USA, so that her activities could be easily accessed, marketed and confirmed. It was a wholesome interactive visit” Emelumba happily stated.
