Imo plans Council elections soon, says Uzodimma

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has said that the state was planning to hold elections into local government councils.

Uzodinma gave the hint on Sunday while addressing the congregation after Church Service at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, the Imo State capital, when he also urged the people to continue to disregard any sit-at-home call.

According to the Governor, the sit-at-home directive was aimed at creating anarchy, even as he warned those he accused of sponsoring killings in the that no Imolite would die in vain.

“Soon the State Independent Electoral Commission will roll out the time table for the conduct of Local Government Area elections in Imo State,” he said, adding that government will “encourage them to properly constitute the various organs at the local government areas for effective and efficient administration at the grassroots level.”

The Governor used to opportunity to, again, remind Imo people not to obey any directive on sit-at-home “as it is only a ploy by the opposition to distract and disorganize the people and government.”

“They only inflict pains and discomfort on our people, especially those on daily income who must go out every day to feed their families, the Governor said.”

He said government has already put strategies in place to address the various agitations of Igbo people, insisting that “to achieve them (agitations), it must not be through violence or by killing ourselves.”

“If really what we are looking for is to ensure Igbos are not marginalized or to have our own country, we have to be alive to achieve such, and not by killing ourselves.”

“More so, what we have now is Nigeria. It is from Nigeria that we are asking for our fair share and equity, for justice and fairness. Therefore, we must submit to the sovereignty of the country.”

He said he was a product of the Nigerian Constitution, noting: “I am committed to defending the Constitution of Nigeria, I am under oath to defend it and I will continue to defend it.”

Governor Uzodimma asked Imo people not to be afraid of the activities of the political jobbers who “hide under the guise of IPOB and ESN and hire bandits, to import killers into Imo State to kill our innocent brothers and sisters.”

“Already,” he added, we are collecting intelligence and we are committed to making sure our people don’t die in vain,” he said.

He encouraged people to come out today (Monday) and be rest assured that nobody will molest them as they go about their legitimate businesses.

Governor Uzodimma reaffirmed that government is available and also willing to listen to genuine complaints from her citizens. “Government and democracy are there for the people, therefore while killing government, one was as well killing the people.”

He said his government would not encourage violence, bloodletting and irresponsibility in the name of politics, insisting that his administration was determined to maintain law and order.

Governor Uzodimma charged the leaders and traditional rulers at the various levels to join hands with Government and speak out and more importantly, “condemn evil as both God and man detest anything evil.” He noted that, “the only way we can be grateful to God is by conducting ourselves in a manner that Gold will be happy.”

The Governor further used the opportunity to thank the people of Imo State again for their support since his assumption of office and commended the APC members in the State for the way and manner they conducted themselves during the State Congress that was devoid of rancour and acrimony.

He reiterated that he has come to serve and not to be served,” and that “together Imo people will get the best of dividends of democracy.”

Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachukwu, in a statement Sunday, said that Uzodinma commended the new State APC Chairman, Macdonald Ebere, and his team, as well as the immediate past Chairman, Chief Marcillenus Nlemigbo, for his maturity and the manner he coordinated the Congresses at the Wards and Councils in Imo State and prayed God to continue to guide them in their individual and collective endeavours.