From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Governor Hope Uzodimma has described as a bold move the decision taken by former staunch political allies of former Imo State governor Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying that they are political magnets.
He also commended them for their political foresight, courage and wisdom. Among the defectors are Chief Chris Okewulonu, associate and ardent supporter Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, who had served as his Chief of staff during his seven-month period as governor, former House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, former Commissioner and one time PDP Deputy Governorship candidate to Ihedioha in 2015, Hon Chuma Nnaji, Hon Jonas Okeke, candidate of the PDP for Okigwe South.
Welcoming the decampees at the state secretariat of the party at the weekend, Governor Uzodimma said he understood what it meant to take such bold decisions, noting that he was not surprised because “genuine members of the political class in Imo State want it to move forward regardless of political leaning.”
He spoke further: “For the wisdom, courage to take this decision, we must commend you, and I welcome all of you to our party. Real stakeholders or political class in Imo State have once more come together. This is Hope Renewed, new programme, new agenda.”
The governor who used the opportunity to brief the old and new party members on his laudable programmes and projects that will drive human traffic to Imo and put the state on the trajectory of development in the future, said he was not in doubt the new entrants have come to add value to the state given their rich resume in public and private sector.
He noted that his dream of having Imo State fully connected via a road network that will cut across the three senatorial zones, and require people from all the zones to access one another in record time, with 24-hours power supply is already in progress and urged the people to patiently join hands with him to realise the objective.
The governor decried the situation where those who claim to be leaders in Imo clandestinely support and even fund insecurity in the state with the attendant killing of innocent people, all in the name of politics.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Imo APC Chairman, Dr. Macdonald Ebere, admonished the fresh members to come into the party with their whole heart.
He reminded them that they took the best decision to join the APC, insisting that when one joins the party is irrelevant because what members bring to the table is cherished more than when they became members.
Speaking earlier at their reception by the leadership of the Imo APC at its State Secretariat in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Okewulonu said that his decision to join the ruling APC was informed by the protracted disagreements and schism in both the Labour Party and People’s Democratic Party, which should have constituted the frontline opposition parties and that he could no longer continue to remain a member of an ineffective opposition.
His words: “In the light of the protracted disagreements and schisms in both of the parties which should, and were actually looked upon to constitute the frontline opposition parties in Nigeria, I found myself questioning whether as a veritable statesman in the polity of Imo State and even Nigeria at large. I could not afford to continue paying lip service to being a member of an ineffective, nearly non-existent opposition. You’re aware that I was a principal part of the administration that the incumbent governor Senator Hope Uzodimma took over from.
“I maintained a studied silence and distance from happenings in Imo State from the time we left the office, with a view to critically observe the new administration and where it was headed. Five years down the road, I have come to the inescapable conviction that the 3R administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma has meant well as for the people of Imo state, and has been doing its utmost to effectively and efficiently deliver dividends of good governance to them.”
Okewuluonu, thanked governor Uzodimma for giving him opportunity to join the APC and to be in the vanguard of supporting him and his passion for the betterment of the lives of the people of Imo State.