06/05/2023
SAVE IMO AMBASSADORS (SIA), OWERRI, IMO STATE, NIGERIA
PRESS RELEASE
GOV. UZODINMA SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM THE 2023 IMO GOVERNORSHIP RACE IMMEDIATELY IN THE INTEREST OF EQUITY, JUSTICE, FAIRNESS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
HE HAS MADE IMO WORSE THAN HE MET IT
As a noble organization ingrained in democratic principles, defense and sustainability, and committed to the entrenchment of quality leadership, good governance, equity, Justice, fairness, inclusiveness in the sharing of power, privileges and rights in Imo State, we employ this veritable medium to call on the Executive Governor of the State and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to as a matter of urgency and in good conscience, withdraw from the 2023 Imo Governorship race as the candidate of the party in the state.
His withdrawal from the race is very crucial and should take immediate effect in the interest and maintenance of equity, Justice, fairness and inclusiveness, as this will serve as the only potent panacea for checking and addressing the imbalances and the feeling of real, imagined or perceived marginalisation among the other zones that have least occupied the office of the governor of the State since 1979, when the state began to experience democratic rule.
At this critical point in the political history of our dear state and its democratic evolution, which has seen Imo East (Orlu zone), his own zone, produce the Governor of the state for 20 years, Imo North (Okigwe zone) for only 8 years, and Imo East (Owerri zone) for less than 2 years, it is apposite and imperative for him, as a well-meaning leader and patriotic statesman, to perish the idea of his second term ambition and support the other segments of the state, to produce the next Governor as a way of giving them a good sense of belonging.
His deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, the incumbent Lawmaker representing Okigwe South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Deacon Chike Okafor, and a host of others in Imo APC, are from the underrepresented Senatorial zones of Owerri and Okigwe respectively; and the most patriotic sacrifice he can make for our dear state in order to redeem his image and rewrite history in his favour as a leader that was just, fair and considerate, is to pick the most credible and competent among them and bequeath the APC governorship ticket to him or her. The only way to ensure equity in the race for the office of Governor in the state is to leave the 2023 contest to be between governorship candidates from Owerri zone and Okigwe zone.
His poor performance is another compelling reason he has to withdraw his candidature from the forthcoming Imo governorship race. There is no need overemphasizing that the state has retrogressed to a shadow of itself under his watch and his leadership has obviously left the State worse than he met it. The heightening spate of insecurity, killings, arson, kidnapping, hardship in the state, and subversion of the will of the people, especially in the just concluded general elections, are unprecedented. It is evident that good governance and democratic dividends have eluded the state and its people since he took charge of the helm of affairs. The absence of security has affected businesses adversely and caused economic activities and opportunities to take an all time negative turn.
Forget the cosmetic endorsements by mercantile politicians, ndi Imo are exhaustedly tired. They genuinely want positive change, security, development, economic prosperity and peace of mind. They are determined to catch a deep breath of fresh air, defend democracy, entrench quality leadership and good governance on the basis of equity, Justice and fairness, and resist any form of marginalization, oppression, retrogression, election manipulations and subversion of their will in the state.
Ndi Imo are ready to take back their state because Imo must prevail!
Rt. Hon. Michael Anyanwu
SECRETARY-GENERAL
Comrade Franklin Iwu
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Akuruka Chisomaga Naomi
DIRECTOR, WOWEN AFFAIRS
Cmrd. Paul C. Obiora
ZONAL COORDINATOR ORLU
Mr. Wilson Ogoke
ZONAL COORDINATOR OKIGWE
Amb. Iheanyi Njoku
ZONAL COORDINATOR OWERRI
30/04/2023
