Tag: Hope Uzodimma

  • Imo Guber: Gov Uzodimma Dumps Deputy, Picks Female Running Mate

    Imo Guber: Gov Uzodimma Dumps Deputy, Picks Female Running Mate

    Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has officially unveiled his running mate, Chinyere Ekomaru, ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

    The unveiling ceremony took place in Owerri on Saturday.

    Defending his decision to dump his deputy, Placid Njoku, and choosing Mrs Ekomaru, Uzodimma said: “The choice of a new running mate does not mean I have issues with the present Deputy Governor Placid Njoku.

    “The development is due to ecumenical and political permutations.”

    With this, Uzodimma has upped his game to face the challenge of the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance, AA, Lincoln Ogunewe; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Labour Party, LP, Senator Athan Achonu, among others.

  • Uzodimma Emerges APC Candidate Ahead Of Imo Guber Poll

    Uzodimma Emerges APC Candidate Ahead Of Imo Guber Poll

    Governor Hope Uzodimma, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Imo state.

    The Chairman of the Imo State Governorship Primary Election Committee, Rear Admiral William Kayoda (rtd) declared Uzodimma as the party’s flagbearer for the November 11 exercise.

    Uzodimma’s declaration followed the party’s primary election held at the Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri, the Imo state capital on Friday.

    Uzodimma polled 63,618 votes after the party adopted the direct primaries mode of election.

    In his acceptance speech, the governor promised to redouble his efforts in tackling insecurity and delivering good governance to the people of Imo State if re-elected.

    He vowed not to disappoint the people of the state if elected for a second term and expressed optimism about winning the November exercise.

  • Attacks On INEC Offices In Imo ‘Politically Contrived’ – Uzodimma

    Attacks On INEC Offices In Imo ‘Politically Contrived’ – Uzodimma

    Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has condemned the incessant attacks on offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, describing them as “politically contrived”.

    The governor made the comment at the Imo Police Command Headquarters in Owerri on Monday in the aftermath of an attack on the INEC headquarters in the South-East state which led to five deaths.

    “If we collaborate this with the events of the past, we have continuously said that what is happening in Imo State is politically contrived,” he said while addressing the press after the visit.

    “Some people think that they can win the election yet they don’t want the election. How would they now win?”

    With less than three months to the general election, Governor Uzodimma described the attacks as a distraction to the electoral body.

    Three of the attackers were killed while two police officers died in the incident.

    “The attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) were burnt,” INEC’s National Commissioner Festus Okoye said in a statement hours after the incident.

    “The response of the security and emergency services (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the Commission. No critical election materials were destroyed. There were also no casualties involving staff of the Commission.

    “This is the third attack on the Commission’s facilities in Imo State in less than two weeks following the earlier attacks on our Orlu LGA office on Thursday 1st December 2022 and Oru West LGA office on Sunday 4th December 2022.”

    The incident, which happened as voters begin the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 general election, INEC said, is systematic.

  • 2023: Choice Of Running Mate Lies With Tinubu, Not APC Governors – Uzodimma

    2023: Choice Of Running Mate Lies With Tinubu, Not APC Governors – Uzodimma

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday said the choice of picking a running mate for Bola Tinubu lies with the ex-Lagos governor, rather than Governors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    On June 8, Tinubu emerged as the APC presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections after beating Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, among others.

    A week after the party’s presidential primary, Uzodimma, who was also the Chairman of the APC special convention, briefed reporters in Abuja after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The decision to choose a running mate does not reside with any of us, the governors. It is the presidential candidate that will look at the local characteristics and every factor that will make him win the election,” he said.

    “There is nowhere in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where religion is a factor as to who becomes the President or running mate.

    “We are looking for a united Nigeria where governance will be the issue, a President will be adjudged by his capacity to deliver democratic dividends.”

    According to him, the South-East is ripe to produce Nigeria’s next President for the sake of equity and justice.

    Despite the setback for the region, the governor pledged to work with Tinubu in the forthcoming election to ensure that the party retains power.

    Uzodimma further underscored that what is most fundamental is the aim for a united Nigeria where democratic governance is upheld, noting that the South-East zone will work on what has so far prevented it from attaining the goal of producing a President.

    Earlier, President Buhari had met with APC governors at the Council Chamber.

    Governors of Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Imo, Nasarawa, Kogi and Plateau States were present at the meeting.

  • South-East Should Produce Next President — Uzodimma

    South-East Should Produce Next President — Uzodimma

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Special Convention, has said the Southeast should produce the next president of Nigeria.

    Uzodinma said the Southeast was denied the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s next president due to the lack of equity.

    Speaking with Channels Television, the governor said the Southeast can’t produce Nigeria’s next president due to injustice.

    According to Uzodinma: “From the view of political calculation, the sentiment of the people in the south-east is that they deserve to produce the president because the reason why this power is moving from the north to the south is that the current president is from the north having served for seven years.

    “The reason why the south-east is asking for it is that when the power came to the south it went to the south-west and was there for eight years and the next time it came to the south it went to the south-south and it was there for seven years plus.

    “The natural thing to do and the justice of the case is that now that power is coming again to the south and since it is only three geo-political zones that made up the south, it should come to the south-east, having been in the south-west and south-south.

    “In a situation where equity should be the issue we (south-east) don’t need to struggle for it. But here again, you see how it has come. We will continue to hope that one day God will touch the heart of our brothers and sisters to do that which belongs to us.”

  • Gov Uzodimma Endorse Lawan For 2023 Presidency

    Gov Uzodimma Endorse Lawan For 2023 Presidency

    The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma told the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday that he sees hope in him.

    Governor Uzodimma made the remarks after Lawan addressed the All Progressives Congress(APC) leaders and delegates from the five Southeast states of Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu who converged at the party Secretariat in Owerri.

    Uzodimma said it was clear that President Muhammadu Buhari would have to give recommendations and guidance on the succession plans but prayed that the President would see what some of them had seen.

    Governor Uzodimma said: “The party is aware that it is only our President, President Muhammadu Buhari who understands the demography and the character of the current national politics vis-a-vis the insecurity, economy and the public welfare and the party will also be guided by his recommendations in managing the succession plans.

    “These delegates are still here. They have cried for a very long time against not given sufficient recognition and relevance to the people of Southeast.

    “That is why I’m almost certain that they will not be influenced by money nor by any material influence. They will do that which will attract to our people the relevance and recognition nationally that we have been looking for, for a very long time.

    “I have listened to you. Very brilliant ideology. I have also seen that you are highly detribalised and nationalistic. I think, in you, I can see hope.

    “Therefore, I will recommend very highly that Mr President in his wisdom, guided by the spirit of God, will also see what some of us have seen.

    “One assurance that you should take home is that, Northeast and Southeast are related by blood. Getting no-objection certificate from Mr President, we will not be stopped by anybody.

    “So when you go home, greet our brothers and sisters. Before you came, our own brother, the Governor of Ebonyi came to address the delegates.

    “And in doing so, he also recognised copiously the relationship between Northeast and Southeast to the extent that he even re-echoed that the two geo-political zones are the most marginalised in Nigeria.

    “Therefore, whatever comes to Southeast is as good as it has gone to Northeast. And whatever goes to Northeast is as good as it has come to Southeast. We are with you.

    “You are completely loyal to the leadership of our great Party, APC, under the command of President Muhammadu Buhari and I’m almost certain that our decision may likely be guided by his recommendations and counsel.”

    Earlier, Lawan who described Uzodimma as the “Lion of the Southeast” said he had been a “major pillar in all my political journey since we started.

    “He was at the forefront in 2015, you know he was a Senator, he wanted me to be Senate President. He worked so hard tirelessly.

    “But today, to the Glory of God, this our brother, the Governor of Imo state, has worked so hard to also keep this campaign going. Actually, he presented my completed nomination form.”

    The Senate President outlined his plans to the delegates if given the chance to fly the flag of his party the APC and if elected as President:

    “For me, it is security first. Because you need to secure the people. Even for them to go to their farms or to go to their markets or to go about their local businesses, they need to be secured.

    “This is a challenge that this administration has been working so hard to ensure that every citizen is secured.

    “I am coming from the Northeast. Coming from Yobe State. We were under the domination of Boko Haram between 2014 and 2015, before President Muhammadu Buhari took office.

    “Today we are far safer. Most of the insurgents are coming out to surrender with their families. Their leaders have been killed.

    “Of course, before President Muhammadu Buhari took over, about 15 or 16 of our Local Governments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were under the full control of Boko Haram. But we still have challenges.

    “That is a success story for our administration. That is the kind of story we want repeated in all parts of Nigeria. We are battling so hard in the Northwest and some parts of the Northcentral with the bandits and kidnappers and of course in the south particularly the Southeast which is a recent development.

    “The Southeast is supposed to be our South Korea. It’s supposed to be our Japan. It’s supposed to be our America in Nigeria. Very ingenious people. Very enterprising people.

    “And therefore, we must never allow our past history, history told by colonialists….we are the same people because whether you are coming from the North or From the South or the East or the West, you are a Nigerian.

    “And as a Nigerian, you will pray and work that every Nigerian in every part of Nigeria succeeds and be in peace because what happens here in Owerri affects me in Yobe and what happens in Yobe affects you here.

    “So I believe that given the opportunity, and we are already doing something, we must have a national integration policy. National cohesion.

    “What does that mean? It is for us to ensure that there is fairness and access to social, economic and political opportunities. This is one way to go because most of the time, the crisis, the conflict is about the resource distribution, opportunity that is available to everyone.

    “But I believe that we must continue to work for national integration to give everyone a sense of belonging. If you are a business man you should excel in any part of Nigeria you chose to be.

    “Secondly, having secured our nation, we must continue to work for the improvement in our economy. Our economy is already the largest in Africa and that is a feat. We have been able to succeed to maintain the number one position despite two years of COVID 19 that we suffered.

    “One thing is that we need to improve to make this economy more productive and more inclusive. That is to say that those at the highest level should not enjoy at the expense of those at the lowest part of the ladder.

    “That is to say if you are a small trader, you should have some support. You already have some support, the empowerment programmes by the present administration.

    “But what we need to do is to ensure that in areas like the Southeast, where majority of people are business oriented, the Small and Medium Scales Enterprises, will have to be supported. Once everybody has something to do, nobody will like to call for any trouble.

    “So I want to make that my mission, that employment opportunities must come through support to SMEs.

    “I want to see a situation where our women will continue to play a dominant role but I’m particularly also concerned about our youth, I believe to transform Nigeria, you have to transform our youth. Take them off the streets. Take them to schools.

    “We must invest in our education. We have to introduce entrepreneurship development courses so that those who are not able to go to tertiary Institutions should be useful in one trade or the other.

    “I want to assure you that a vote for me is a vote for progress in Nigeria, for stability in Nigeria, for prosperity in our country.”

    A day earlier, the Senate President told APC delegates from Niger State that he has all it takes to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari whose tenure comes to an end in May 2023.

    “I am equipped. I have experience enough, I have what it takes to be Nigerian President after President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office,” Lawan stated at Minna in Niger state.

    Lawan and his campaign team met the State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, the delegates to the upcoming APC Presidential primaries and later paid homage to the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago.

    The lawmaker solicited the votes of the delegates against the background of what he has to offer, his vast experience in governance and the stability that he brought to the parliament.

    “For the last three years, I have been the Senate President. I have been able to work very well with all my colleagues regardless of their political parties.

    “We have been able to make the Senate very stable, peaceful and very productive and today, we have been able to make so many laws because we are at peace.
    “It is that type of stability, that type of peace, that kind of unity that I want to bring into the Villa by the Grace of God next year.

    “I am running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because of what I believe in. For me, mandate is service.

    “Having served in the Legislature and having been working with Mr President as the Senate President, I therefore get close to governance, a very good participant in governance at the national level.

    “I am equipped. I have experience enough, I have what it takes to be Nigerian President after President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office.

    “At my age, and I’m a very young man. I’m only 63 years, in between the old and the new. I believe that I can carry the young. And the young is the centre piece of my policy.

    “But first let me tell you what I want to do for us. Security. We all know that Niger state has been at the receiving end of insecurity and I know how hard our friend, our Governor has been working to secure the lives of the people of this state.

    “The Federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has been doing a lot. We have conquered the Boko Haram in the north east. But we still have challenges in the northwest, in this part of north central.

    “It is my intention to continue to work with our President to fight insecurity in every part of Nigeria until he finishes his tenure by the Grace of God on the 29th May, 2023.

    “It is my intention to start to serve as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to build on the succeses that our President would achieve when he will leave office.

    “I believe that we need to consider the architecture of our security system. I believe in citizens participation in security. You and I, report what you see to the relevant authourities.They say if you see something, say something. If you see bandits, inform the appropriate authourities.

    “I want to see a situation where citizens who volunteer information are protected. I want to see a situation where our traditional rulers, the traditional Institutions play a role in securing our communities. They use to do it before. We can bring them back to do it. There is nothing more important to us today in Nigeria than security. That will be my priority.

    “I also want to build on the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari on the economy of Nigeria. I believe that it is still not yet what we want but we are better than many countries.

    “Finally, Niger state is an Agricultural state. I want a situation where at least every geo-political zone will have one crop that will be nurtured for production, for processing and for marketing.

    “That is to say that it is not enough for us in Niger state to produce yam only. We should produce the yam, process the yam and sell with a higher value.I believe that this is one way to deal with the youth unemployment,” Lawan said.

    In his response, Governor Sani Bello thanked the Senate President and his team for the visit.

    “I think he has laid out his plans for Niger state for you delegates to consider. So that you give him your mandate to represent our party at the next presidential election.

    “I don’t need to say much. You all heard when he started. He has been in the National Assembly since 1999. I don’t think anyone has broken that record yet in Nigeria,” Governor Bello said.

    The Senate President was accompanied on the trip from Abuja by former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Ambassador Sam Nkire, Navy Commodore Mohammed Barau, mni and Engineer Isa Ahmed.

  • APC Crisis: Buni Remains APC Caretaker Chairman – Gov Uzodimma

    APC Crisis: Buni Remains APC Caretaker Chairman – Gov Uzodimma

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma on Monday said his Yobe State counterpart Mai Mala Buni remains the the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress’ Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

    Buni’s position had come under scrutiny last week after Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State assumed the Chairmanship position.

    Bello took over after Buni had left the country for medical treatment.

    The Niger State Governor’s chairmanship is said to backed by the President, according to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, amid reports that Buni was planning on delaying the APC’s planned convention this month.

    However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Uzodimma said due process will have to be followed for Buni to be removed from his position.

    “APC is a very serious party,” he said. “Everything going on at the secretariat now are going on with the knowledge of Mai Mala Buni. And as soon as he comes back, he will also take over the realms of the party.”

    To remove Buni, a meeting of the National Executive Committee must be convened, Uzodimma added.

    “The right organ of the party to take and implement such decisions is the National Executive Committee. Have we summoned that committee? Because if we do, INEC will be invited to observe. And if they observe, whatever decision taken will be known to them.”

  • Imo Governor Sacks 20 Commissioners, Dissolves Cabinet

    Imo Governor Sacks 20 Commissioners, Dissolves Cabinet

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has sacked 20 commissioners and dissolved the State executive council.

    This was announced on Wednesday shortly after the state executive council meeting in Owerri, the state capital.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy Declan Emelumba told journalists that the reason for the dissolution is to rejig the activities of the state government after one year in office.

    He added that out of the 28 commissioners only eight commissioners were left to carry on with their activities.

    The commissioners are Health, Information, Tourism, Women Affairs, Works, Finance, Youths and the Ministry of Technology.

    Details later…

  • #EndSARS: Gov Hope Uzodimma Approves Release Of N2bn For Youth Empowerment

    #EndSARS: Gov Hope Uzodimma Approves Release Of N2bn For Youth Empowerment

    Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma has approved the immediate release of a takeoff fund of two billion naira out of the six billion naira earmarked for an accelerated youth empowerment programme.

    The Governor disclosed this in a statewide broadcast in Owerri the Imo state capital on Saturday.

    Governor Uzodinma said the two billion naira will be deployed for the training of the first batch of beneficiaries of the scheme known as the Imo State Special Youth Empowerment and Intervention Programme which will commence next week.

    He added that an estimated number of 500,000 Imo youths in different skills acquisition will be given start-up capital.

    While also assuring Imo indigenes that the security operatives are on the trail of those that masterminded the carnage and destruction of properties in the state, he noted that the 24 hours curfew earlier imposed in all parts of the state has been reviewed.

  • Gov. Uzodimma relaxes curfew from 6pm-6am

    Gov. Uzodimma relaxes curfew from 6pm-6am

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, on Saturday relaxed the 24 hours curfew imposed on the state following the wanton destruction unleashed in some parts of the state during #Endsars protest across the country.

    The governor who announced this during a state broadcast on Saturday, said as the situation in the state and the country gradually returns to normal, “it is necessary to relax the curfew announced on Wednesday.”

    Consequently, he said the curfew will now start from 6pm to 6am everyday for now, adding that those on approved essential services are however exempted from the curfew.

    He commended the youths across the country in general and in Imo State in particular for heeding to President Muhammadu Buhari and his calls to end the protests.

    He also lauded the youths from across the country in general for conducting themselves responsibly during the #EndSARS protests by pulling out after making their grievances known, noting that the unfortunate destruction of government facilities and private property in Imo in the guise of protests afterwards was the handiwork of mercenaries hired to wreak havoc in the state.

    Governor Uzodimma also announced the immediate release of N2 billion as take-off fund for the training of the first batch of the beneficiaries of a comprehensive youth empowerment scheme in the state.

    The money will be taken out of the N6 billion the government has earmarked for an accelerated youth empowerment programme in Imo.

    “I am glad to announce to you therefore that my government has approved an immediate release of a take-off fund of N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) out of N6,000,000,000 (Six Billion Naira) earmarked for an accelerated youth empowerment programme.

    “The N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) take off fund will be deployed for the training of the first batch of the beneficiaries of this scheme which will commerce next week,” the governor explained.

    The empowerment programme, the governor said, is targeted at an estimated 500,000 Imo youths to be trained in the 1st, 2nd & 3rd batches in different skills acquisition programmes within the next two years, including providing them with start-up capital to begin their own enterprises.

    “The training will come under the Imo State Special Youth Empowerment and Intervention Programme (IMYEIP) and to be overseen by the State’s Ministry of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship.”