The Peoples Democratic Party PDP has expressed dismay at the adverse socio-economic implications of the emergence of the Hope Uzodinma administration on Imo people at the instance of the supreme court judgment of January, 14, 2020 which has led to the collapse of all sectors of the economy and dismantling of the well researched and articulated programs, policies and blue print of action put in place by the Emeka Ihedioha administration with a view to rebuilding the state.
The party also noted with regret that “Senator Uzodinma’s illegitimate administration has remorselessly abdicated its primary constitutional obligation of ensuring security of lives and property, but has politicized a reprehensible and unfortunate development which has gulped countless innocent lives, as bandits, terrorists, cannibals, kidnappers and unknown gunmen have displaced and made thousands of citizens and homeless.”
This was contained in a press statement issued by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, dated January, 16.
The main opposition political party further noted that, “It is curious that Senator Uzodinma, until now, is yet to refute a very weighty allegation by the Senator representing his own senatorial district who accused him of being a mastermind of a deadly hit squad that is backed by his administration. Most areas in Orlu Zone are currently under the firm grip of gunmen, a situation that has thousands of our citizens internally displaced.
“Our party and indeed the people of Imo State regret that Senator Uzodinma suspended and summarily dismantled all the foundations and programmes our Rebuild Imo administration painstakingly put in place in all the sectors towards the rebuilding of Imo State. Our government commenced the Treasury Single Account, Autonomy for local government system, Technical and Skills Development Colleges, Automated Payment System for prompt payment of salaries and pensions, agricultural revolution, infrastructural revolution, civil service reform, revival of ISOPADEC, Technology and ICT development, qualitative free education etc.
“These and other programmes of the Rebuild Imo Administration were dumped by Uzodinma even when he embarked on a borrowing spree, in most cases, nocturnally, which has placed Imo as the most indebted State in the entire South East. This is worrisome given that the regime still cannot point to any landmark project it has done in two years to justify the huge borrowings.”
The PDP also expressed concern over what it referred to as questionable acquisition of loans pointing out that “Last year alone, the regime accessed over N59 billion loans from foreign and domestic sources. This year, 2022, Senator Uzodinma has perfected plans to borrow additional N61 billion. When added to well over N103 billion which has come to the local government areas from FAAC under Uzodinma, the N105 billion which has come to the State also from FAAC, the N24 billion which the State has internally generated and the N10 billion which represents the 13% Oil Derivation, it is heartbreaking that there is nothing in Imo to show for the monies.
“This is obviously not the Imo State we envisioned for our children.
Within the years under review, Senator Uzodinma has had neither a well researched policy nor direction in the various sectors of the state. This is the calamity that has befallen our State.
“Our party notes with great pain that within two years, Senator Uzodinma has made our state, Imo, the unemployment capital of Nigeria. It is noteworthy that the relevant rating board, the Presidential Business Enabling Environment Council, has consistently placed Imo at the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of ease of doing business in Nigeria. Worse still, within two years, our state ranks highest in the South East in terms of infant and maternal mortality rates.
“Imo has collapsed under Gov. Uzodinma
In the past two years, Senator Uzodinma has willfully denied workers and retirees their salaries and pensions. When workers stage protests, they are tagged fake and brutalized by agents of the government. Also, the local government system has been completely emasculated, defunded and stripped of autonomy, thus, giving way for mass misery at the grassroots.
We wish to encourage the people of Imo State to keep the spirit alive. This regime must expire very soon to give way for a PDP led government for the good of the people.”
