–Poised To Emergence Of Popular Candidate
Imo Liberation Movement (ILM), a group said to have a strong membership base in the 305 wards of the state will be inaugurated in Imo State on Saturday, October, 7, 2023.
The group’s Publicity Secretary, Gideon Nwafor who spoke to our correspondent said, “ILM is committed to ensuring free, fair and transparent election that will culminate in the emergence of the most credible candidate as the Governor of Imo State on November, 11, 2023”.
He further stated that, Imo people have been taken for a ride by the elites who had always dictated the pace of political events, activities and outcome of elections. Hence, the formation of the group which is poised to change the narrative for the good of the people whose mandate the politicians and their cronies exercise in trust.
“It is on record that the previous elections of political leaders, were left in the hands of the elites who did not only abuse the trust and confidence reposed in them but also used the opportunities to patronize their friends, associates, siblings and cronies without recourse to merit, capacity and ability to deliver”.
“They exhibited absolute lack of patriotism to the detriment of the state and her people whose collective interests, hopes and aspirations have been consistently dashed.
“This time around, it will not be business as usual, as Imo people will decide who will be their Governor through the ballot box”.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the group in Oru East who pleaded anonymity, said, “Oru East Local Government Area, is the worst in this administration and in the current dispensation. Hence, we are mobilizing massively to ensure that a situation where few individuals sit in a place to decide who ever they want as winner of an election does not repeat it’self. That era is gone and gone for ever. The peoples’ votes must count because enough is enough”.
The group which has its motto as freedom, peace and progress also said that, its mission is to save and rescue Imo people from socio-economic and political stagnation.
A release it issued after the emergency meeting it held in Owerri reads as follows: “people have lost confidence in their leaders because of double standards. The leaders have abandoned their followers and joined government because of road contracts and cash settlement. Even when some of those followers lost their lives fighting for them. Appointments that were supposed to provide jobs for the youths were blocked due to hatred.
Lack of unity among the leaders has led to intolerance and inability to render useful advice on how to restore peace and normalcy in the state while insecurity seems to have become the norm rather than the exception in the state. Hence socio-economic activities in most parts of the state have collapsed entirely”.
“Our people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed as killings, kidnapping, arson, destruction of properties and other vices have assumed frightening proportions.
Yet, our people are being deceived on daily basis with fake projects and promises. Contracts are executed at exorbitant costs in order to siphon our resources abroad through the contractors who are mostly accomplices. Lands are frivolously allocated to curry favour and ill-motivated political support at the expense of the people”.
“Greed has regrettably taken over the entire Imo landscape to the extent that no one performs any government assignment without milking the state dry, while allocations that are accruable to the local government councils are not accounted for”.
“We therefore, urge Governor Hope Uzodinma to resign and save our people from more deaths or we vote him out in the November 11 election. Having noticed that almost all the above identified problems are security related, we the members of Imo Liberation Movement, hereby announce to the public that as long as this administration continues to be in office, our people will not know peace. Therefore, we shall mobilize all our supporters and urge all well meaning sons and daughters of Imo State to join us bring back peace to our state by voting out this APC government. We may not know who will replace him for now. But we will choose among other candidates before the election who to vote for. We don’t belong to any party but will choose who to support that will guarantee Imo people safety”.
