In the present precarious and uncertain era of the nation, Imo State inclusive when the global infection of Coronavirus code named Covid-19 pandemic has given a death blow on nations, necessitating to total lockdown or sit at home order and other harsh measures, scientific, political, technology and or ideologies to curtail the virus, people have come up with variety of ideas to overcome the harsh or rather adverse effect on the social economic and well-being of the state and the citizens.
Here in our dear Imo State,while we express gratitude to God and salute Governor Hope Uzodinma that we have not recorded large scale number of Covid-19 patients or death, suffice it to state that the people may face hunger and starvation due to economic strangulation or crunch that might be worse than Covid-19.
In pursuance of these objectives, the Governor should apply caution, diplomacy and human face in order not to fall into the mistakes of his predecessors or step into booby traps.
Recently we heard from the grapevine that there are plans to sell highly prized custom built Limousine acquired by the shortlived Ihedioha’s administration at give away prize, to raise money to pay workers salary. It is on air that the government through a formula from the office of the Accountant General for Local Governments was able to save N2 billion a month, yet most local government workers and pensioners have not been paid for subsequent two months now.
Today we have it on good authority that some of the Governor’s aides are mooting the idea of concessioning some of the productive and commercial ventures of the government for their selfish gains. The word concession and its application have been the undoing of past governments of Imo, especially that of Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Emeka Ihedioha.
Some of the people’s common wealth being eyed include the Adapalm agro industry at Ohaji/Egbema (the goose that lays the golden eggs), the unrecovered Avutu poultry farm, the money spilling Imo Transport Company (ITC) and even the unequipped 27 general hospitals and perhaps the Dan Anyiam International Stadium complex Those who mooted this idea of concessioning public properties to the Governor do so for what they intended to gain (selfish reasons) and ought to be declared public enemies No 1.
They will also end up at concessioning the public water supply, tax and other revenue collection as was the case of Owelle Rochas Okorochas regime and re-introduce multiple bank account system instead of the TSA that has been adopted and presently is yielding results. We appeal that all gold-diggers to step aside now to avoid a backlash of their nefarious activities!
We call on all those coming up with the idea and plot of concessioning Imo state to jettison such plans before Imolites will come out of the lockdown to treat as Ebola and Covid-19 pandemic, those identified to be behind these criminal tendencies.
The present school of commissioners comprises of Professors egg-heads, technocrats, business experts who can take one week leave to visit our sister states of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers and Rivers to under study how to run patriotic government businesses, some of our elder statesmen such as late Dr Mike Okpara, Sam Mbakwe and other regimes, appointees are still alive to offer suggestions. Assuming the idea of concessioning is not for personal or selfish gains, nobody would suggest the idea to the Governor.
If we carry the people and deploy the principle of “Ibu anyi danda, and Onugotu” with which we built Imo airport, Imo vasity, Orlu/Okigwe/Mbaise Regional Water Works, Avutu poultry farm, Amaraku/Izombe power stations and with honesty and sincerity of purpose, we shall succeed.
We salute Governor Hope Uzodinma for taking the bold step to return some of the public establishments including Adapalm to the state for service and profit.
