-Disown Group Clamouring For Concession
Franchise owners of the Imo State Transport Company (ITC) have frowned at the rumour making rounds that the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said to be more modest and circumspect in the administration of human and material resources has plans to concession the Transport Company.
Writing under the auspices of ITC Franchise Owners Association, they denied supporting or encouraging any form of concessioning as being insinuated by some mischief makers who went on radio with such unfunded claims.They disowned the group,insisting that they are not members of ITC franchise owners Association.They challenged the said individuals to show evidence of membership.
According to a release signed Chief VC Igwe and Chief Moses O Uzoechi as President and Secretary respectively “it is on record that since the emergence of Chief Iheanyi Ibeh as Acting General Manager of ITC, we the investors have not been deprived of our hard earned entitlement, unlike the experience we had in the past. In that era of concession, even though we own over 90% of the buses in ITC, individuals who came in the name of concessioniers diverted our profits to themselves and never paid ITC staff for most of the period. The business premises were unkept while offices were decadent.
The members stated this when the deliberated extensively on the issue over the weekend in Owerri. They condemned the wide spread speculation and pleaded with the governor to intervane to ensure they don’t lose their investment.
They said,”Governor Uzodinma’s wise decision to return ITC under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport unlike Emeka Ihedioha, who made it autonomous for obvious reasons is commendable”.
According to the members of ITC Franchise Owners Association, ITC at present is doing well and pledged to support the administration of the governor in any way they can. They also commended the Chief Iheanyi Ibeh led ITC management team for turning the fortunes of the company around within the shortest possible time and recommended his continuity.
“We therefore plead with the state government for the interest of Imo people and the Franchise owners not to fall into the booby-trap set up for him by some individuals who do not wish the government well.
Finally, we pass an implicit vote of confidence on the current management team of ITC while specially praising them for their determination to return ITC to what it used be.
We also appreciate the executive governor of Imo state for matching his words with action. His decision to return ITC to a glorious era is commendable”.
