4th September, 2021
Governor Hope Uzodimma has returned to Owerri after his two-week trip to Abuja, with glad tidings, top of which is the visit of President Buhari on 9 September.
He dropped the hints in an interview with mediamen on Saturday on arrival at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport.
Uzodimma gushed about the dividends of the trip and said Imo will reap bountifully from World Bank programmes on rural roads, NEWMAP projects, ecological programmes, among others.
He said these are the issues that dominated his discussion and activities while in Abuja.
According to Oguwike Nwachuku, Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, President Muhammadu Buhari bought into the Governor’s position on the World Bank, NEWMAP, ecological programmes etc.
President Buhari also confirmed to the Governor his intention to come to Imo State on Thursday, September 9, 2021 on official duty, Nwachukwu said.
Buharri will be commissioning some projects completed by the Uzodimma administration.
Uzodimma told the informed that he had to embark on the working visit to Abuja to “resolve some critical issues that were supposed to be handled in Abuja.”
Such issues, he noted, include but not limited to the World Bank programmes on RURAL roads, the NEWMAP projects and other erosion control issues.
Besides, the Governor said he “used the opportunity to address some political matters.”
“The good news is that Imo has been able to attract additional support from Mr. President on management of some ecological problems in the State.”
On his assignment as the Chairman, APC Campaign Council for the Anambra State governorship election, Governor Uzodimma acknowledged the importance of the responsibility thrust on him by his party.
He gave an assurance that he will do his best to take the message of what the people stand to gain should they vote APC to win the election scheduled for November 6, 2021.
“The Southeast desire is to join the national politics and those of us in the committee are doing our best to convince our people in Anambra State that we will be better for it if they are in APC.”
He said “joining the party at the centre will enable the Southeast leaders manage the welfare and trust of their people better.”
“The Southeast has suffered a great deal of marginalization. The Southeast has been excluded in many things, the reason being that Nigeria is practising partisan democracy, and once you are with the ruling party, there are some advantages you will get outside those who are not in that party. This is no longer a secret.
“As a result, the Southeast wants to be part of the party at the centre, so that we can get both our rights and privileges.”