11th September, 2023
Imo governor, Hope Uzodimma has explained that he decided to drop his deputy and choose Lady Chinyere Ekomaru as his running mate for his second term as a result of ecumenical exigencies and the need for gender balancing and inclusiveness in our polity.
Uzodimma spoke on Sunday at the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord (CATOL) where Lady Ekomaru and her family held a Special Thanksgiving over her inclusion in the All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial ticket for Imo.
The Governor who promised that he would not take the support of the Imo people, particularly the Church for granted added that Ekomaru would add value to his guberantorial ticket while urging the Body of Christ to pray fervently for their success and victory
“Mrs Ekomaru no doubt will add value to this ticket. I know the women in Imo State are celebrating her choice. I know the academic community is satisfied that she will complement the ticket and today with what I have witnessed in this hallowed Cathedral; the support of the Anglican Church is assured.”
He also emphasized that he does not have any problem with his current deputy.
“As I told Imo State stakeholders when I formally presented Mrs Ekomaru as my running mate, I stated categorically that I don’t have any issue with my current Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Professor Placid Njoku who is currently in Abuja representing me at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.
“My current Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku himself is aware, and to the glory of God he is part of this bold decision. I am very grateful to him for his understanding and pray that I will continue to work with him in the days ahead. Apart from having a loyal deputy who understands our vision for Imo State – satisfying the yearnings of the varied interests in the polity is a very necessary thing if you must play an acceptable politics. So I believe that those for whom these sacrifices have been made; that truly they will understand and will continue to appreciate and reciprocate,” the Governor said.
He also promised that he would continue to serve Imo people with the fear of God.
“The Church will serve the people and the government will serve the people and together united we will serve the people better.
“From testimonials by Imo people, it is very clear that my government is working hard to deliver on our promises to the State based on our prosperity agenda, encapsulated on reconstruction rehabilitation and recovery. I have tried to speak at the nooks and crannies of Imo State starting from the civil servants, to the transporters, to market women, to our youth whom we have greatly empowered and will continue to empower in our match to our destination, and all are talking positively to the effect that the narrative is gradually changing and the difference between 2020 when I got to Imo State and assumed office as the governor and today is different. So I want to thank Almighty God for making this possible.
“As many of us are aware, the evil ones are gathering. – They are gathering to truncate the good works we have been doing; but as it is written in the scriptures, they surely will gather but against the work of God, they shall scatter. I promise today as always, that I will continue to serve Imo people with the fear of God. My administration will continue to be transparent and accountable. What we have achieved in the first tenure will be doubled in the second tenure. I will never – I will never disappoint the people of Imo State. I will remain true to my oath of office and allegiance. Imo State shall continue to prosper under my watch and I want to thank you the leadership of the Church – Anglican Communion; for the support you have given to my government in the past and also pray for the support you will continue to give to my government.
“There is no government anywhere in the world operating practically in Christian dominated society that will do better without the Church. So as long as my government is here to offer this Thanksgiving to Almighty God; the Government has a responsibility to partner with the Church and the Church has a responsibility to reciprocate the good deeds and support of the government to them. You cannot do it alone. The Church will serve the people and the government will serve the people and together united we will serve the people better.”
Speaking at the event, Bishop Onuoha assured Governor Uzodimma that the Primate who was unavoidably absent at the Service will be present at his post election Thanksgiving.
Bishop Onuoha in his sermon said that though Lady Ekomaru was chosen among the lot by Governor Uzodimma based on the grace of God, only God knows whom he wants to qualify.
He reminded Lady Ekomaru that because the grace of God had located her for the job, she also has the responsibility to work hard to qualify herself by not disappointing God and the expectations of the man whom God used to qualify her.
“While people look at outward appearance, God looks at the heart. By sweat shall no man prevail,” Bishop Onuoha said and repeatedly reminded the largely Anglican communicants that Lady Ekomaru is one of them, hence they must support her.
Bishop Onuoha said that “in God’s selection process, he chooses not those who are qualified but those he will qualify.”
Turning to Governor Uzodimma the Bishop said, “We welcome to the service our beloved Governor, the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Commander of the Order of the Niger.
“Thank you Sir for finding time to come in this service. We are deeply grateful to you for finding one of our own worthy to be your running mate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Imo State, which is just a couple of weeks from now. We admire your sense of equity, fairness, inclusivity and gender sensitivity.”
Bishop Onuoha who reminded politicians that Governors will come and go while Imo State will remain however called for a peaceful campaign ahead of the election.
Earlier in her thank you remarks, Lady Ekomaru expressed gratitude to the Church and to the Governor and promised not to disappoint the expectations of the Governor and that of the Imo people.
She said that by her nomination all Imo people are now more united than ever and that the three zones of the State will vote and return the Governor come November 11, 2023.
She thanked the Governor and the Church and noted that by the thanksgiving the Governorship campaign has been handed over to God.
Also in his appreciation remarks, Elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu thanked the Governor for the choice of Lady Ekomaru whom he described as a “good and right candidate for the job and a great honour to the Anglican Communion.”
Iwuanyanwu added that he sees in Governor Uzodimma a man that radiates love, honesty and sincerity.
He told the Church that the constitution provides for eight years of tenure and that it is only someone who is bad that is limited to only four years. When he asked the Church if Governor Uzodimma was bad, he got a thunderous “NO”!!!
The Special Thanking attracted the highest hierarchy of the Anglican Communion in Imo State, with the Primate of the All Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Church, Most Rev Dr Henry Ndukuba represented by the Archbishop of the Anglican Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri, Most Rev Dr David Onuoha.