ELECTIONS: A BIG CLAP FOR GOV UZODIMMA, RUBBY EMELE 

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BY SAMPSON UHUEGBU

Since the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, (ISIEC) announced September 21, 2024 as date to conduct the long-awaited Local Government elections, reactions had trailed that promise.

    In fact, no one could believe that Governor Uzodimma would ever think of conducting the Council polls now he is still on seat. Probably, they had thought that it would be held in 2027- at the period Uzodimma will be leaving office.

     In as much as the affairs of Local Government Areas in the State had continued to be piloted by the Transition Committee (TC) members, Sole Administrators (SOLADS) that means democratically-elected Chairmen are going to take over from the newly -appointed SOLADS. But that is a good new! Although,

the twenty Seven LGAs of the State have been carried along in the scheme of things since this administration came onboard. In terms of appointments and other engagements by the present government.

   Now, the die is cast. It is the expectations of Imo people that the Imo electoral empire (ISIEC) should conduct an election where contestants of all the political parties shall be given a level-playing ground to participate in the exercise.

  Alas! The All Progressives Congress, APC government in the State has preformed well that even its detractors  now lack the courage to blackmail the platform. On roads, Health, Youths empowerment & entrepreneurship, Commerce & Industry and other sectors, Imo,  under APC has experienced a refreshing leadership under Sen. Uzodimma.

  Hope Uzodimma’s predecessors could not even conduct election till few months before their exit from the corridor of power- particularly ex-governors Ohakim, and Okorocha throughout their tenures in office, never conducted elections but did so eight months to the end of his 8 years in office in 2018 (I’m taking about Chief Okorocha) after he dissolved the 27 Council Chairmen and 645 councillors elected during Ikedi Ohakim administration.

     It would be recalled that former Governor Ohakim conducted election on August 7, 2010. That day shall remain green in my memory. It was a black Saturday that I lost my mother. She passed on in the  early hours before the commencement of the election on the fateful day. Members of our family could not cast their votes because of the tragedy that befallen us.

   Since Sen. Uzodimma took over the mantle of leadership, traditional rulers in Imo have continued to pilot the affairs of their communities without respectfully even though there are increasing number of Ezeship tussles in so many hamlets that appear to be in disunity for long. Meanwhile, some Communities had presented their royal fathers to the Local Governments of which can only be approved and coronated by the State government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which is ably led by Honourable Mrs. Rubby Emele as two-time Commissioner.

   People of the State from all walks of life have doffed their Caps for Uzodimma ever since he issued the release for the exercise that will be taking place in the month of September, specifically on the 21st.  This is interesting. That good news is an indication that the Sheared prosperity administration is about to do what the past governors could not execute during their times in office.

 Uzodimma had spent only four years in office without elections which raised worry among the ruling party’s stalwarts in the rural areas till he announced that the polls will hold on that day.

There appears to be fresh meetings and gatherings going on at the local our Government Areas over the forthcoming polls. Not only that, The Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri senatorial districts are now getting prepared at the instance of the aspirants calling supporters to indicate interest for the chairmanship positions.

  Therefore, the ISIEC chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu should do his best towards ensuring that the elections take place as approved by the governor, Hope Uzodimma. If Uzodimma did not give nod to the exercise to hold, preparations would not had been on top gear for a smooth outing.

     The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Mrs Rubby Emele should be lauded for having ensured that peace and tranquility reign supreme in  Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe, Onuimo, Obowo, Ihitte-Uboma, Owerri West, Owerri Municipal and Owerri North Local Government Areas of the State.

    Also, unity of purpose has existed among those the stakeholders in Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ohaji -Egbema, Oguta, Mbaitolu, Isu, Njaba, Ideato North, Ideato South, Nwangele and other Council areas of the State. She has never left neither of them behind as concerns activities of the Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (3R) government.

   She has made herself a bridge- builder between the government and the people. Emele is accessible, kind, humble, God-fearing and could be rightly described as people’s servant.