Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has pledged that under his watch, he will ensure that the state remains one of the best in the South East and entire country.
He also vowed that his administration would ensure that all stolen or misappropriated assets and property were recovered, while maintaining the rightful status of the state.
Uzodimma stated this at the weekend while addressing the over 200-member Imo Elders Council led by the monarch of Obinugwu in Orlu, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, at the Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri.
The governor also promised to work towards recovering all the oil wells belonging to the state, which were wrongly ceded to other states, stressing: “Under my watch as Governor of Imo State, I pledge to ensure that all that rightfully belongs to us as will not be frittered away under any guise.
“I will pursue the recovery of our oil wells and other resources deprived us by those to whom we entrusted the leadership of our state in the past.”
He urged heads of institution or agencies to handle their assignments with the required dexterity, adding that the elders should rise up to the occasion by playing the watchdog role of his “shared prosperity” administration.
“The course of the development of our state and the protection of our people, as well as the provision of leadership must be borne by unadulterated minds,” he said.
Uzodimma, said he would stop at nothing to ensure all the lands and property that were stolen by some past leaders were recovered: adding: “No sane government will seize lands, acquire the wealth of the people and loot the state treasury even if he is challenged, but all these happened in the past because no one challenged them.
“When I constituted the Imo State Elders Council headed by Ilomuanya, I restated the need for every part of society to actively participate in the governance of our dear state and the larger interest of our people.”
Uzodinma stated that he would use government funds judiciously to bequeath infrastructure legacies and good governance rather than embezzle public funds, play to the gallery for temporary and cheap popularity.
Speaking, Ilomuanya said one of the core mandates of the council was to serve as the bridge between the people and the government, stressing: “We are expected to play the role of the ombudsman and also advice the government on any issue of public interest, which may be bought to our knowledge.”
