The Imo State Commissioner for Power, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu has paid a courtesy visit to Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, at their office at Royce road Owerri.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner said that Governor Hope Uzodinma deemed it necessary to create the ministry of Power to boost the economy of the State, stressing that the engine of any economy is the power sector.

According to him, Imo State has an industrial estate at Onitsha road and other economic hubs that urgently need steady power supply which according to him is the panacea for rapid economic development of the State.

The Commissioner further disclosed that Governor Uzodinma is determined to industrialize the State hence the need for improved Power Supply.

Onuegbu appealed to the management of EEDC to improve the power supply to the citizens of the State as well as address the issue of estimated bills which according to him is adversely affecting the people.

The Commissioner who harped on the importance of the services of EEDC said the creation of the ministry of Power will further bring synergy between the State Government and EEDC, and urged the staff of the company to feel free to interact with his ministry for the overall good of the state.

He however appealed to EEDC to expedite action in restoring electricity to the State Secretariat saying the huge debts owed to the company by the State Government will be streamlined for payment.

He said: “We are here to extend our hands of fellowship and to seek your assistance in actualizing the 3R programme of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma. You have friends in the Government.

Any problem, let us know. We will help market the good works that EEDC will do to Imo people during this tenure,” Onuegbu assured. Responding, the Revenue Service Manager, Chukwuemeka Uchime commended Governor Uzodinma for creating the ministry of Power describing it as a welcome development.

Uchime equally thanked the Commissioner for finding time to pay EEDC a courtesy visit for better dialogue and Communication saying the Commissioner has started in the right direction and will do well in the new ministry.

He however regretted the challenges the company is having especially in the Transmission Sector which has made it difficult to meet the electricity needs of the State saying that transmission of electricity is the responsibility of the Federal Government.

Uchime equally stressed the difficulty in revenue collection which is a result of apathy from people on payment of electricity bills saying Government and EEDC cannot do it alone but requires the co-operation of the people.

He however disclosed that the EEDC has started metering in some parts of the State Capital to reduce the issues of estimated bills.

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Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria, (YOWICAN), has condemned the attack at Police Headquarters and Correctional Centre in Owerri on Easter Monday where many prisoners and cell inmates were set free by gunmen whose identities are yet be ascertained.

Regretting the attack, National Chairman, Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria, Hon Belusochukwu Michael Enwere , in a chat on Saturday, called for proactive security in the South East, particularly in Imo State.

YOWICAN told federal and states governments to ensure that security apparatuses in the country especially in the South East are well equipped, well paid to enable them to curtail insecurity.

Belusochukwu advised government to urgently address issues that lead to insecurity by providing employment, create economic opportunities, engage youths and women on meaningful skills training such as welding, barbing, sewing, ICT and empower them accordingly, including awarding scholarships in both home and overseas to youths and students, provide infrastructure to all existing communities to spur people to productivity, give loan or grants to devoted farmers to encourage production of sufficient food, as well as provide quality and affordable education.

YOWICAN regretted that Fulani herders are terrorizing peaceful farmers in their farms and at home hence rising insecurity, food insufficiency, hunger and suffering, calling on government to stop the terror of Fulani herders by encouraging them to rear their herds in secluded environments in order to reduce insecurity and hunger.

Lauding Governor Hope Uzodimma for achieving great feat on quality road construction and rehabilitation in the state, Belusochukwu encouraged the governor to continue to solidify good governance to recover the state so that citizens will share in the administration’s prosperity and goodies for peace, comfort and security to reign supremely, saying “Imo State is a walking progress and must prevail”. We thank His Excellency for the passion he has for good governance and youth empowerment”.

However, the association urged citizens and other residents of the state to throw their weights to the Governor and his apostles to enable them achieve success for the state.

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… Insists On Uzodinma’s 2nd Term

… Cautions Detractors

Ahead of 2023 Imo Guber, Prince Charles Amadi, Charlvon has called Imo on people particularly the people of Owerri Zone to remain supportive of Uzodinma led administration to enable him complete his constitutionally provide 8 years tenure as Imo State Governor.

This is even as he assured that with persistent support for Uzodinma, the people of Owerri zone are certain of succeeding the governor after 8 years hence the  Governor would be left with no  option than to support an Owerri person in the  2027 Guber elections.

The oil magnet who disclosed this to the press in his Owerri Residence over the weekend further used the medium to call on the Imo people to ignore those discrediting him on the pages of the newspaper stressing that the said people are not members of the APC hence their discredit on his personality and integrity.

Prince Charles Amadi (Chalvon), is a successful business mogul cum renowned philanthropist and one of the highest financier of All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State .

Prince Amadii in this interview with journalists who visited his palatial Home in Owerri over the weekend called on Owerri Zone people to speak with one voice and support Gov Hope Uzodinma’s administration to succeed because it would be in the interest of the zone to support the governor so that when he finishes his constitutional tenure in 2027- the zone will have a chance of taking over from him. Because of the support we shall give him –

Excerpt:

Question 1: May we meet you Sir?

    Answer:  My name is Prince Charles Amadi. I’m a stakeholder in Imo State, a stalwart of APC in Imo State and one of the leaders of Mbaike Forum.

Question 2 : How do you react to the allegation that you said that Uzodimma would hand over to an Mbaike person of Owerri Zone extraction to succeed him in 2027?

Answer: We have never said that I’m the only person in Mbaike. There are lots of people who support Governor Hope Uzodimma. I only encouraged those people supporting his Excellency to come out and preach his good work.

Question 3: There was a rumor that you always support an Orlu man to continue to succeed an Orlu man to govern Imo State, leaving you as an enemy of Mbaike and Owerri Zone?

Answer: Those people attacking me are envious of my track records. And I want to repeat, we have nine local government areas in Owerri Zone. And six of the LGAs traditionally have worked together way back. In Owerri Zone, we have Mbaise Zone, Owerri Federal Constituency (which includes Ngor-Okpala), Mbaike: Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Zone. I’m a realist. I do not pretend. I say the position of things as at today, means that in the PDP, the ticket will go to Emeka Ihedioha, an Mbaise man. And traditionally, they don’t spread things. They like to keep goodies of government among themselves – and we are saying that it would be in the interest the other six LGAs of Owerri Zone to support Hope Uzodimma so that when he finishes his constitutional tenure in 2027- the other six LGAs will have a chance of taking over from him. Because of the support we shall give him- Hope Uzodimma because he is doing great in governance of Imo state.

Question 4: You are u respected stakeholder in Imo State, your assessment of Uzodimma led shared prosperity administration

Answer: Uzodimma is doing greatly. His government is a walking progress. Look at the infrastructure he is putting in Imo. Look at the amount of roads he has done within short period in governance. Yes, I have been in politics for 21 years – I have not been in governorship position, in the Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly or other elected positions. And I don’t want to. But I play good politics to the advantage and good of all- for the development and economic advancement of Imo State. Because I believe in good governance and in Imo State.

Question 5: Is that why your detractors are envious of you?

Answer: My detractors- about forty of them- are not members of APC. Most of them are in Mbaike Forum ( Union) we formed including Prince Marcon Nlemigbo, APC Imo State Caretaker Committee Chairman, various leaders of APC, PDP, APGA among others are in Mbaike Forum. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiagamba, is our Grand Patron. These men- we cannot discuss anything in Mbaike without them. *The detractors just want to be heard. However, the reception, being given to us is even beyond our imagination. We parade industrialists, technocrats –  people of timbres and calibres – who have been wonderful and we shall not disappoint them. These detractors, no doubt, are being sponsored by people who cannot organize anything successfully. Some of them do not even have First Degrees. They have never seen the walls of the university. One of them is a fair businessman and a fair politician. The only option to them is to attack my person. We know him- how many people was he able to register in his tiny town- yet he comes out and makes noise. How many people was he able to bring to vote for APC in his tiny town*.

Question 6: How is APC faring in Imo?

Answer:  Our party, APC, is united in Imo under Governor Hope Uzodimma. It is just a mere quarrel which happens in other parties- but that of PDP is even worse.

Question 7: Apex Leadership crises is causing division in Imo APC and may negatively affect 2023 election, don’t you think so, and remember what happened to Okigwe Senatorial Bye election.

    Answer: No. No. First of all, we did not lose election in Okigwe Senatorial Zone. The lost of the election at Obowo LGA does not have to do with Apex Leadership crisis. Court will maintain our mandate for us. Apex Leadership is a motivator in a particular area, it is not given, you earn it. For example, in Owerri Zone, we have Prince Lemmy Akakem, who is doing well and you have to earn people’s trust before they can you leader. We have become a rallying point and mostly people who have just come into the party or people who have been in the party- when they saw that Ihedioha had been declared winner- they went and started eating  with Ihedioha- and came back as Supreme Court declared Hope Uzodinma winner.

But persons like Prince Lemmy Akakem stood his ground and in Ikeduru, we have leaders who galvanize the party- we know ourselves and there are a lot of people who in the morning they will shout Hope! Hope! But in the night they plot to stop him in 2023. But I assure you that APC is very united and most of these people making noise – come 2023 will not be with us, they are only friends on a rainy days.

Question 8: The issue of President- General allegedly imposed by IMC Chairmen in Imo communities is destabilising APC. How do you react to it.

Answer: Constitution of APC provides for interim President- General. There is nothing new in that. You cannot say imposition when the situation is interim- the government has the right to nominate anybody to manage the community affairs in the time being.

Question 9: what is Your take on insecurity in Imo and other South Eastern States.

  Answer: I will not say much of what Governor Uzodimma had said about what causes insecurity in the state and who are behind it. It is the handiwork of political detractors. His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma, is on top of the situation to safeguard Imo State. Notably, South East will come together soon to discuss how to secure the Zone.

Question 9 : You so much love Uzodinma, is it because of his leadership acumen and dexterity?

  Answer: Yes His good governance Hence, we are working very hard in support of Hope Uzodimma. We are asking all our brothers and sisters to join us genuinely to support the work of the governor. Our brothers attacking me (Prince Charls Amadi) and Prince Lemmy Akakem, should please, support us to support the pragmatic governor for the good and prosperity of Imo State and its citizenry.

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