Guber Poll: ADC candidate, Okoroma pledges to restore security, quality education in Imo
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
The governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Prof. James Okoroma, has promised to ensure security of life and property, quality education among other dividends of good governance, if elected governor of Imo State the coming November 11, 2023 gubernatorial poll.
Okoroma who made the assertion yesterday, during the inauguration of his Campaign Council in Owerri, the Imo State Capital regretted the current administration’s nonchalance to the unabating insecurity, poor education, in the state.
Expressing concern that the security situation in Imo has continued to worsen by the day regretted that the state governor has shown no serious concern but rather prefers gallivanting in Abuja while the state burns.
He recalled that over 60 people have been reportedly killed and more than 170 houses razed to ashes in Oguta Local Government Area, just as many natives have been forced into exile by prowling unknown gunmen.
His words, “I want to serve my people. Imo is ailing. I cannot be relaxing when my people are dying. In the last one week, over 60 people had been killed in Oguta LGA; over 170 houses had been burnt. Our people are dying. The man who is governor is in Abuja, junketing.
“It is like Emperor Nero who was dancing when Rome was on fire. Imo is on fire. Whoever likes what is happening in Imo State has problem with his head.”
Okoroma blamed the unending insecurity in Imo on the current crop of leaders in the state who he said, do not command the respect of the people pointing out that only electing those respected by the people will help restore security in the state.
“There will be security in Imo State. I am not going to adopt conventional approaches. Do you know why there is insecurity in Imo? It is because those who are leading Imo do not command respect of the people. Once you have leaders that the people respect, the young men causing insecurity will lay down their arms.
“I will ensure that state actors and non-state actors broker an agreement. I will make concession to non-state actors. One person does not govern.
“Our aggrieved sons and daughters will be brought to the negotiation table. I won’t invite the Nigeria Army to go and kill them; I won’t invite the police to go and kill them. I won’t invite our enemies to go and kill my people. Those who hate us are the ones protecting us now. Is it possible?” he added.
Continuing, Prof. Okoroma pledged to implement an educational system in which will impact positively on the society, by producing employable graduates with competitive skills and knowledge base.
As an educationist, the ADC guber flagbearer assured that he knows what to do with the ailing education system as well as unemployment in the state.
“I will bring an educational blueprint that will ensure that the drivers of the economy and education system achieve a convergence.
“There will be a convergence between the gown and town. I will produce graduates who will be employable. Graduates who will be competitive in the job market, graduates with skills”.
In her acceptance earlier, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Amaka Chiegena thanked her the ADC for giving the state the ‘most qualified governorship and deputy governorship candidates.’
Chiegena advised Imo people to give a trial to academics having tried those she called businessmen and moneybags, who he said, have woefully failed in providing good governance insisting that nobody can give what he doesn’t have.
