IMO: RESIGN IF YOU CAN’T RESIDE WITHIN YOUR COUNCIL, UZODIMMA TELLS CHAIRMEN

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has warned that Local Government Chairmen and Councillors who could not reside in their council areas should be thinking of resigning their positions.

Senator Uzodimma read the riot act Saturday May 10, 2025 during a stakeholders meeting held at the Imo Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat, Mbari Owerri.

The meeting was the 10th in the five years administration of Governor Uzodimma.

The Governor explained that the meeting was devoid of politics, but to interact with stakeholders in the State and the leadership of the six hundred and fifty six (656) autonomous communities in Imo to take strategic decisions in the greatest interest of the citizenry in the ares of insecurity, education, affordable health care and making life more meaningful to the people.

“There is always a time when citizens come together to take bold decisions for the good interest of the people,” Governor Uzodimma noted.

He stressed the need to have local government administration that must be managed from the Local Government and not from the urban cities. “No government is active without social mobilisation,” he stressed, and called for synergy among all actors in government to move the State forward.

The Governor announced the establishment of Local Government Implementation Committees to take responsibility of ensuring that resolutions reached in strategic areas of security, education, health and youth empowerment are effectively implemented.

He enjoined traditional rulers and community leaders to rise to their responsibility and not allow their communities to be destroyed or over run by hoodlums.

He further announced decision of government to establish a world class health centre in every community and a General Hospital in each local government area to ensure access to health care, and encouraged the leaders to ensure that everyone in the community enrols in the ongoing Imo Social Health Insurance Program. “It is time for you to show leadership and help the people to enrol in the the scheme,” he challenged them.

Senator Uzodimma also encouraged the youths to be positive, remain resolute and think of dignity of labour. “There must be a new thinking for a new Imo to emerge. I want my youth population to think differently.”

He encouraged them to think along the new world order and show interest in being entrepreneurs, leveraging on the State skill acquisition programme.

Also, he equally hinted of policy reforms made to strengthen Imo Housing Corporation and enable public private partnership (PPP) in the provision of housing, but warned that government had taken a decision to demolish unauthorised buildings on government land.

The meeting which was largely interactive as the Governor took questions from different groups in attendance ended with lots of excitement with the generality of the people passing a vote of confidence on the Governor and to stand on his mandate.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru and her husband, Chukwuma, members of the National Assembly, members of Imo State House of Assembly, Federal and State government political appointees, elected officials of Local Government, Traditional Rulers, President Generals of communities, youth and women leaders as well as opinion leaders in the State.