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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Director-General, Directorate for Support Groups, Diaspora Affairs, Civil Society Organisations of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Imo State, Comrade Bryan Agu, has called on Imo people in the Diaspora to rally support for the governorship aspiration of former governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, ahead of the 2027 elections, described his seven months administration as a model of institutional governance, transparency, and inclusive development.
Agu, who made the call yesterday, highlighted the strategic importance of Imo citizens living across the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of Africa to the state’s political and economic future.
He noted that their exposure to structured economies and efficient institutions place them in a unique position to identify leadership with the competence to drive sustainable growth in the state.
Agu pointed out that the seven-month administration of the ex- Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives between May 29, 2019, and January 14, 2020, demonstrated a commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline, and institutional reforms, adding that the introduction of the Treasury Single Account, Central Billing System, payroll automation, and the strengthening of due process mechanisms restored accountability in public finance.
He further stated that the reforms earned Imo recognition by the National Bureau of Statistics as the least corrupt state at the time, a development he said boosted investor confidence and signalled a shift from opaque governance to a system-driven administration.
He said, “The “Rebuild Imo” agenda of the former governor focused on reconnecting economic corridors through strategic road rehabilitation, opening up rural communities under the Rural Access and Mobility Project for agro-industrial development, and repositioning agriculture as a business venture rather than subsistence.
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Continuing, he said: “The reforms in the health sector, water and sanitation, the civil service, and the ease of doing business framework were all geared towards building a productive population and attracting both local and foreign investments.”
The Director-General described the January 2020 judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which removed Ihedioha from office, as an interruption of a developmental trajectory, rather than just a change in political leadership.
However, he said the 2027 governorship election provides the Imo people another historic opportunity to “complete an interrupted mission,”
He, therefore, called on Imo sons and daughters abroad to invest ideas, mobilise resources, influence grassroots participation, and support credible leadership.
“The future of Imo is both local and global, and a state that ignores its Diaspora ignores its greatest development partners,” he said.
Agu, therefore, urged Ndi-Imo across the world to unite in support of Ihedioha’s 2027 governorship ambition to rebuild the state through merit, accountability, planning, and inclusive development.
He lauded the former governor for not defecting to the APC after the Supreme Court verdict, saying the decision underscored his belief in democratic institutions and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.
