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Foremost International governance and development expert, Barr. Tagbo Agbazue and his wife Hon. Dr (Mrs) Lilian Agbazue (Igolo South-East) have congratulated the Imo State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hope Uzodinma, on his inauguration for a second term in office.
It would be recalled that Gov. Uzodimma emerged victorious at the just-concluded Governorship election in Imo state, winning in all 27 local government areas (LGAs) and polling a total vote of 540,308, to defeat his closest challenger, Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party who came a distant second with a total of 71,503 votes.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony held on Monday, the couple described Uzodinma’s re-election as a testament to the hard work, dedication, and trust that the people of Imo State have in the governor. They said it was a well-fought and well-deserved victory, adding that it was also a recognition of the Governor’s hard work and good governance fostered by establishing a progressive, people-driven agenda, unity, and a culture of peaceful coexistence.
According to Barr. Agbazue, the outcome of the elections reflects the wishes of the people, adding that democracy thrives when voters reward competence, transparency, and good governance. He stated that Uzodinma’s triumph was not unexpected and that it was evidence of the faith, confidence, and trust the people of Imo had in him.
“With great pleasure, I extend my congratulations to His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodinma, the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, on his victorious win in the recently held governorship election.
“The poll results are an accurate indicator of the implicit trust that people have in him. Through initiatives and programmes that directly and favourably affect people’s lives, he has provided the people of Imo with excellent leadership throughout the last four years.
“The electorate’s audacious declaration at the polls has provided him with yet another chance to build on his remarkable accomplishments and carry out the changes he has started in the State.” Barr. Agbazue said.
He further commended the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their performance in the recently concluded off-cycle gubernatorial elections in the state, recognising their efforts in the face of several challenges.
While felicitating with the Governor and people of Imo State, Barr. Agbazue called on Uzodinma’s co-contestants to join hands with the governor to build the state for more progress and development, maintaining that the interest of the state supersedes any sectional or individual interest.
Meanwhile, his wife Hon. Dr (Mrs) Lilian Agbazue praised Governor Uzodinma for his laudable achievements and reforms that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of the people of Imo state. She described the governor as a forthright leader and an excellent administrator who remains unwavering in his commitment to the wellbeing, security and survival of the people of Imo State.
Hon. Dr (Mrs) Lilian Agbazue who is the President of Our Beloved Girl Child Global Foundation, hailed the Governor for promoting women empowerment and the rights of the girl-child in the state.
She described Uzodimma’s choice of a female running mate as evidence of his commitment to gender parity, noting that with zero women representation in the current Imo Assembly as it is currently constituted, the governor’s choice of Lady Chinyere Ekomaru as his running mate was significant indication of his regard for gender equality and inclusivity.
She applauded the governor for responding to calls for increased female involvement in politics and urged politicians at all levels to toe the same path, in line with the National Gender Policy, demanding for 35 per cent affirmative action for women.
“Governor Uzodimma has expressed his appreciation for women in politics and their capacity to make significant contributions to the advancement of the state by selecting a female running mate.
“This choice will encourage and enable more women to participate in politics, which will eventually result in a society that is more equal and representative,” Dr Lilian Agbazue she stated.
Barr. Agbazue is internationally recognised as an expert resource person in the field of economic and corporate governance and several practice areas pertaining to the long-term economic growth, competitiveness and sustainability of Africa. These include: international trade; corporate citizenship; anti-money laundering; compliance; anti-corruption; illicit financial flows; and gender, business and human rights.
His work covers about 70 countries globally, has influenced the development of several ground breaking global, pan-African and national programs and initiatives that presently support the enabling governance and business climate in Africa.
He is a Senior Expert Adviser to The African Union, several regional initiatives, inter-governmental organisations and development finance institutions, including The World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), The African Development Bank and The African Import Export Bank (Afreximbank). He has advised several national governments (e.g., Cameroon, Lesotho, Nigeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Germany and The United Kingdom), as well as several major public and private sector corporations in Africa. Notably, he was appointed by the Nigerian Presidency to restructure the governance of the tax sector in Nigeria (2010 to 2015).
