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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Imo Social Contract Group (ISCG), an organisation that promotes good governance, has commended Governor Imo State, Hope Uzodimma for selecting personal assistants based on experience and skill, especially his Deputy Chief of Staff (General Services), Ferdinand Uzodimma.
The group, in a statement by its Convener Fabian Ihekweme at the weekend described the appointment of his Deputy Chief of Staff (General Services) as a step in the right direction as it is fundamentally based on merit considering his competence, administrative expertise, wealth of experience, record of performance and undisputed allegiance to the State.
The group commended Governor Uzodimma for rising above close-minded and divisive sentiments to source for best hands as aides in line with his administration’s widely applauded resolve to harness home-grown proficiencies to further guarantee multisectoral good governance and productivity in the State.
“After a thorough independent analysis especially with regard to the need to harness the best hands for multisectoral good governance and productivity in the State, we commend Governor Hope Uzodimma for rising above close-minded sentiments to source for and appoint only qualified hands with the required experience and commitment to the State as personal aides.
“We note that though the Deputy Chief of Staff as a personal aide of the governor have no direct role to play in government, and despite the fact the choice of and appointment of personal aides are exclusive to the Governor, Governor Uzodimma had always respected and considered merit, capacity, competence and proven loyalty and commitment to the State in making such appointments.
“We also note that Governor Uzodimma had always ensured an even spread of political appointments as well as his personal aides to reflect and ensure representation of all the various segments of the State.
“The appointment of Chief Ferdinand Uzodimma as Deputy Chief of Staff (General Services) is therefore well-deserved and should be commended by every well-meaning and progressive-minded son and daughter of Imo State, given his competence, administrative expertise, wealth of experience, record of performance, connection with the people and undisputed allegiance to the State”, the statement asserted.
The Group asserted that the deputy chief of staff, Uzodimma is a well-respected leader in his own right who will further bring on board his administrative experience and skills garnered over the years as a Local Government Councilor, Transition Committee Chairman and later Local Government Sole Administrator among others.
“It would have amounted to a great disservice to the people of Imo State if Governor Uzodimma had jettisoned, discountenanced and sacrificed such wealth of experience on the alter kinship”, the statement stated.
The group urged the Governor not to be distracted or relented in his genuine efforts and steps with which he is “transforming Imo State as a hub of development in Nigeria”, especially in ensuring security, infrastructural development and empowerment of citizens in critical areas of life.”
It also charged the newly appointed officials including the re-appointed Secretary to the State Government, Cosmos Iwu, Chief of Staff, Nnamdi Anyaehie; Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Sydney Agbor as well as Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Patrick Ekeji, Enyinnaya Onuegbu Political Adviser and Head Political Bureau and of course the Special Adviser on Programme and Policy Implementation and Monitoring, Sam Nwaobasi, to put in their best in their new tasks.
