Follow Us on Google
…Insists Tinubu stands on solid ground of performance for re-election in 2027
By Romanus Ugwu
The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has boasted that the state is unrepentantly a one party state to massive vote President Bola Tinubu in the next year’s presidential election.
He spoke while hosting the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Media team on tour of state and federal government projects in the state.
The chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) said that President Tinubu is standing solidly on the ground of performance to be re-elected in 2027.
Uzodimma, who is also chairs the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, said that Imo residents are appreciative of Tinubu’s policies and programmes.
His words: “Our people have already decided that they want President Tinubu back as the president because without him and his policies and programmes, this environment we are enjoying today would have been very impossible to achieve.”
“So, you are at home and that is the name now that opens doors in Imo state. Discuss with us and also move from here to other states because I am almost certain that many governors of APC in Nigeria are working so hard, deploying the additional revenue that has accrued.”
Uzodimma said he backed Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal, explaining that the policy has freed up more resources for states across the country.
“In 2020, January 15, when I was sworn in to be the governor of this state, the accountant-general told me in the next two days that they were going to Abuja for FAAC meeting,” he said.
“He came back from FAAC meeting, I thought he was going to bring money. He told me after salary we had only N100 million. That was what was happening to many states.
“Immediately May 29, 2023, came, after FAAC, I saw over N10.7 billion. I said what? So, when people were trying to oppose removal of subsidy, I had to put on my belt and my jeans, I came out and said subsidy must be removed.
“So, whatever this man has done to make us have access to funds to help the people must continue. So today. I am indeed very happy and glad that we were able to deploy these resources to visible programmes and projects that our people today are very very happy for it,” he said.
The governor also said the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) under his leadership has increased from N400 million monthly in 2020 to nearly N6 billion at the moment.
“I met an IGR of less than N400 million in 2020, my IGR is very close to N6 billion a month now. In 2020 our debt profile was we N287 billion, today as I speak to you, we are less than N90 billion. So, day by day we are reducing the debt profile,” he said.
“The state has become very solvent. In 2020, movement from one end of Imo state to another takes an average of two to three hours,” he said.
On power supply, Uzodimma said Imo is ready for business, noting that the state now generates, transmits and distributes electricity.
“Talking of electricity, my people forgot about electricity because what they had here was bulk billing. No metering, the light was not available but as today I speak, we generate, we transmit, we distribute electricity, in the state capital, including this government house,” he said.
“This is homemade electricity and we will not disappoint. By the end of this year, we will continue to respond to the local government. Imo is ready for business.”
Earlier, special adviser to the president on media and public Communications, Sunday Dare, had commended Uzodimma’s commitment to the renewed hope agenda.
“I want to thank you also for your leadership of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). We know where we were in terms of the number of governors about a year ago,” Dare said.
“Now, under your leadership, and of course the overall leadership of President Bola Tinubu, and you can correct me if I’m wrong, we’re looking at 32 APC governors and we’re still counting, because election is still a few months away,
“I think that it is a clear validation of the fact that we have a ruling party that is progressive in orientation. We have in our rank and file, especially the governors that are performing, but overall, we have a leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is clear about the direction he wants to take this country,” he said.
