Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has declared that his Government is not allergic to constructive criticism and would also welcome great ideas that would add impetus towards the building of Imo collectively.
Addressing Imolites over the weekend in Owerri at an enlarged stakeholders meeting, Governor Uzodimma said that his administration was poised at providing a good environment where every stakeholder, such as Board members in a corporate organisation, would find a space to contribute towards the development of our state.
Uzodimma pointed out that constructive criticism should be the weapon of opposition politics adding that political party differences should not be an alibi for setting the state on fire.
The governor reminded the people that the absence of justice and rule of law is an open invitational to anarchy with the corollary effect of self-help, loss of faith in government and a regime of survival of the fittest.
He assured of his government’s resolve and responsibility towards ensuring that the rights of citizens as guaranteed by the constitution and other unwritten laws were preserved and protected.
“Under my watch, I make a solemn commitment to ensure that this government would work for all irrespective of local government, political party affiliation, religion or situation of birth. There would at all times be level playing ground for everybody and no one would be discriminated against or opportunities selectively created to favour anyone or group,” he reassured.
While admonishing the people of the state to be their brothers’ keeper and think Imo first in whatever they do or say, Uzodimma advised opposition politics to be devoid of blackmail, trading on lies or engaging in acts capable of creating security challenges.
He said: “We are first and foremost, Imo State citizens with equal rights and obligations to grow the state for the benefit of all. If the state is destroyed through propaganda and rumour mongering, it would amount to shooting ourselves on the foot, albeit, self destruct”.
The Governor stressed the need for people to work collectively to make Imo state a home of peace and grow the economy from that driven by federal allocation to the one that would run on Internally Generated Revenue, accruing from improved business activities of the citizens.
Uzodimma warned that the political party which remained a vehicle should not be an instrument to destabilise the system, rather a veritable tool to keep the government in check by providing robust opposition.
The Governor disclosed that a total of 42 roads across the state had been constructed and rehabilitated in the state since the assumption of office.
He said that the government had changed the landscape of Fire Service and Warehouse Roundabout Junction in the capital city of Owerri through remodelling to ease transportation.
According to the Governor, before January 2020, roads in Imo State were death traps, adding that road revolution in the state by the present government resulting in the discovery of Chukwuma Nwoha and Relief Market road had changed the ugly past.