Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma named Chinyere Ekomaru as his running mate on Saturday for the state Governorship election slated for November 11.
This was reportedly made known at an APC stakeholders gathering in Owerri, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
As part of his 3R Government of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Recovery since January 15, 2020, the governor also provided a scorecard.
In a speech, he said that his administration had set the stage for expansion across the board and would build on these foundations in the years ahead to create an industrial, affluent, and secure Imo.
“We have so much to campaign with. Our works speak for us.
“So, today, we are here to reinforce our genuine claim to re-election.
“I have picked a female deputy governorship candidate in the person of Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru.
“I believe she will add value to this ticket.
“I expect Imo women to appreciate this gesture as my genuine appreciation of their innate strength and capacity to contribute to the growth of our state,” he said.
Mr Uzodimma said that the process of choosing Ms Ekomaru was “all-inclusive” and appealed “to all to accept and make peace with the decision”.
He commended his outgoing Deputy, Placid Njoku, saying, “I enjoyed a good working relationship with him.
“Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that I don’t have any problem with my deputy.
“He is a very loyal and committed partner in progress.
“My confidence in him has not waned in any way.
“I want to assure you that he is still very relevant in our political family and his political career is not by any means over.
“The truth is that as representatives of the people, we need to be sensitive to the ecumenical nature of the environment,” he said.
When he took office in January 2020, the governor claimed he could rightfully and proudly assert that he upheld the social bargain he made with the Imo people.
He claims that as indiscriminate attacks on security services have decreased and the willful and unprovoked killing of citizens by mercenary criminals has decreased, the security situation in the state has improved.
He added that the state had reclaimed its glory as the center of hospitality.
The governor supported his claim by pointing to the state’s hosting of important conferences and events, such as those for the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Guild of Editors.
He added that his administration had eradicated corruption and the threat of ghost workers, as well as implemented a fully computerized system in the public service.
He cited the complete refurbishment of the secretariat blocks, the provision of pertinent equipment, the regular payment of salaries, the payment of the 13th-month salary, and other welfare benefits as additional accomplishments in the state civil service.
“Our roads, which were mere death traps when I assumed office, are now motorable.
“At the last count, this administration has done more than 100 good quality roads across the entire state.
“These include the dual carriageway of Owerri – Okigwe Road and Owerri – Orlu Road, while the construction of five kilometres of roads in the 27 LGAs is at various stages of completion.
“The reconstruction of Owerri -Mbaise – Obowo – Umuahia and Orlu – Mgbidi – Akokwa- Uga Road is also ongoing,” he further said.
“In education, we recovered the KO Mbadiwe University.
“We also established the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Umuagwo to ensure that our children are availed more admission spaces while creating employment and boosting the economy of the state.
“We are also effectively funding a polytechnic and a college of education and our primary and secondary schools are enjoying equal attention,” he said.
Mr Uzodimma also said that similar efforts were being replicated in the health sector, where his administration recovered the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu from decay.
He said that his government ensured that medical students graduated from the institution after eight years of stagnation.
“IMSUTH remains a truly tertiary health institution with the requisite experts and consultants.
“Through our collaboration with the Federal Government, the Federal Medical Center, Owerri has been converted to Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Owerri,” he said.
He further disclosed that three new well-equipped general hospitals would be commissioned soon.
The governor said he had ensured the recovery of Adapalm Nigeria Limited and was in the process of doing the same at Imo Shoe Industry, the Rubber Company, Avutu Poultry and Nsu Ceramic Industry, among others.
“Through a friendly tax regime and creation of new business opportunities, we have also created the enabling environment for investors to establish industries and create employment opportunities in the state,” he said.
The governor also said that the ongoing dredging of the Oguta-Orashi-Degema River to the Atlantic Ocean project would help to rejuvenate the state economy and that of the entire South-East, when completed.
Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Macdonald Ebere, acknowledged the good work done by Mr Uzodimma’s administration and expressed the need for continuity.
Mr Ebere said,
“We are not unmindful that the increasing strength, popularity and visibility of our party in the state as reflected in the just-concluded election, the litany of defections from major political parties are attributable to your pacesetting infrastructure development and economic re-engineering of our state.”
He said that the party was firmly positioned to take advantage of the achievements of the “shared prosperity administration” to secure once again the mandate of the people by 11 November.
“We are very optimistic that our people will once again speak through their votes, to revalidate their implicit vote of confidence in our party and the shared prosperity administration of our governor,” he said.
In an acceptance speech, Mrs. Ekomaru thanked the governor for picking her as his running mate and vowed not to betray his trust in her. She was joined by her husband.
Given her more than 40 years of political experience, she assured the governor that her decision would earn her friends throughout the Anglican Communion, the academic community, and the social organizations to which she belongs.
She said that she was confident the party would garner more support from the legal community, where her husband worked, the medical community, where her child worked, and the many women’s social clubs to which she joined.