June 18, (THEWILL) – Since the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) announced September 21, 2024, as the date for the conduct of the long-awaited local government elections, reactions have trailed that promise.
In fact, no one could believe that Governor Uzodimma would ever think of conducting the council polls while in office. Probably, they had thought it would be held in 2027 – at the period Uzodimma will be leaving office.
In as much as the affairs of local government areas in the State have continued to be piloted by the Transition Committee (TC) members, Sole Administrators (SOLADS), that means democratically elected chairmen are going to take over from the newly appointed SOLADS. But that is good news! However, the twenty-seven LGAs of the State have been carried along in the scheme of things since this administration came on board in terms of appointments and other engagements.
Now, the die is cast. It is the expectation of the Imo people that the state electoral empire (ISIEC) will conduct an election where contestants of all political parties will be given a level playing ground to participate in the exercise.
Finally, the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the State has performed so well that even its detractors now lack the courage to blackmail the platform. On roads, health, youth empowerment & entrepreneurship, commerce & industry and other sectors, Imo state, under the APC, has experienced a refreshing leadership under Sen. Uzodimma.
Uzodimma’s predecessors could not even conduct elections until a few months before their exit from the corridor of power, particularly ex-governors Ohakim and Okorocha. Okorocha, throughout his tenure in office, never conducted elections but did so eight months to the end of his 8 years in office in 2018, after he dissolved the 27 council chairmen and 645 councillors elected during Ikedi Ohakim’s administration.
It would be recalled that former governor Ohakim conducted elections on August 7, 2010. That day shall remain green in my memory. It was a black Saturday when I lost my mother. She passed on in the early hours before the commencement of the election on that fateful day. Members of our family could not cast their votes because of the tragedy that befell us.
Since Sen. Uzodimma took over the mantle of leadership, traditional rulers in Imo have continued to pilot the affairs of their communities respectfully even though there have been an increasing number of Ezeship tussles in so many hamlets that appear to be in disunity for long. Meanwhile, some communities had presented their royal fathers to the local governments, which can only be approved and coronated by the State Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs led by Honourable Mrs. Rubby Emele, a two-time Commissioner.
People of the State from all walks of life have doffed their caps for Uzodimma ever since he issued the release for the exercise that will be taking place in the month of September, specifically on the 21st. This is interesting! That good news is an indication that the Shared Prosperity administration is about to do what the past governors could not execute during their times in office.
Uzodimma has spent four years in office without elections, which has raised worry among the ruling party’s stalwarts in the rural areas until he announced that the polls would be held on that day.
There appear to be fresh meetings and gatherings going on at the local government areas over the forthcoming polls. Not only that, the Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri senatorial districts are now getting prepared at the instance of the aspirants, calling supporters to indicate interest in the chairmanship positions.
Therefore, the ISIEC Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu, should do his best towards ensuring that the elections take place as approved by Governor Hope Uzodimma. If Uzodimma had not given a nod for the exercise to hold, preparations would not have been in top gear for a smooth outing.
The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Mrs Rubby Emele, should be lauded for having ensured that peace and tranquillity reign supreme in Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe, Onuimo, Obowo, Ihitte-Uboma, Owerri West, Owerri Municipal and Owerri North local government areas of the State.
Also, unity of purpose has existed among stakeholders in Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Mbaitolu, Isu, Njaba, Ideato North, Ideato South, Nwangele and other council areas of the State. She has never left either of them behind in the activities of the Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (3R) government.
She has made herself a bridge-builder between the government and the people. Emele is accessible, kind, humble, and God-fearing and could be rightly described as people’s servant.
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