Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Tuesday met with the key leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State, Local Government Area and Ward levels, tasking them to work together to grow the Party.
Those in attendance at the meeting with the Governor included the Chairman and members of APC State Working Committee, LGA Party Chairmen and their Secretaries and Ward Party Chairmen and their Secretaries.
Governor Uzodimma reminded them that their positions in the Party were critical to the ideals and vision of the APC anchored on service to the people and that they could not afford to dissappoint the people who trusted them with their mandate to lead them at the different levels.
He urged them work hard to win more members for the Party in their different localities and also never to shy away from admitting anyone who approaches them for membership regardless of their former political background.
Governor Uzodimma said they would be doing themselves and the Party a great disservice if they discard inclusive politics.
Speaking at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Chambers Government House Owerri, the Governor challenged the Party leaders to rise against the tide of insecurity as his government has put in place meaaures to deal a final blow to it in Imo State.
To achieve that, Governor Uzodimma announced a cash reward of N1million and N5million respectively to any person or group of persons who would provide information that could lead to the arrest of a bandit or identification of a camp of bandits in the State.
The Governor reminded the APC faithful that he invited them to wish them a happy new year, a year he said “they will witness a lot of prosperity.”
He said they are what they are in the Party today because the APC is ruling at both the State and National levels.
The Governor who is the leader of the Party in the State told them that the bandits must have done their worst, saying they have failed because his government has been able to push the agents of darkness away to allow light to lead.
Governor Uzodimma added that APC believes in the practice of democracy as ‘’Government of the people, by the people and for the people,” noting that the most important officers of the Party are those at the Ward level and other localities in the State.
He emphasised that the State leadership of the APC decided to open up the Party at all levels to accommodate whoever wants to join.
He therefore appealed to them to be united and exhibit such leadership qualities that will allow other people to join their party. He also requested them to “go home and serve the people, through regular meetings at all levels.”
The Governor told them not to be distracted adding that despite the several distractions planned against his government he has remained focused “without derailing.”
He expressed surprise that members of the opposition are blind to his modest achievements in the face of insecurity, banditry, unknown gun-men and social media terrorism, adding that his achievements are “a product of support from both Imo people and the Federal Government which are all APC.”
Governor Uzodimma hinted of his plan to beef up security at the Ward level by establishing Vigilante at all government facilities at the Ward and Local Government Levels.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of APC in the State, Dr. Macdonald Ebere said that his executive has braced up for the challenge of repositioning the APC and making it the Party to beat.
He assured the Governor and others in attendance that “the APC of yesterday is different from that of today” and that “the entire executive from the Ward to the State Level are all poised to work and achieve for the Party.”
In a vote of thanks, the Vice Chairman of APC in Imo State , Rt. Hon. Mathew Omegara assured of the Party’s readiness in the State to support the Governor in his quest to realise the 3R mantra “now than before” and prayed to God to strengthen Governor Uzodimma and protect all members of APC in Imo State.