Group Accuses Uzodimma Of Empty Promise, As Imo Suffers Darkness

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, a pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group, has reminded the government of Imo State that the promise made by Governor  Hope Uzodinma, that residents would, from November last year, enjoy uninterrupted electricity power supply, is a miragee.

HURIWA also tasked the governor with rural development in the areas of healthcare infrastructure, rural road networks, and the security of lives and property of citizens, as most of the burnt police stations in rural communities have yet to be rebuilt.

In a statement endorsed by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA reminded the governor that only about 15 per cent of the residents of Imo were able to power their businesses and homes by connecting to the expensive solar energy electricity power system and the purchase of the extremely exorbitant fuel and diesel to power their generators.

“Last December Christmas celebrations, we observed from different communities in the three senatorial zones of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe, that millions of indigenous natives came back from all around the globe to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones in their villages.

“HURIWA heard first hand from many people interviewed by its team of researchers that most of those who returned to spend a week or more to commemorate the Christmas feast, each family spent an average of N250,000 on the purchase of fuel for the duration of their stay.”

“Besides, thousands of families invested an average of N3 million each to connect their homes in their respective hometowns to a solar electricity energy-generating system”.

HURIWA observed that the other marginalised and poor residents spent the entire Christmas period in total darkness, and this irregular and erratic electricity supply situation has forced thousands of small and medium-scale businesses out of business.

“It is shocking that the promise made by the Imo state governor to give uninterrupted electricity power supply from November didn’t even happen in Owerri municipal, talk more of the other towns, cities and villages where millions of returning Christmas celebrants spent at least two weeks during the just ended Yuletide season.

“Where then is integrity, and how can we talk about accountability and transparency in government if the words of the governor carry no weight in reality?”

The Rights group reminded the Imo state governor that operating small businesses like restaurants, barbing salons, coffee bars, provisions stores, are becoming burdensome because the products and services are becoming very expensive and beyond the reach of thousands of residents and the high costs of these goods and services have driven away customers from small businesses in Imo State and especially in Owerri, the capital of the state.

“The poor electricity power supply situation has forced many owners of the hospitality industry and hotels to resort to the use of generators, which constitute an environmental hazard to residents due to pollution.

“The governor needs to take steps to correct these anomalies.

“HURIWA recalled that the media quoted the governor last year in October, that from November of last year, the residents of Imo State will begin to enjoy uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply from November.

“According to a media report last October, the initiative will begin with a test run in Owerri metropolis and its environs before extending to Orlu, Okigwe, and Mbaise zones in the coming months.

“The governor reportedly spoke during a stakeholders and expanded State Executive Council meeting held at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre (EIICC), Owerri, even as he added that the Urashi Power Plant Project, empowered by an enabling law, will drive the new electricity scheme.

“The governor also announced that individuals earning below N150,000 monthly would be exempted from paying personal income tax, adding that oil companies operating in the state would shoulder the cost of implementing the policy.”

He further disclosed that retirees and students will enjoy free transportation on major routes, including Owerri–Okigwe, Owerri–Orlu, Owerri–Aba,

“Owerri–Onitsha, and Owerri–Port Harcourt, using newly procured Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered metro buses.

Uzodinma reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity in the state and ensuring peace and stability, thereby facilitating the development that thrives on it.

“On ongoing infrastructure projects, the governor said 50 per cent of payments had already been made to contractors handling various road and development works across the state.”

He explained that he was not pressing for refunds from the Federal Government for federal roads executed by his administration, expressing confidence that future governments would pursue such reimbursements.

His focus, he said, was to ensure that Imo people benefit from improved road infrastructure.

HURIWA, in the media release in which the Rights group expressed consternation over the worrying spectre of insecurity, especially in the rural areas of the state, challenged the governor to begin the reconstruction of the burnt police stations, just as the Rights group described the recently reinvigorated Imo state vigilantes group as a welcome development.

They, however, called for thorough and comprehensive oversight by the state House of Assembly through the establishment of an independent human rights monitoring commission, comprising experts in human rights, to provide oversight of the activities of the vigilantes and check for human rights abuses by the state’s residents.