Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Imo State, a former Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Samuel Anyanwu and his Labour Party counterpart, Senator Athan Achonu, don’t have the capacity to defeat Governor Hope Uzodimma.
This is even as he said the forthcoming election will be the freest, fairest and most credible exercise in the history of the state, because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies are poised to get things right.
He made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Owerri, the Imo state capital.
Agbaso, who served as the first deputy governor to then Governor Rochas Okorocha, said Uzodimma had a better chance to clinch a second term based on his antecedents and capacity to offer quality leadership services and in solving pressing problems of the state.
Agbaso said “I have told you that I have fair knowledge and understanding of the persons or the gladiators in the arena of the gubernatorial contest in Imo State. I told you that I know the incumbent governor. I told you that Athan Achonu is a long standing associate. I mean the candidate of Labour Party. And that I have interfaced severally in government with Anyanwu of the PDP and that the candidate of APGA, Anthony Ejiogu is like a young brother for all intent and purposes.”
Speaking on the strength and chances of the leading Imo guber candidates, “I understand a little bit of their individual characters and capacities. And putting all that in prospective, the chances they stand in the election that is forthcoming.
“I have figured all these, their name and face recognitions in Imo state, their perceived capacity to deliver in terms of solving the problems on ground, our economy, our security situation, our infrastructure and even our psychic infrastructure.
“Also in terms of our education, our health sector, the common good of the people, the welfare of the people. And putting all these into consideration; the track records and proven capacity of the incumbent governor, makes the best choices for the people.
“Take for instance, the PDP candidate, Anyanwu. How has he been able to manage the fortunes of his party? Suddenly he has found himself in an all important position as the National Secretary of PDP and eventually became the arrow head of his political party in Imo state. And under his watch, a political party which is the microcosm of the Imo society is falling apart. Now a person who could not manage a political party, how can he manage a whole entity like Imo State? That is a direct failure.
“I have nothing against him as a person but you must compare oranges to oranges, apples to apples. And you must say what you have done and the result and the effect. What is one’s propensity for patriotism? How has it been expressed in the past?”, Agbaso said.
He disclosed that under Uzodimma, Imo state had attracted federal presence saying “suddenly, Imo state is on the map of Nigeria by his attraction of federal presence. The Federal Medical Center, some months ago became the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital. And today they are conducting entrances via JAMB and UMTE to assess the next medical students they will be training. All courtesy of the work of one man.
“Look at other institutions – Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Nursing Schools. Look at the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education attaining a university status. Health centres across the state are being renovated. Some new ones are being built. For instance, new General Hospitals are being built at Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru East. They are being equipped. They are being staffed. And quietly, the people of Imo state are receiving attention and mortality rate is dropping and goodness is spreading.”
Agbaso called on Imo people to elect Uzodimma during the elections saying “The quality construction of Owerri-Okigwe and Owerri-Orlu Express Road and the massive ongoing work on Owerri-Umuahia Express road are all testaments of what Imolites should expect in years to come under Uzodinma as our Governor. So I think that all Imo citizens should support and give him another mandate to continue his good works in the State.” he added.
