Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Imo State Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Emeka Ihedioha, has said that he will ensure that Local Governments in the state enjoy full autonomy, if elected governor of the state.
Ihedioha, who made the pledge during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders of Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, at Oguta Civic Center, weekend, also vowed to ensure that the law establishing the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission-ISOPADEC is vigorously implemented.
He expressed concern over the perennial problem of electricity in the Oil-rich local government, promising to fix it if voted into power.
Speaking on his Oguta-born Deputy Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Gerald Irona, Ihedioha reiterated his confidence in him, describing him as his ideal Deputy Governor.
Ihedioha, who described his visit to Oguta as akin to a Home Coming, promised to take advantage of the Tourism and Agricultural potentials of the area to develop it.
“I appreciate the deluge of problems you have identified. It is one of the reasons I nominated your brother- Irona as my Deputy.
“He is very conversant with all the issues. I have seen in Irona a young man that understands what loyalty, dedication and hard work is. That is the kind of man I want as Deputy Governor.
“We shall run the government jointly in harmony. Our government shall be built on justice, due process and rule of law. We shall ensure that Local Government funds are administered by the Local Governments.
“We shall implement the FOI Act. We shall send an Executive Bill to the state Assembly to ensure that Local Government Councils enjoy autonomy. We shall have a Peoples Parliament, made up of non state actors to enhance accountability and equity in the distribution of the people’s wealth.
“I am aware that you are an oil producing community. We are aware that you have a large agricultural base. I am aware that you don’t have power supply for eight years now.
“It is unthinkable that you are an oil producing LGA and you don’t have electricity. We shall dialogue with the oil companies. We shall bring FG to complete the NIPP Plant in Egbema and other power projects in Imo. We shall solve the problem of electricity.
“We understand what needs to be done. We have the contacts. We have the capacity to do this. We shall build good quality roads. We shall ensure that the law establishing the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission-ISOPADEC is implemented.”
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