2027: Imo now ‘one-party state’ for Tinubu — Uzodinma
Governor Hope Uzodinma has said that Imo State is now “a one-party state” under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu, saying that the Renewed Hope Agenda is present in every polling unit.
The governor stated this on Friday night at the Imo State Government House in Owerri when he hosted members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and journalists at the end of the final leg of the National Media Tour in the Southeast, organised in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
He declared that Imo people have “already decided that they want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu back as the president,” adding: “Without him and his policies and programmes, this environment we are enjoying today would have been very impossible to achieve.”
Uzodinma, who is also the Director General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, said, “People are talking about campaigns. From May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu started his campaign for a second time. Look at it, the population of APC verifiable with name is in excess of 13 million. Look at the number of people benefiting from the school loan. Look at the number of people benefiting from various social interventions.
“Imo State is a one-party state. I can say that authoritatively. Renewed Hope Agenda, they are present in every polling unit, minimum of 50 people. So, if the members of our party vote for our presidential candidate, you already won the election. What is campaign? It is not a political rally. That is campaign. Campaign is getting people to believe or buy into your vision.”
Uzodinma likened Tinubu’s administration to the biblical journey of the Israelites out of Egypt, saying the “old order is gone” and a new order of reforms and development is taking shape in Nigeria.
“I want to liken what is happening today in Nigeria to the experience of the Israelites in the book of Exodus,” the Governor said. “The Israelites were under bondage in Egypt… God did all sorts of miracles and eventually freed the Israelites. All the wars they fought on the road to the promised land, they conquered. God did not ask for anything but gratitude,” he said.
Drawing the parallel, Uzodinma said, “When, on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in, he started rolling out policies. Reform policies. A man who was prepared. Who understood clearly what he came to do as a president.”
He described the tour as an exercise in “strategic communication,” stressing that “in the local parlance it is called seeing is believing.”
“Why I am very joyful today for this visit is because of my understanding of what I call strategic communication. Rather than spending 2.3 billion Naira to dominate social media, is it not better we use it to do quality roads so that you can come and see for yourself? That is sustainable development. That is the business we are doing here,” he said.
The Governor said what is visible in Imo today is only possible because of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He recalled that on January 15, 2020, when he assumed office, the state was getting only N100 million after FAAC and salary.
“Immediately, May 29, 2023 came. After FAAC, I saw over N10.7 billion. I said, what? So, when people were trying to oppose removal of subsidy, I had to put my belt and my jeans. I came out and said subsidy must be removed. So, whatever this man has done to make us have access to funds to help the people,” Uzodinma stated.
He listed key gains in Imo to include improved finances, infrastructure and power.
“In 2020, I made an IGR of less than N400 million. My IGR is very close to N6 billion a month now. In 2020, we were owing N287 billion. Today, as I speak to you, we are less than N90 billion. So, day by day, we are reducing the debt profile. The state has become very solvent.
“In 2020, movement from one end of Imo State to another takes an average of 2 to 3 hours. As I speak, it is under 45 minutes.
“As for electricity, my people forgot about electricity. But as of today I speak, we generate, we transmit, we distribute electricity. In the Government House, including this Government House. This is homemade electricity,” he said.
Comparing Tinubu to former Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew, the Governor said, “2023 to 2026 is just three years. Lee Kuan Yew… In God’s name I have seen another Lee Kuan Yew.”
Uzodinma urged the media team to “help us preach the gospel” of the administration’s achievements as they move to other states.
“I am almost certain that many governors of APC in Nigeria are working so hard, deploying the additional revenue that has accrued,” he said.
He prayed for peace and security in Nigeria and thanked the journalists for their commitment.
