*Says Demolition of Houses where Indian Hemp Smokers are found as Misplaced Priority.
To express his humility and humble personality, the frontline governorship aspirant under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Tony Nwulu has advised Imolites and all lovers of goodwill not to address him as “His Excellency” when he becomes the elected governor of Imo State, instead he would prefer simply to be called “Governor Tony Nwulu”.
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The Eziudo Ezinihitte Mbaise born member of the House of Representatives representing Isolo/Oshodi 11 Federal Constituency in Lagos State also described as a misplacement of priority of the move by the incumbent governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha to demolish houses where Indian hemp smokers (Igboo) are found in the state. He condemned the action of the governor because those Indian hemp smokers may not own the houses or property where they hide to trade their business.
In a release signed by the Director of Media of a socio-political arm of Hon. Tony Nwulu Governorship Campaign Organization, the Mezie Imo Movement (MIM), Mr. Nneji Uneze said that his decision not to be addressed as “His Excellency” boils down to his desire to reclaim the lost glories of the state as a humble servant-leader. He added that as an ordinary “Mister Governor”, he would be drawn closer to the people and listen to their contributions for the betterment of the state than to answer the name that would keep him off from the people.
Nwulu who had earlier promised to review the activities of his predecessor if he wins the governorship, especially in the area of land acquisition, none payment of compensation to land owners and regular payment of salaries to civil servants and pensioners, also maintained that with the hunger Imo people are currently facing under the present administration, his government would ensure that employment is guaranteed to the youths of the state.
According to him, the era of impunity in government is gone, as Imo people will collectively determine their fate. There should be a paradigm shift because I will consider the entire state as one big family where no preferential treatment should be accorded to one section or zone.
The 39 year-old federal legislator disclosed that he is desirous to tackle the perennial developmental challenges in the state by introducing zonal development strategy whereby each of the three senatorial zones of the state shall have separate development commissions, which would be charged with the responsibility of developing their zones.
Throwing more light to this new and applauding development plans, Nwulu indicated that the idea is to allow the people of the zones to develop their places at their own pace and administrative capacity, insisting that the blame games in development had remained the function of over centralisation of power with the executive arm in the state capital.
Another area of great interest is the desire of this Guber aspirant to run a simple government, which will enable his administration to encourage concession of roads that would allow individuals to own their roads and operate as built, strengthen public private partnership to encourage local and international investors.
On where he draws his strength to run for the governorship, he expressed confidence in the people as “God will use the Imo people to bring a change through him in the state. I draw my strength from God. He will do it the way He did it in Lagos for me to defeat an incumbent. I don’t have any political father. God is my only political father”.
As a legislator, one of the achievements he had attracted remained the passage of the “Not too Young to Run” bill had been passed by the National Assembly, endorsed by two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly and awaiting Presidential assent.
As a governor of the state, the PDP chieftain assured that while each of the three zones of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe would have well equipped research facilities comprising ICT software, development research centre in Owerri, Engineering Research centre (Mechanical electrical research centres) for Okigwe zones and Biochemical/medical research ventilation Orlu zone.
Additionally, Nwulu said that if elected governor “My administration would not relent in rebuilding the Oguta lake and making it an international tourist centre while several festivals would be put together to boost the tourism sector”.
Enumerating his other visions, the governorship hopeful said that with a mandate to take over from the ruling APC in the state, that he would embark on concession of roads while Public Private partnership (PPP) would be strengthened to encourage local and international investors.
“My administration has already prepared 11 important bills for the Imo state House of Assembly that will drive the state solo economic and political development provide portable water and ensure quality governance and delivery of dividend of democracy in addition to taking care of the issues of poor education, power supply, transportation, social infrastructure, local Government autonomy health and tourism”, he said.