My Government Will Restore The Lost Glory Of lmo As Governor- Anyanwu

The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 11, 2023 election in Imo State, Senator Nnaemeka Anyanwu aka Sam Daddy, has promised to restore the lost glory of the South Eastern State if he wins the election.

Nnaemeka, who spoke during a meeting with Imo indigenes in Lagos State at Gbolahan High School, Asa-Afariogun, Ajao Estate, over the weekend, promised to run a responsible government, adding that his first job would be to provide security of lives and properties for the residents of the state.

The Governorship Candidate recalled that Imo State used to have the highest number of hotels in the South East, but that many of the hotels in the state have since closed down due to low patronage caused by insecurity.

"I will restore the lost glory of Imo State. We used to have over 60% of the hotels in the South East, but many of them have closed shops due to low patronage caused by insecurity.

"As a local government chairman, I built roads, schools, provided jobs and supported farmers. But today, local governments in Imo State are ghost towns taken over by weeds and grass.

"We have 27 local governments in Imo State, but they are no longer functioning. We have insecurity in the state due to lack of jobs. People have lost hope to the extent that many of them have almost committed suicide.

"When local governments elections are conducted there would be many jobs for the people as chairmen and vice chairmen would be elected. There would be councilors, supervisory councilors, and aides for these categories of people.

"This will translate to about 1,500 jobs for people with families, who might have four dependants each making 7,000 people. About N2.4 billion ought to be given to the 27 local governments in Imo State monthly, but where is the money now," he added.

Senator Anyanwu added that Imo State, as an oil producing state, has received N200 billion in four years, but that the people do not feel the impacts of the money.

He said further that when the PDP was in power in the state, the total debt of the state was N70b, adding that the state now ranks 13th indebted state in the country with about N217b debts.

According to him, over 2,000 young men and women have lost their lives in the state in recent years.

He however, promised that Imo State will know peace again once he is sworn-in as Governor on January 15, 2024.

Anyanwu promised that he would create 23,200 jobs within 100 days in office by employing 20 persons as community guards in each of the 660 communities in the state to help the security agencies in intelligence gathering.

"We will initiate dialogue with the people. We will introduce amnesty programme for repentant armed robbers and other criminals like the one that was done in the Niger Delta by former president Umar Yar'Adua. 

"My government will organise elections of president generals in the communities and we will have community councils. We will encourage our brothers in other states of the federation such as Lagos to come home and invest.

"Alaba market and the computer village in Lagos State will be replicated in Imo as the businessmen there from the state would be encouraged to have branches there," he said.

He condemned the plan of the incumbent Governor of the state to sponsor some youths from the state abroad for employment purposes, saying that he would rather provide them with enough money to start businesses in Imo State.

The candidate also promised to declare a state of emergency in education in Imo State and make public schools compete favourably with private schools in the state.

While saying that civil servants in Imo State are being owed up to 42 months salaries, he promised not to owe salaries, adding that pensioners would also be paid as at when due unlike what he said is happening now.

Earlier in his comments, the Vice Chairman of the PDP in Lagos West, Hon. Sunday Olaifa, described Senator Nnaemeka Anyanwu as a more competent and committed man, who he said will make Imo State great again.

Olaifa stated that Anyawu is a man that is ready to put everything on the table and make Imo State great again, adding that he listens to everyone as the National Secretary of the party.

"God will reward you with the seat of the Governor of Imo State. We should do everything for a man that can restore the lost glory of the state," he said.

Also speaking, the Co-ordinator of Imo State indigenes in Lagos State, Hon. Ebenezer Obioma, said that Senator Nnaemeka Anyanwu is unstoppable and that he would eventually be elected as the Governor of the state.

While saying that the will of God will manifest in Imo State, Obioma said that killings will stop in the state if Anyawu becomes Governor.

"We will continue to support you. Imo people in Lagos State came from different communities and families in the state, and we have positive influence in the east. We are ready and God Almighty that we serve will give you victory.

"We are here today, not because of Anyawu, but because of ourselves. This is not the first time of meeting, it is the fourth time and we promised to bring you here as we have done today. 

"Senator Nnaemeka Anyanwu has gone past the problems of Imo State. He was a local government chairman and he is rich, he can afford enough security, but others cannot, which is why he wanted to contest and protect our lives and properties," he said.

He lamented that they could not go to the state now due to insecurity, and that everybody has rejected the current Governor of the state, adding that the state belongs to everyone and not to one man.

The event was attended by several Imo State indigenes in Lagos State and members of the PDP in the state.