Following his declaration to contest the number one position in the state, immediate past Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Sir Jude Ejiogu has advised members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to desist from money politics, describing it as the major cause of bad governance.
Ejiogu gave this advice while interacting with 104 APC ward Chairmen in Owerri zone on Wednesday, at Umuakuru Emekuku, his home town. According to him, the quest for money politics is the cause of ineffectiveness in administration, expressing optimism that governance would improve when party leaders begin to understand the need to rally round credible people.
He said, “I want to be Governor to raise the economic bar of the state, I don’t want to be Governor because my mates in other states had served as Governors but because I have the consciousness to change our political mindsets. Imo is endowed with natural richness, but we need a financial guru, an experience administrator, a goal getter and a technocrat to transform the richness into physical economic development. These and many more, we shall do when we get there. Among all Governorship aspirants in APC, if any of them has good academic credentials, experience or social profile more than Sir Jude Ejiogu, and you think he is better than me, please go for him but it is obvious that I possess an unmatched profile than all of them”
Sir Ejiogu therefore promised to conduct local government election within six months of his administration, where according to him, the elected LGA Executive Chairmen would be made to respect their LGA party Chairmen as their bosses, instead of the other way round.
“Under my watch as Governor, there should be party supremacy, orderliness and respect, no individual would be bigger than a political party even the state. Whoever gets appointment under me must take full charge of his office. I cannot dorminate or overshadow a Commissioner from discharging his constitutional functions but I can only play advisory role” Sir Ejiogu assured.
While congratulating the APC chairmen for the extension of their tenure, further called on them to be mindful of their targets, appealing to them not to allow any politician to deceive them from realizing their mandate.
Speaking, Chairman of Chairmen, APC Imo State, Hon. Donatus Ukam thanked the former Chief Scribe of the State for calling them first to inform them about his desire to become Governor in 2019 before relating to others, describing it as an act of maturity showing his level of readiness to govern the state.
According to him, Sir Ejiogu is indeed qualified to be anything in the country, maintaining that the party would not hesitate to choose the best candidates to fly her flag, and described him as one of the first best candidates to occupy the seat.
Others who spoke on behalf of their constituencies include, Mssrs. Joeboy Irechukwu (Owerri Federal Constituency), Jude Enwereuzor (Ngor Okpala/Aboh Mbaise), Umunnawuike Akudinobi (Mbaitoli/Ikeduru), Chief Fabian (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte), Eze Obiajunwa (GRA Owerri Municipal) and Hon. Ugochukwu Okere (Blacke) expressed optimism that APC would emerge victorious in the 2019 election, having seen people like Ejiogu running for the position, and called on others to vote credible persons during party primary.
