Imo State Elders Advisory Council, led by Ralph Obioha, yesterday said it endorsed the Imo State governorship candidate of the Accord Party, AP, Ikedi Ohakim because his blueprint would engender functional local government system.
The endorsement took place in Owerri during the 2019 governorship summit at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, CATOL.
Obioha said Ohakim was the only candidate among others that had “proven a workable blueprint to govern Imo State.”
He said: “We arrived at endorsing Ohakim after an indepth consideration of the presentations from the candidates which were open-minded and devoid of any bias or prejudice on the following principle policy measures:
“Prompt local government elections, autonomy of local government areas, the Imo State Charter of Equity, it’s restoration in order to endear harmony and inconclusiveness; enthronement of good governance in Imo state and commitment to account for all state funds and its uses.”
According to him, among the candidates invited, four honoured the invitation, including Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC; the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Ikedi Ohakim of the Accord Party, AP.
Responding, Ohakim, immediate past governor of Imo state, said: “It is with humility that I accept in totality this unique endorsement of my candidacy. I want to express my gratitude that is second to none to the elders council.
“Who the local government system is uppermost in their programme. The poverty we are experiencing in the state, was because of the dead of local government system.
“One of the items I swore in my affidavit to Imo people is reviving the local government areas in the state. What has happened in Imo state must be a lesson to everybody. Imo state requires a man of character to lead Imo out of poverty.
“It is for the interest of our generations to come I accept this responsibility; for the interest of our local government system, for the interest of the little child that died during the demolition of Ekeukwu market because somebody refused to obey court order, I accept this project and many other reasons, “Ohakim said.
VANGUARD
