Let us take back our State – Frank Nneji’s charge to Imo people in United States By Hon. Uzoma Nwagwu
Mr. Frank Nneji, as humbly addressed seem not to be leaving any stone unturned in his campaign for governorship of Imo State, on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) party come 2019.
In his current bid, the ABC Transport Chief Executive is in United States on a sensitization mission with Imo State indigenes. Among the Town hall meetings scheduled, he will meet with Ndi Imo in Atlanta, Georgia before proceeding to New Jersey for an elaborate Town Hall meeting at the New Clinton Manor hotel, Union on June 24th, 2018, coordinated by Chief Mike Orji Unegbu . He is also scheduled to dialogue with Imo people at the Mbaise USA 2018 annual convention in Ontario, California come June 28th to 1st July, 2018.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in a Town hall meeting at Igbo Community Center Mesquite, TX on June 22, 2018, he narrated the gory state of Imo State. Here him, “Imo State with an estimated population of 5.3 million owes the highest among Eastern states with a debt of about two hundred and sixteen billion Naira (N216billion). In sustainability, Imo poorly comes 24th of the 36 states of Nigeria. In ease of doing business Imo takes the back position of 34th out of 36 states”. He further traced the prevailing insecurity of life and property in Imo state, even the frequent early morning calls from home asking for money as symptoms of failed leadership. The APGA gubernatorial front-runner hinted that he has already covered the twenty-seven Local Government Areas in Imo State, but came to stress that ‘Imo can be better, we need to take back our state’.
In his soft tone, he noted that he is not coming to do politics, as he has never been in politics apart from his student union activism at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Outlining his key action program if elected governor, he stated that his priority would be on economic growth, Healthcare and Quality Education.
Frank, in concluding the event moderated by Ezeji Alozie Aguwa and Patrick Onuoha, used the opportunity to successfully present his book, ‘Who Says You Can’t.”
Listening to him, an unmistakable fact remains that he spoke eloquently his mindset to salvage Imo’s epileptic leadership, not from the dictates of any rehearsed script, and showcased a man in search of solution. He is eager to answer all questions and has done extensive research backed with facts. The New Jersey event presents an opportunity that any concerned Imo citizen in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Maryland and Washington DC areas cannot afford to miss.
Again, the point of interest that, to solve the Imo leadership problem, you cannot use the same people that created the problem who have become overnight converts in different political platforms, resonates rather loudly.
His emergence, which was severally applauded by participants, will undoubtedly send a strong message to the marauders in the Imo political arena. The choice Nneji presents is the choice between: A defender of our democratic values against Usurpers of our democratic values; A defender of civil, human, minority, women, children and labor rights against violators of these rights; An advocate of quality education against antagonists of quality education; An incorruptible, hardworking citizen against Looters and corruption Inc. politicians; Empowering our people against empowering few greedy collaborators. The Choice is clear. The choice is to send a strong message with our votes and shame the marauders out of high political offices.
Hon Uzoma Nwagwu
