By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that the local government election in the state will be held in September, 2017 and that before then, the House of Assembly must have amended the local government law to make the tenure of chairmen and councilors three years instead of the two years it has been.
He made the disclosure during interaction with journalists on Monday, April 10, 2017 which lasted for about six hour at the Nigerian Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Press Centre Owerri,
In a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, and sent to Sundiata Post, the governor attributed the delay in the conduct of local government election to the court cases instituted by the PDP.
A cross-section of journalists in Imo State, who interacted with Okorocha on Monday, April 10, 2017 for more than six hours at the NUJ Press Centre, Owerri
The governor, who is interacting with the journalists at the Press Centre for the second time, gave journalists opportunity to ask questions without restriction.
His words, “we are going to have local government election in the state in the month of September. And the election will be conducted in such a way that people will not spend much and as a result wanting to win at all cost and getting back their money at all cost for something that is meant to serve the people”.
He continued, “The amount of money spent in running an election is what brings corruption in the system. This is what we are trying to change in Imo State and in our democracy. We want to bring our people together and as much as possible bring consensus candidates to reduce cost. We have one party in Imo State which is the APC and there is no division in it”.
Okorocha who admitted there are federal presence in the state at the moment, demanded for more, adding that the Nigeria Army has taken over the General Hospital at Owerri West LGA, and the command schools in Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri; while the Navy has taken over the General Hospital at Ngor Okpala and the Maritime University at Oguta. The Airforce has taken charge of the hospital at Owerri North while the Police have taken over the hospital and the Police College at Ideato South”.
Owelle said the taking over of the Egbema Power Station by the federal government and the presence of the International cargo Airport in Imo State have put to rest, the complain of lack of federal presence in the state.
The governor said his administration is building an ultra-modern high court complex called “Justice Oputa High Court complex”, which will be ready before the end of this year, to address the neglect the judiciary has suffered in Imo State in particular and Nigeria in general, added that the high Court will be relocated to more befitting court complex than the bungalows they are now using”.
We are equally looking into their welfare and having discussions with them from time to time. We are equally looking at having children’s court, it is still been processed by the chief Judge”, he added.
Okorocha took his time to marshal out the monumental achievements of his administration in less than six years.
The chairman of the Imo State Chapter of the NUJ, Sir Innocent Igwe in his remark, said the Journalists in the state would continue to appreciate Governor Okorocha for always making himself available to interact with the media practitioners in the state, adding that the Journalists would continue to appreciate him.
