Gentlemen of the Press,
We welcome you all to this all important briefing today.
We have called this press conference to intimate the general public about the take off of the much awaited mass movement in Imo State, and to douse the tension created in certain quarters when the Amalgamation of Imo Professional Bodies and Associations was announced in Owerri after a meeting attended by Media Executives, Legal Practitioners, Independent Newspaper Publishers Association (INPA), representatives of the Academics, Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Market Union Leaders, the Clergy, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Imo State Students (NAISS), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions, as well as the apex sociocultural organizations of the three senatorial zones in the State, namely: Olu Owerri,Orlu Zurumee and Olu Okigwe, among others.
We hereby announce that we represent the Imo masses and hold the mandate of our organizations, members and teeming followers to notify Nigerians of the collective resolve of Imolites to go all out for the enthronement of good governance in our dear State through the election of a credible Governor in 2019, irrespective of political party affiliation.
In carrying out the onerous task of scrutinizing the records and antecedents of our would-be Governor, we have had to set up a committee on TEMPLATE and STRATEGY, headed by a former Imo NUJ Chairman, Chief Fidel Onyeneke which sat several times to produce a template that will be the mirror with which we shall view our incoming leaders. ️We further announce that any political party, big or small which shall field any candidate that will meet a higher percentage of the template requirements shall get the massive support of the members of our above listed bodies and associations.
The necessity for this is rooted in the urgency to get Imo out of the doldrums and launch it among the league of prosperous states in Nigeria. We believe that the sorry state of our education, economy, healthcare and infrastructure is a fit justification for us as a people to reflect aloud on the character of leadership required for a renascent Imo State. We believe also that good governance can be realized only when people imbued with the right attributes are elected to govern.
Having gone through the report of the Committee and brainstormed on the document after wide consultations, we hereby release the following template which specifies the quality of ️the Governor Imo people are looking forward to having come 2019, this will also serve as a guide to ️political parties and critical stakeholders in their choice of candidates during the forthcoming political party primaries.
Points will be allocated to the template and there will be a systematic collection of data from the research to be conducted on these candidates, these will be further analyzed, to give a percentage rating.
1. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS (10%):
The next Imo Governor should be a GRADUATE with VERIFIABLE first degree certificate or its equivalent, such as Higher National Diploma (HND).
2. TECHNOCRACY/EXPERIENCE (15%) :
He/She must be one known for effectiveness and efficiency in the management of human and material resources acquired through civil or public service or the private sector. Someone who is People and Purpose driven and can be held accountable for consistent and cohesive policies.
3. INTEGRITY, MORALITY AND CHARACTER (30%) :
He/She MUST be a person known to be of very high integrity, good moral standing and impeccable character, with fear of God and track record of peaceful disposition. Must be a person known to be law abiding and upright.️ One who gives evidence of personal humility, who possesses the ability to reason and persuade, who shows promise to govern with wisdom and strength even in the face of opposition
4. ROTATION AND SPREAD (10%) :
In selecting the next Governor of Imo State, the principles of justice, fairness and equity will be taken into consideration by all political parties and stakeholders.
5. FINANCIAL STANDING (10%) :
The next Imo Governor must have genuine and verifiable means of livelihood and must not have been adjudged BANKRUPT by a competent Court or Tribunal within or outside Nigeria.
6. KNOWLEDGE OF IMO STATE/ DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT (10%) : The next Imo Governor should be a person who possesses clear understanding of the culture, landscape and adequate knowledge of Imo people and their challenges. He/She must have articulated a comprehensive roadmap for the social and political regeneration and economic resurgence of the state.
7. PROCESS OF EMERGENCE (5%)
The process the candidate emerged from will be X-rayed to ascertain if internal democracy was strictly adhered to.
8. QUALITY OF PARTY MANIFESTO (10%)
There has to be a clear cut road map capturing concise, workable and realistic goals that will be totally people centered, showing clearly a value driven leadership, passionate at developing the state while growing it's economy.
As the various aspirants continue to jostle for nomination by their political parties, we urge their leaders and delegates to be guided by the above, bearing in mind that the IMO AMALGAMATION and indeed, people of Imo State shall scrutinize the records and pedigree of their candidates before the ️polls.
We further invite other professional bodies and associations in Imo State, all Imo indigenes at home and in the diaspora and stakeholders desirous of a better Imo and enthronement of good governance to come and identify with this people's AMALGAMATION and render any support possible.
We shall officially forward this template to all political Parties and begin aggressive engagement of religious, sociocultural and political Leaders and Organisation after this press conference, to sensitise and mobilize our people for the task ahead.
Thank you all.
Signed:
Chief Emeka Diwe,
President General,
Orlu zurumee,
(Imo Amalgamation Coordinator).
Chief Fidel Onyedeke
Former Imo NUJ Chairman,
(Chairman, Template Committee).
Chief Martin Opara,
President Olu Owerri.
(Imo Amalgamation Director, Public Communication).
Barr Damian Nosike,
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),
(Imo Amalgamation Secretary)
Chief Henry Ekpe,
Media Executive/ Chairman of Imo Independent Newspaper Publishers.
Dr. Harold Onumo,
Medical Practitioner,
for Olu Okigwe Sociocultural Union.
Engr. Dr (Mrs) Uche Moneke, (for the Academics)
Mr Vitalis Iheakara,
For Traders Union.
Comr. Okereke Godson Bishop,
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Isidore Chukwuemeka,
National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)
Chief Monday Ikoku,
for Association of Imo Town Unions.
