Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has hinted that he plans to complete his tenure, which has three years remaining, unless an unfortunate incident, such as poisoning, occurs.
The Governor made this remark while addressing political leaders from Imo East Senatorial District, known as Owerri Zone, at the Government House in Owerri on Tuesday.
Uzodimma, while discussing the future of Imo State, urged political leaders to focus on merit when choosing his successor, emphasizing the importance of selecting a courageous and focused individual to take over after his tenure. He pointed out the challenges his administration had faced, particularly the insecurity surrounding his rise to power.
“I will not solve all the problems in Imo. I will do the ones I can do, but the man coming after me should be able to do some. We will support merit. We must look for merit because we need a man who is courageous,” Uzodimma said.
He continued, sharing his prayer for his successor, stating that the future leader should be bold and capable of fighting if necessary, but not a troublemaker. “You saw the insecurity that greeted my emergence. By the grace of God, we were able to survive it. So, what we need is a well-focused, bold, courageous man,” he explained.
Uzodimma also warned the political leaders about external forces who may try to influence their choice of candidates during the upcoming elections. “Very soon, external forces will approach you, tell you that you are the best candidate for governor, and even offer incentives. But after the elections, they will abandon you. We must differentiate between personal desires and collective interests,” he advised.
Emphasizing the need for unity and understanding in political pursuits, the Governor added, “Politics should be pursued with love and understanding, not confrontation.” He concluded his remarks with a touch of humor, saying, “I am not discussing politics now because I still have three years in office unless, of course, you want to poison me here!”
Uzodimma, who took office under controversial circumstances, won a landslide victory in his second term election.
