* Recounts Madumere’s experience
Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha early on Sunday, while kick-starting Imo Freedom Day Celebration with thanksgiving at Maria Assumpta Cathederal, Owerri, said Imo people’s decision to vote out the past government was the beginning of their freedom from bad governance and poverty.
The Imo State Governor recounted how the high and mighty never gave him and his rescue team any chance, recalling that all the other candidates who contested the governorship election with him argued, during the governorship debate which took place at the Odenigbo Centre in Assumpta Catheral, that free education was impossible.
Okorocha was thankful to God for making it possible for him to fulfil his electoral promises.
The governor further recalled the gruesome experience of his former Chief of Staff, now the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, who was unjustly imprisoned and put away during 2011 elections, while also remembering those who lost their lives while trying to contribute to freeing Imo from the clutches of bad leaders.
He stated that he really has no quarrel with anyone, revealing however that he is being fought by ‘the opposition’ because he has refused to share Imo people’s money to them.
“The sin I have only committed is that I said that enough is enough, let the down trodden have their own fare share of Imo’s resources. That is what I am using to give them free education and carry out massive developmental projects that are scattered across Imo state including rural areas”.
He thanked Imo people for their courage and decision to set themselves free in 6th May, 2011 supplementary elections.
He remarked May 6 is considered Freedom Day because it marked the day of freedom from corruption, freedom from intimidation, freedom from electoral fraud.
He hailed the clergy and the church for their stance and sacrifice to ensuring the right person emerged.
“Nobody believed in me. The security agencies never believed in us. The money bags never believed in us. It was the market women, the petty traders, the keke riders, mechanics, the Reverend fathers, Pastors and the down-trodden that believed in us. I have promised, and I will never disappoint,” he said.
Okorocha reassured that his government will continue to work for the good of the people to ensure that poverty is reduced if not eradicated. He, however, spotlighted the importance of free education policy, which takes care of the children of the poor who may not afford the luxury of qualitative education.
On his part, Revd. father Nkwocha commended Governor Okorocha and his Rescue Mission Government for the monumental achievements in various sectors, and urged him to continue.
Earlier during the sermon, while admonishing the governor and his appointees to continue to find ways to stamp out insecurity and shun corruption, which he described as against social justice, Revd. Nkwocha, however, called on those sabotaging Okorocha-led government to desist, as Imo has not had it so good for a very long while. He urged the people to support the government.
