Imo: Action Alliance candidate, Ogunewe, assures of good governance, gets more endorsement
By Emma Ogbuehi
Action Alliance (AA) candidate in the November 11 Imo governorship election, Retired Major General Lincoln Keyonemere Jack Ogunewe, has assured of radical departure from the low tempo of governance to that which would ensure delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.
Ogunewe who identified insecurity and bad governance as factors, drawing the state back, frowned at the ugly situation where Imo villages have been deserted, and in some areas, school children no longer go to school. He stated that these are enough concerns demanding quick attention to restore peace, as the primary responsibility of government is the security of life and property.
The AA hopeful made the remarks when he received the leadership of the Imo State Redemption Group and the 27 LGA coordinators and their woman leaders in his Reset Imo Campaign Office, located at Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, Imo State on Tuesday 8th August, 2023.
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The leader of the delegation, Comrade Stanley Igbo, appreciated the decision of the candidate to run for the office, saying that he is doing so for the impoverished, less privileged, insecure, and other ordinary Imo citizens and its occupants. He highlighted the efforts of their group in mobilization and sensitisation and promised to explore other strategies to ensure the victory of AA in the 306 electoral wards of the state.
Igbo used the occasion to announce the adoption of General Ogunewe as their candidate based on his credibility, capability, integrity, emotional intelligence, and confidence. Meanwhile, some other members of the delegation, including the coordinators of the three senatorial districts in the state had their times to eulogise the candidate and stood the path of their group’s decision.
Reacting to the group, the Director General of the campaign organisation, Uche Eze appreciated the efforts of the group and promised to engage them fully during and after the campaign. He expressed optimism to the victory of the retired general.
On his part, the Deputy Governorship candidate, Barr. CMC Onuoha expressed gratitude to the fact that a group like this exists. He advised that restoring peace, progress, and unity of Imo state must be prioritised above money politics. He implored Imo indigenes and the electorate alike to view themselves as being in the race as it can only be by a concerted effort that victory can be guaranteed.
In his response, Ogunewe identified the orgy of violence accentuated by bad governance which has turned Imo villages into extra-judicial killing fields as the bane of her development. He went on to debunk the propaganda peddled in some quarters that everything in Imo is good. According to him, people fear going to their villages, even preferring burying their deceased ones in foreign lands for fear of being killed in their villages.
Ogunewe maintained that dialogue and negotiation remain the only way to solve the security challenges. For that cause, he encouraged indigenes and residents alike to support Action Alliance gain power in the November polls.
Affirming his conviction, he boldly reiterated thus: “We will not act cowardly … I will campaign everywhere. Insecurity will not deter us … I will ensure that every single vote counts and is protected … What is motivating me to run is the suffering of the masses, lack of justice, and fairness.”
He cautioned the citizens to beware of cloners, whose merchandise is in cloning other people’s hard-earned identity. “There is only one General in the race, and that is, Maj. Gen. Jack Lincoln Keonyemere Ogunewe Rtd. Peter Obi is not contesting the Imo governorship election and should not be dragged to it.”
According to the State Publicity Secretary of the Imo State Redemption Group, Dr. Hillary Nwauzoije, their organisation is a non-partisan pressure group whose goal includes, leadership and mentoring, advocacy for good governance, organisation of empowerment programmes for the youths, women and the less privileges, as well as advocacy for equity and justice for all. The group, which comprises numerous diasporans, is conveyed by Hardy Biaduo.