Handle Govt Projects As Yours, Senate President Lawan Tells Imo People

– Commissions Akachi Road renamed Evan Enwerem Way by Uzodimma

The Senate President, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan on Friday, April, 2021 in Owerri, the Imo State capital commissioned one of the major link roads – Akachi Road – constructed by  Governor Hope Uzodimma in his one year in office and renamed after a former Senate President and former Governor of Imo State, Senator Evan Enwerem.

Speaking before commissioning the project, the Senate President lauded Governor Uzodimma for remaining focused since assuming power, saying Governor Hope actually means (Higher On Project Ever).

“The Governor is doing a great and wonderful job in Imo State,” he said and congratulated him for achieving so much in one year with scarce resources.

The Senate President who was enthusiastic over the road renamed  after one of his predecessors, Senator Enwerem, said “the renaming was very important and the message is that Imo is working and Imo will continue to work.”

He admonished Imo people to see government projects as their projects by ensuring that they do not only utilize them well, but “protect them, and own them up.”

He described those who destroy government property as enemies of the people and suggests the people resist such.

Senator Lawan urged Imolites to support the Government of Senator Uzodimma whom he said “Nigeria is proud of because he is honest, prudent and reliable.”

His words: “Imo is Lucky to have him as their Governor.”

He pointed out that though Governor Uzodimma receives very little resources compared to  what most of his colleagues receive, “yet he is doing more infrastructural development than the previous administrations.”

He said Governor Uzodimma’s prudent use of scarce resources to achieve much is a reflection of what the APC government at the Federal and State levels represent.

“The APC today receives little resources but we are doing far more better than previous administrations and governments who received large quantum of resources and yet failed to develop Nigeria infrastructure and add value to the Nigerian Nation,” Senator Lawan noted.

The Senate President therefore thanked the Governor for his prudence and financial discipline that have contributed immensely to the several achievements he has recorded in just one year in office.

Delving into national issues  he informed that the National Assembly will always support good programmes of the Executive without recourse to public criticisms.

He acknowledged that the Security Agencies need more resources to effectively confront the several challenges before them, reiterating that  “the importance of the change in the leadership of the Service Chiefs is aimed at having new ideas and new strategies to fight the Nigerian common enemy.”

To political leaders in Imo State Senator Lawan quipped:  “Remember that no condition is permanent, and most importantly, that Imo State is your State. It is APC today, Hope Uzodimma today and it could be another party and different Governor tomorrow. Hence, all should work towards the development and progress of Imo State in particular  and Nigeria in general irrespective of party affiliation.”

Earlier in his address, Governor Uzodimma said the road being commissioned was part of the previous ones meant to reduce the infrastructure deficit in the State.

“The road revolution is to make Imo better, provide more access roads to the teaming population of Imo people and to allow for free movement of goods and services in the State as a whole,” the Governor said.

Governor Uzodimma who was elated by the presence of the Senator Lawan and his colleagues as well as APC leaders, reiterated that Imo State is now in the good books of the national leadership. 

He repeated that he has come to serve the people, to bring prosperity using the limited resources available and that “nothing can stop” him from getting to his destination.

He however regretted that “detractors are working very hard on slowing down the Imo progress.”

But the Governor added that Imo State knows her enemies and assured the people of the readiness of the Security Agencies to tackle all security challenges headlong. 

He proceeded to announce that the road previously known as Akachi Road will now to be known and called Chief Evan Enwerem Way.

In his welcome remarks,  the Imo State Commissioner for Works,  Barr. Ralph Nwosu informed that the road which was completed by Governor Uzodimma was inherited from the previous administration and that only 10 percent job was done on it.

He said it was instructive that the Contractor who originally started work on the road accepted to complete it by dropping 20 percent of the original contract cost because of his believe in the Shared Prosperity mantra of the current government.