— Says 23 Doctors Currently Working In Imo General Hospitals
Senator Sam ‘Daddy’ Anyanwu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (iNEC) against acts that may tilt the outcome of the poll against the expressed will of Imolites, vowing to resist any ploy to use thugs or any untoward means to rig the November 11 election.
The PDP candidate also vowed not to compromise or rig the poll saying the choice of Imo People must be allowed to prevail to guarantee good governance of the State .
Anyanwu who addressed journalists of Imo extraction in Abuja, Wednesday, equally made a passionate appeal to security agencies to pay heed the cry of Imolites and allow them chose their governor in a violence -free environment.
Senator Anyanwu lamented that the Eastern heartland has for sometime witnessed so much misgovernce by successive administrations and needed a conscientious leaders to pull it out from the brink, urging all people of good will to join hands and confront the steady decline of the state and restore it’s lost glory.
According to him the State has been tethering on a N207 Billion debt burden and with nothing to show for it in terms of infrastructure, investment in education and health with other development indices now in total comatose.
When elected, the PDP National Secretary promised to revamp the economy, ramp up investment in education and health sectors while allowing the local government to function without interference from the state governor.
He observed that a situation where only 23 doctors are currently working in the state health institutions and general hospitals tells a lot about the decay of the sector and the health care needs of Imo people.
Senator Anyanwu who harped his pedigree as two- term LGA chairman, senator and National Secretary of a big party maintained tha he stands head and shoulders above other competitors, adding that he will anchor his administration on revamping the 27 local governments of the state, create cottage industries and ensure job creation.
“Let me tell you and I am not here to run anybody down but to state the facts. Since we have 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo state, if we do elections in the LGAs, it means that constitutionally each of them can employ about 300 different people to work with. The question is, where is the billions that should have been their salary all these years”?
He stressed that the local government under him will enjoy full autonomy.
“The basis of this meeting is to formerly tell you that I’m in the race for governor of Imo State. I’m not running for name, I’m not running for money. I’m running to bring Imo back to the people of Imo State, to make us feel once as a proud State before other Nigerians. Because the image of Imo has been so battered.
“No Matter how you pretend, I’ve lived in Abuja , I mix with Yoruba, Hausa and other tribes . I know the perception people have about Imo State. Imo is gradually becoming Boko Haram State. And I believe that this is time for men and women of goodwill should rise up and say enough is enough.
“When I came up (to run ) propaganda was everywhere but when you write something against me, the only thing is my eyes is always on the ball….
The basis for this meeting is that now I am in the race for the governor of Imo State come November 11,2023”
On why he did not come out forcefully to address the allegation that he was working to held the second ambition of Governor Hope Uzodinma, Senator Anyanwu said he ignored the insinuations because it was unreasonable to expect him to be a place holder or a stooge for the present occupant.
“I don’t respond to distractions. So you think Sam Daddy will be a place holder? Sam daddy will be a stooge for a colleague of mine whom I was in the Senate together. Go and check our records. Somebody I dwarfed in the Senate . I will be a place holder, a National secretary of a party? Of what pedigree? Its on record, check all the other candidates, our records, our profiles. Who understands Imo better than me. All the governors that have governed Imo State have not live in Imo. I know Imo and I will fix it”
He vowed to conduct council elections within six months of being sworn to give unfettered access to power at the grassroots, the way it was during Governors Sam Mbakwe and Achike Udenwa.
On his solution to the insecurities the State, Senator Anyanwu declared that he will prioritize the granting of amnesty to deserving youths and pursue massive job creation in the state.
“Because there’s no job opportunities in the State , even creative industry is not encouraged in the state , no skills acquisition centres, entrepreneurial opportunity for young people are not encouraged. When I was in the senate I trained people in renewable energy, solar power.
“It has been said that an idle mind is weapon for the devil. But if you create opportunity and encourage the creative industry, ensure that small scale business thrive. If I’m given opportunity, I will be able to give amnesty.
” Remember that Imo State is a tourist destination. Every weekend people come from Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Lagos , Abuja , all over the country for its night life . That’s why we have so many hotels today.
“But because of insecurity people don’t come to Imo again. Most of the hotels are now empty, many have been placed on sale and the workers there have been emptied into the job market , increasing the insecurity and prostitution there. When I come in we’ll restore confidence and put the young boys and girls back to work and they will work.”
Senator Anyanwu who said he remains the best among candidates in the race equally vowed to address the unbridled land grabbing currently going across the state saying, and urged Imolites to partner with him.
“I don’t want to criticize government. Let me not criticize government lest people misunderstand the issues. Judge me from January when I would be sworn in. Let’s not talk about the outgoing government lets focus on the incoming government.Just as government returned schools to churches any land that was wrongfully taken will be returned to their owners” he stressed.
“If I’m given opportunity, I will be able to give amnesty, the way to fight insecurities is not by bombing people. Remember in Rivers ,it was worse than this, in Akwa Ibom it was terrible. But go back to those places.
“You have to create job opportunities for young people to have something doing. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop and a hungry man is an angry man. When people are properly situated and have something to do, unless inborn, they will never think of evil.
“So my security policy “To Make Imo Safe Again” which is my campaign mantra is geared to make the state safe through people oriented policies . If I become governor, I will declare a state of emergency in the health sector and education…. teachers will have a license which is renewable. It serve as a motivating factor and will train and retrain teacher.
You will see more in my manifesto.
“I want you to partner with me. Partner with me. I’ve what it takes to bring Imo State out of this dungeon. And I can assure you I won’t compromise this election, I don’t want to rig this election. I want government to allow Imo people ro vote according to their conscience. If you have done well let people vote you back.
” Let People’s vote count, because we are going to resist any attempt,, and I say it and make bold to say it, myself and other candidates in this party, we are ready for free and fair election. Let Imo people make their choice. If Imo State people say I’m not qualified, I’ll thank them and move forward.
“But I will resist every attempt to use thugs to cart away ballots, to falsify results. And I use this opportunity to warn INEC that they should redeem their image with this off season election. I also ask the security agencies to please help Imo to recover from this comatose we are in now” .
