By Charles Igbo
Away from the unprecedented quality attendance which ushered in Governor Hope Uzodimma’s second term in office, where for the first time in the history of Nigeria’s democracy, both a serving and former Presidents were present, the Governor announced a major agenda for his second term in office.
In his address to the mammoth crowd, Uzodimma told Imo people that he would establish, within 12 months, in each Imo Community, at least, one significant project to enable the people feel the impact of his Government at the grassroots.
The project will be chosen by the Communities as each deems fit.
To achieve this, Uzodimma announced the establishment of the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI), through which, “within the first 12 months” of his second tenure, “every community in the State will feel the impact with, at least, one significant project fully executed for them.”
The project, he explained, could be in form of “provision of electricity, potable water, road, a health centre or a market.”
His words, which attracted a loud ovation from the people present:
“I am, therefore, delighted to affirm that my second tenure will be centred on the massive economic development of the state, which will permeate every community or ward. We shall kick start this through our Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI). Consequently, within the first 12 months of the current tenure, every community in the state will feel the impact with at least one significant project fully executed for them.
“Consequently, in the coming weeks, working with the Local Government Council Leadership, each community will be expected to identify one project that they want the Government to do for them. The chosen project must have a direct and immediate impact on the overall economy of the communities. It could be in the form of provision of electricity, potable water, road, a health centre or a market development project. Further details and modalities for this community economic development initiative will be made available within the next few weeks”.
Governor Uzodimma was sworn-in for a second term in office on January 15, 2024. The ceremony was witnessed by a quality crowd which included President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, his Deputy, Speaker of the House of Representatives, his Deputy, the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, several State Governors, 21-State First Ladies, members of the National Assembly and high profile Traditional Rulers amongst others.
