Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has reacted to the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, by President Bola Tinubu over allegations of financial impropriety.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday after meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, the governor said the President in his wisdom took the decision which cannot not be questioned by anyone.
According to him: “Well, like, you know, this is very clear. Whether progressive governors’ forum, or whether as governor of Imo State, we have only one president whose wisdom we cannot question. And what is more, if there are allegations and the President said I want to look into it, I think it’s consistent with the law and the oath of office he swore to.
“So I don’t think it is something that will begin to create a menu now for the media. so I think let’s allow the sleeping dog to lie”.
He also commented on the implementation of the 2024 Appropriation Act will ease off the current economic strains occasioned by the administration’s reform policies.
Uzodimma noted that with only 50% execution of this year’s budget, Nigeria would have made so much recovery that the country will not be the same again.
The governor, who said he visited the President to wish him a happy New Year and to invite him to his swearing-in ceremony for his second term in office on January 15, also said he updated him on developments in Imo State.
Responding to a question on the country’s economic situation, Uzodimma said “the Progressive Governors Forum, the APC governors, members of APC as a party, the federal government, a government that belongs to APC as a party, we are on the same page. So what we expect is very simple and has been clearly defined in the last Appropriation Act, signed by the President.
“If you look at the provisions in that Act and the number of infrastructure and capital projects proposed by the President, if we’re able to have even 50% budget performance on that document, it will not be the same Nigeria.
“So we already saw the presentation and here we have a President, and like you know, in leadership, every leader must be able to articulate his vision on a marble slab and every vision is like a journey.
“So once the destination has been established, the next thing is to start the journey. So by January this year, which we are already, to 31st December, which is the lifespan of that Act, I’m sure the initial pains, occasioned by some of those reform policies, like the subsidy removal on petroleum products, the exchange rate escalation, will be cured.
“In my conversations with some stakeholders in the country, we have had instances where reforms were carried out in some countries, some policies that looked initially as unfriendly policies, two, three months of gestation period becomes the darling of all stakeholders.
“So I’m confident that the initial period of the takeoff of some of these policies, that will give us a more robust economy, will soon be over and Nigeria will begin to enjoy the product of the new vision”, he assured.
Commenting on progress being made on the Oguta Lake Project, the governor said “well, as it has to do with Orashi River project. We are partnering with Nigerian Navy working with some consortium of companies and so far from the work programme, the entire hydrographic survey of Oguta Lake to Orashi up to Atlantic Ocean has been completed and certified by the number one hydrographer of the country, the Nigerian Navy, they did the programme by themselves in partnership with Imo State government.
“Only a few weeks ago, official presentation of the chart was done Owerri by the leadership of Nigerian Navy. They are now analyzing the chart, processing it to be able to conclude the volumetric survey.
“That survey that will establish the quantity of silt that will be removed from the river otherwise called the channel and then the design of the navigational equipments like buoys and other navigational aids that will be installed on the Channel.
“So it is still work in progress. It is our hope that towards the middle of this year, dredging proper will start and going by our work programme and its milestones definition sheet which has also timelines. It is our hope that 18 months will be the proper period for the entire dredging of lake Orishi River to the Atlantic Ocean, working on two shifts, day or night”, he said.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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