Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has issued a strong warning to local government chairmen and councillors in the state, urging them to step down if they are unable to live within their respective localities.
The governor made this clear during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Imo Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in Mbari, Owerri. The event brought together leaders of the 656 autonomous communities in Imo State, alongside traditional rulers and government officials, in a bid to strengthen efforts towards solving insecurity and improving basic services in rural areas.
Uzodinma noted that effective leadership at the grassroots level can only happen when local government officials are physically present and active within their jurisdictions. He warned that no real development or security improvement can take place if council leaders continue to operate from outside their local government areas.
He stated that, “There must be a new thinking for a new Imo to emerge. I want my youth population to think differently.”
The governor stressed that the meeting was not about politics but a serious discussion to address pressing challenges such as security, health care, education, and youth development. He said rural governance cannot succeed if leaders refuse to stay close to the people they serve.
Uzodinma also noted that government cannot function properly without the support and involvement of local communities, saying, “No government is active without social mobilisation.”
To ensure that plans and policies are effectively carried out at the grassroots, the governor announced the formation of Local Government Implementation Committees. These committees, he said, will monitor and push forward programs related to health, education, security, and youth empowerment.
He also used the opportunity to reveal plans for new health facilities. According to him, every community in the state will have its own health centre, and each local government will get a general hospital. This, he said, is part of a broader plan to bring health care closer to the people and support the ongoing Social Health Insurance Programme.
Traditional rulers and community heads were called upon to take their responsibilities seriously. The governor urged them to work closely with government officials to protect their areas from criminal elements.
Uzodinma encouraged youths across the state to stay focused, embrace the dignity of labour, and take advantage of the state’s skill acquisition initiatives. He called on them to develop a new mindset and consider entrepreneurship as a path to a better future.
“There must always be a time when people take bold decisions for their own good,” the governor concluded.
