Regardless of their political affiliations, Imo State’s governor, Hope Uzodimma, has demanded more collaboration between all Imo State residents.
In a message for the 2025 New Year’s Day, he urged residents to repent and embrace peace.
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Read His Complete New Year’s Message Below:
NEW YEAR BROADCAST BY GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA, CON, TO IMO PEOPLE ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025
My esteemed Imo people, my brothers and sisters, I address you on this New Year’s Day of 2025 with a heart full of joy and gratitude to God. Please join me in applauding and thanking God, the creator of life, for allowing me to observe yet another New Year’s Day.
This new year brings with it great promise of hope, peace, and progress for all Imo people. Despite all odds and difficulties, including the harsh global economic environment, it is honorable to be alive to celebrate the new year.
Those of us who have been blessed with this new year should be thankful to God. Many of the people who joined us last year are not here right now, we are aware of. We should think about all those who have passed away while we thank God for saving our lives.
In fact, in the year before 2024, I can say that God was merciful and good to Imo State and its people. Security-wise, it was a year of God’s mercy. We had a relatively quiet and secure year, with the least amount of senseless killings and serious security breaches.
I must also thank the security organizations for their sacrifices and proactive responses to these security challenges, even though we give God the glory. I also appreciate the Christian Association of Nigeria’s members and leadership for their unwavering support for state peace.
I urge you once more to repent and embrace peace, to those who promote insecurity and social tension in the state. Make peace with your conscience and God by using this new year. The long branch of the law will eventually catch up with you and hold you accountable for your evil deeds if you persist.
Use this ominous occasion to urge all Imo people to work with the government in our relentless effort to promote greater development, regardless of political affiliations.
I can confidently say that I have put the state on an unreversible path of economic growth with the signing of our administration’s Eight Hundred and Seven Billion Naira Appropriation Bill on Monday. As you know, 86.09% or , Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and twenty naira (N694, 786, 04, 220) of the budget is allocated to capital projects. This is a clear indication of my desire to vigorously promote the state’s industrialization by enhancing our infrastructure.
This year, several of the legacy projects started last year will be finished. These include, but are not limited to, the iconic Assumpta Flyover, the Owerri-Umuahia Road, the provision of uninterrupted power supply statewide, the Imo Concorde Hilton Hotel, and the iconic Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre.
Equally, the Orashi Free Trade Zone and other ancillary projects, such as the dredging of the Oguta/Orashi rivers to the Atlantic, will be expedited to attract foreign and domestic investors.
We are expanding the employment opportunities for our youth and women as we introduce essential infrastructure like roads, electricity, and a conducive business environment to investors. I have faith that these measures will place us on the global map of industrialized economies, making us closer to industrializing the state than ever before.
In this regard, I recommit myself to working harder and keeping your resources distributed in a way that benefits the population at the most. I can assure you that the administration’s objectives will be met and that the budget for 2025 will be faithfully put into action.
As I promised during my second-term inauguration speech, the pace of governance will continue to accelerate, and service delivery will be enhanced. I’m devoted to giving the Imo people a sincere and diligent service. My fervent desire to serve you better has been strengthened by your overwhelming support for the 2023 elections. I urge those who work alongside me to put forth even greater efforts.
2025 will be a pivotal year for everyone to demonstrate our ability to support the state’s citizens. Laxity and corruption will not be tolerated. Let’s make it clear that those in my administration must either serve with integrity and respect or be subject to consequences.
As we work to make their lives better, our government can expect more welfare packages for our pensioners and civil servants. I am aware of the country’s general hardships. I’ll make sure that our government employees and pensioners are supported to lead meaningful lives in recognition of their public service. Last year, we began paying gratuities to our pensioners. This year’s pay will be for those who were cut last year. No one will be left behind.
Similar to this year, my administration’s support for a variety of projects will give our communities renewed life.
We anticipate rapid economic growth and social development in rural communities as a result of the local government’s democratic transition. Traditional rulers are required to manage the growth and security of their communities, and I have given them instructions to do so. I hope they heed this directive.
Let us rededicate our lives to serving our nation as we approach this new year, Imo State, my good people. Let’s share a brotherly and sisterly love. Avoid tendencies that impair the state’s capacity for growth and development.
As we do this, let us reaffirm our hope for a better tomorrow. Remember, it is darkest before dawn. If we have faith in our leaders and God, I think we will be able to overcome these economic difficulties.
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated in his Christmas message, the federal government’s economic reforms are already bearing fruit. We need a little patience because these reforms will soon bring about their full potential.
Finally, I urge everyone to look forward to the brighter future of Nigeria and Imo State this year with optimism and faith. However, we should support our faith with good work, as the Bible instructs. If we do, the sky will be our limit.
A happy New Year to all of us.
Thank you, and God bless all of us.
Sen. (Dr.) Hope Uzodimma, CON,
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