AFRICAN UNION REGIONAL PEER REVIEW:
South East Zonal Town Hall Meeting for the Validation of Country Self Assessment Report (CSAR) on the Ongoing Peer Review of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
THE IMO STATE HIGH SCORING POINTS:
Stanford Arinze Nwokedi.
SSA(Gov) Public Enlightenment
On Thursday 15th July, 2021, the AU Peer Review Town Hall Meeting for the Southeast Region was hosted by Imo State at Concorde Hotel Owerri.
On roll call of attendees were the Chief Host – the Executive Governor of Imo State, H/E Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma who was ably represented by his Deputy H/E Prof Placid Njoku; the Special Assistant to President / National Coordinator and CEO of APRM/AUDA/NEPAD – Princess Gloria Akobundu; Country Review Team (CRT) of African Union led by Dr Misheche Mutize; the National Governing Council Members (NGC) Chief B.C. Njoku, Mr Edoziem Madu,other South East State Coordinators and that of IMO State/ Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on International Cooperation – Doris Tony-Anyanwụ, top Government functionaries of the Southeastern States, South Eastern based NGOs, youths organisations, Church leaders and Traditional rulers, etc etc
The rare but landmark Peer Review session for the Southeast discussed, assessed and evaluated serious national issues vis-a-vis the Southeast in the National politics of Nigeria.
Perhaps, not too many reckoned with the significances of the gathering, the hosting and the take-home values from the august assemblage of Igbos in the midst of African Union Assessment team in the brainstorming session. Suffice it to state that products of the session hope to among other things serve as a feedback channel for the various governance goals as they affect and relate to the Southeast in particular and the Nigerian State in general.
Since the inception of the Shared Prosperity Government under our licenced driver and God-sent Governor, H/E Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, Imo State has continued to blaze the trail in the most significant ways in connecting the entire Southeast to the National Political Grid, most especially as regards the amelioration of the palpable feelings of marginalization of the Southeast in the tangible and intangible dividends of democracy.
The session afforded Igbos the opportunity to vent out their feelings in calling the attention of the APRM team to those issues of quota system in school admissions, uneven political appointments, railways extension to Southeast, deep sea ports in the region, equiped primary health care and other federal government interventions. The Southeast really calls for equity.
The Governor in his address read by his Deputy H/E Prof Placid Njoku made it clear that the Shared Prosperity Government is completely sold out to good governance, for the good of all in Imo State, all in Southeast and all in Nigeria. He assured all in attendance that the products of the peer review shall be officially treated with the needed urgency required for the objectives of enhancing our democracy and ensuring peaceful coexistence in our country.
Beyond the Collation of these vital but lacking federal prospects by the AU CRT for necessary interventions, the giant’s stride of the 3R Government on issues of gender inclusion/participation, widows’ Rights protection, transparency/accountability in governance, provision of quality critical infrastructure ( with particular mention of roads, junctions improvement masterpieces etc), and many other extraordinary achievements of the Shared Prosperity Government were extolled.
The return of PEACE in Imo State was showcased and celebrated with the august presence in Imo State of the African Union Assessment team.
In special recognition of the numerous achievements of H/E Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma as a visionary leader and good governance Icon, the Governor Sen Hope Uzodinma received merit awards from the visiting delegation .
The Special Assistant to the Governor on International Cooperations, Hon Doris Anyanwụ took time to thank His Excellency for all he has broken the ice on especially in his unprecedented gender sensitivity and quality delivery on infrastructure
©️Public Enlightenment Unit.
Government House, Owerri.
16/07/2021
