Governor Okorocha of Imo state has assured that his administration
would partner with the Anglican Communion in the areas of youth
empowerment and care for the less privileged.
The governor stated this during a courtesy call on him by the Bishops
of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in Owerri Ecclesiastical
Province at the Government House, Owerri.
He commended the church for maintaining peace in the country by
intervening whenever crises erupted in the country.
Gov. Okorocha appealed to them to assist his administration to
enlighten the public on the essence of the 4th tier government which
he said is to bring back power to the people and unlock the economic
potentials of the state through agriculture as well as government
commitment to ensure that every Imo citizen plants a palm seedling
next year. He urged the churches to establish foundations for charity, disclosing
that government would consider giving subvention to achieve such
purpose.
The governor used the opportunity to highlight some of the
achievements of his administration in the last one year, which include
the introduction of free primary and secondary education in Imo state,
the establishment of the Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies
and the Young Scientist College.
He added that his administration has transformed the entire Government
House buildings, embarked on over 1000 km road project, build new
office complex for the Deputy Governor and first Lady, built the Hero
Square, Ikemba Ojukwu Centre and International Conference Centre.
On security, he said that the government has adopted capital
punishment as passed into law for kidnappers and warned that
government would not hesitate to pull down any building used as
hideout for kidnappers. He also assured them that government is doing
everything to ensure that Boko Haram does not infiltrate the state.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation Most Rev. Benneth Okoro said
that they were at the Government House to thank the governor for
introducing free education in the state and for upholding the return
of schools to various churches whose schools were taken over by
government in 1970 and also appreciate him for the education
intervention fund approved for the structural face lift of these
schools.
They appealed to government to return the primary schools located
within their church premises to the churches.
The Bishops also appealed to government to ensure that Boko Haram
fundamentalists are kept away from Imo state.
On agriculture, the Bishop urged government to give it priority as it
remains a tool for generating employment even as he commended the
governor for the release of 1 million Naira Agric Loan to each of the
returned secondary schools. They appealed to the governor to prevail
on Gov. T.A. Orji of Abia state to rescind his decision to DISENGAGE
NON Abia workers in the state civil service.
Among the delegation were the Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Cyril
Okorocha, Bishop of Okigwe South, Rt. Rev. David Onuoha, Bishop of
Ohaji Egbema Diocese, Rt. Rev. chidi Oparaojiaku, Bishop of Okigwe
North Rt. Rev. Godson Ukanwa and others.
